The COVID-19 pandemic promises to change nearly every aspect of our lives — remote working, social distancing and Zoom-bombing likely will be part of our professional lexicon for years to come. But the pandemic also will bring big changes to the medtech industry, which got caught in the center of some political, geopolitical and yes […]
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Hologic to launch new COVID-19 diagnostic across U.S.
Hologic (NSDQ:HOLX) announced late this afternoon that it will launch a second high-throughput molecular diagnostic test for the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Investors reacted by sending shares in HOLX up 8.27% in after-hours trading. The Marlborough, Mass.-based company said it aims to produce at least 1 million Aptima tests per week to run on more than 1000 of […]
UPDATE: Medtech contract manufacturers make it work during a pandemic
From coping with wild fluctuations in demand to keeping workers safe and customers satisfied, these medical device industry suppliers have managed to adapt amid COVID-19 and an uncharted business environment. Medical device contract manufacturers are finding ways to keep business going during the coronavirus pandemic. Medical Design & Outsourcing recently conducted another round of an informal survey of […]
Senate Dems propose federalizing medical supply chain
Senate Democrats today introduced a bill that would put control of the nation’s medical supply chain in the hands of the federal government, using its expertise in military production and distribution to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The Medical Supply Delivery and Transparency Act would require the secretary of defense to appoint a civilian with experience […]
Stratasys, Origin partner to produce millions of COVID-19 testing swabs
Stratasys (NSDQ:SSYS) and Origin announced that they signed an agreement to produce more than 1 million nasopharyngeal COVID-19 testing swabs per week. Under the agreement, Stratasys is slated to market and promote Origin’s 3D-printed swabs to healthcare providers and other U.S. testing centers. Each Origin One 3D printer can produce batches of 1,500 Origin NP O1 swabs at […]
Foxconn to produce Medtronic ventilators in new Wisconsin plant
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) CEO Omar Ishrak said yesterday that the medtech giant is partnering with Foxconn Technology Group to manufacture ventilators at Taiwan-based Foxconn’s plant in Wisconsin to treat the sickest COVID-19 patients. In an interview with CNBC, Ishrak said he didn’t know how many ventilators the deal will produce, but said production will begin in the […]
Hospital survey reveals front-line needs, desperate measures
Hospitals across the U.S. have begun resorting to unorthodox means of replacing or sanitizing personal protective equipment (PPE) and atypical sourcing of PPE and other supplies needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic, according to a government survey. The Department of Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted the random survey of 323 hospitals […]
BD to launch point-of-care COVID-19 antibody test
Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX) yesterday announced a new point-of-care test that can detect antibodies in blood to confirm current or past exposure to COVID-19 in as little as 15 minutes. The new test, developed and manufactured by BioMedomics (Morrisville, N.C.), will be available through BD and distributed exclusively by Henry Schein (NSDQ:HSIC) to healthcare providers throughout the […]
4 medtech companies ink $84m government ventilator contract
The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) signed an $84.4 million contract over the weekend with four medtech companies to produce 8,000 ventilators to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The contract is with Combat Medical Systems, Hamilton Medical, Vyaire Medical and Zoll Medical, according to the agency. Shipments may begin in a few days with time-phased delivery […]
AdvaMed: Invoking Defense Production Act could hinder U.S. medtech imports
Forcing manufacturers to repurpose their production lines to make equipment to fight the coronavirus epidemic might actually hurt the U.S. supply of those items, the head of medtech trade group AdvaMed said today. AdvaMed officials have talked with U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn about medtech […]
How medtech contract manufacturers are managing during the coronavirus pandemic
From invoking their business continuity plans to marshaling their pandemic teams, medical device contract manufacturers are finding ways to keep business going during the coronavirus pandemic. Medical Design & Outsourcing conducted an informal survey of manufacturers and other companies that serve the medtech industry. Here’s some of what we learned. Get the full story on our […]