Welcome to MassDevice’s annual audit of the ups, downs and in-betweens of the year that was. For the medical device industry, 2012 was more or less defined by efforts to undermine the medical device tax and ride through economic turbulence.
Here’s the close of the top 10 stories of the year for the medical device world. Stay tuned in 2012 for the trends that continue to shape the industry!
Check out MassDevice’s Top 10 Part I and Part II for more on the biggest news of the year.
3. Zimmer axes jobs to cut costs ahead of med-tech tax
Zimmer planed cuts and outsourcing at its Warsaw, Ind., headquarters partially to offset the impending burden of a 2.3% medical device tax.
2. Stryker CEO: Rumors swirl over MacMillan’s departure
A report in the Wall Street Journal claimed that Stephen MacMillan’s February 9th resignation from Stryker came after the company’s board learned of an affair with a former employee.
1. Layoffs: Medtronic to cut another 500 jobs in hopes of saving $125M per year
Medtronic gets half-way through a 2012 restructuring plan, expecting to cut another 500 positions in hopes of saving up to $125 million per year.