Medtronic's HeartWare HVAD ending brings questions about $1B acquisition

Nearly five years after Medtronic's buy of HeartWare International, the medtech giant pulled the flagship product of the deal due to safety risks, ceding the market to rival Abbott.

By Ricky Zipp • June 8, 2021

Abiomed buys preCARDIA to bag breakthrough heart failure device

William Blair analysts had hopes the buy could help Abiomed move past "two years of commercial disruptions" to drive long-term growth.

By Nick Paul Taylor • June 2, 2021

Medtronic steps up robotics bet as its challenger to Intuitive starts clinical trial

The medtech giant seeks to double or triple sales in its 2023 fiscal year. However, analysts warned that near-term investments will pressure margins in the short term.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 28, 2021

PerkinElmer inks $155M Immunodiagnostic buyout, continuing deal spree

The flurry of M&A means PerkinElmer has struck more deals, at a higher aggregate value, in the first six months of 2021 than in the years since it bought Euroimmun for $1.3 billion in 2017.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 18, 2021

FTC asks Allergan Aesthetics, Soliton for additional information on proposed $550M buyout

The regulator's second request for documentary material, which comes three months after the proposed deal was announced, is part of a deeper probe than its standard review of M&A.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Updated Aug. 11, 2021

NeoGenomics inks $390M Inivata buyout to enter liquid biopsy space

William Blair analysts wrote that NeoGenomics got a good price by setting the buyout fee last year.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 6, 2021

LabCorp inks $150M takeover of Myriad Genetics autoimmune testing unit

The diagnostics giant discussed its interest in M&A last week, outlining plans to use up to $2 billion in free cash flow to strengthen its businesses through acquisitions.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 4, 2021

Illumina sues European Commission to block competition probe into Grail buyout

The EU probe is the latest glitch in the takeover bid, which was panned by Wall Street and also faces scrutiny from the FTC. Analysts have said Exact Sciences could benefit from delays.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 30, 2021

Boston Scientific sees Q1 electives rebound, hints at further 2021 M&A

With two acquisitions already in 2021, CFO Daniel Brennan said, "We have the appetite, and we have the balance sheet in place to continue to" spend later this year.

By Ricky Zipp • April 28, 2021

Moody's predicts brisk pace of medtech M&A amid earnings optimism

A new report from the ratings agency echoes initial commentary by bellwethers J&J and Edwards, which released financials this week.

By Susan Kelly • April 22, 2021

Robotics startup Vicarious raises $425M, including from BD, to take on giants

Aiming for a 510(k) submission in 2023 and to grow sales to $1 billion by 2027, the firm with high-profile backers including Bill Gates will face competition from Intuitive, J&J and Medtronic.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 16, 2021

Thermo Fisher to buy research contractor PPD for $17.4B

The deal comes months after a failed attempt by the company to acquire molecular diagnostics company Qiagen. 

By Kristin Jensen • April 15, 2021

Italy's DiaSorin buys Luminex in $1.8B deal for multiplex molecular testing assets

The takeover comes weeks after Roche agreed to pay $1.8 billion to buy GenMark Diagnostics for its multiplex testing capabilities. The two targets compete with BioFire and Quidel.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 12, 2021

Hologic pens $795M Mobidiag buyout to expand in acute care testing

Wall Street analysts cheered the move, with Evercore ISI writing "it fills a major hole in the company's armament." The deal marks Hologic's fourth pick-up of 2021, including the $230 million takeover of Biotheranostics in January.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 9, 2021

LumiraDx lands on Nasdaq via SPAC with aim to undercut Abbott on price

The COVID-19 test maker hopes to generate enough capital to pursue a point-of-care testing opportunity it values at $76 billion. It has a ways to go to deliver.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 8, 2021

Invitae inks $200M Genosity buyout, lands $1.2B investment to expand genetic testing

The medical genetics company expects Genosity's capabilities to increase access to its cancer test and reduce turnaround time, while a sizable investment led by SoftBank will support growth initiatives.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 6, 2021

Quest sells minority share of Q2 Solutions for $760M

IQVIA, which previously owned 60% of Q2 Solutions, will now become the sole owner of the clinical trials laboratory company. Quest and IQVIA established Q2 Solutions as a joint venture in 2015.

By Ricky Zipp • April 1, 2021

Roche to buy GenMark for $1.8B to add multiplex testing

The Swiss company said the deal will give it access to a novel technology for testing a range of pathogens with one patient sample. William Blair analysts expect "potentially intense bidding wars" in the sector in coming months.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 15, 2021

Cardiac wearables, iRhythm, under a cloud as reimbursement questions linger

"If this [Novitas Solutions] rate is not adjusted, these companies don't make money and will be unlikely to provide the service," Baird analyst Mike Polark said.

By Ricky Zipp • March 15, 2021

Cardinal Health sells troubled Cordis unit to private equity firm for $1B

Hellman & Friedman's acquisition of the maker of interventional vascular technology follows Cardinal's 2015 buy of Cordis from Johnson & Johnson for $1.9 billion.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 12, 2021

Colfax to split in 2, creating over $1B orthopaedic player

The split will create a medtech company with a portfolio of orthopaedic devices forecast to generate sales of around $1.4 billion this year. The move is expected to facilitate more M&A.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 8, 2021

Warchests, distressed assets drive medtech M&A flurry early in 2021

The industry is averaging more than one $100 million-plus takeover a week, as the influx of COVID-19 test revenues and pressures on companies reliant on surgical procedures create buying opportunities.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 5, 2021

4 healthcare antitrust issues to watch

The FTC is looking to get more aggressive with anticompetitive tie-ups while states eye ways to beef up oversight. And if handed the reins of HHS, Xavier Becerra would likely put an antitrust lens to potential rules.

By Samantha Liss • March 4, 2021

Boston Scientific puts up $1B in cash to buy Lumenis surgical line from private equity

Wall Street analysts generally applauded the deal, which will see the medtech leader acquiring a portfolio of laser systems with potential to reach fast-growing markets like China.  

By Ricky Zipp • Updated March 4, 2021

Agilent strikes $550M Resolution buyout to muscle in on liquid biopsy space

Analysts at Evercore ISI called the takeover of the company that competes with ArcherDX, Foundation Medicine and Guardant "extremely compelling," calling it an attractive price to get into a fast-growing market.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 3, 2021