J&J's pipeline includes 30 'major' medical devices and a surgical robot

May 22, 2014 by Brad Perriello

Johnson & Johnson’s medical device & diagnostics division plans to file for approval for some 30 “major” products over the next 3 years from regulators, executives told analysts today at an investors meeting.

The pipeline includes planned filings for orthopedic, surgical and diabetes care devices in the U.S., Europe and Japan through 2016 – and an entry into the robot-assisted surgery arena, executives said at the meeting today in New Brunswick, N.J. Read more

U.K. regulators OK Smith & Nephew's $1.7B ArthroCare buy

May 22, 2014 by Brad Perriello

British anti-trust regulators approved the $1.7 billion acquisition of ArthroCare by Smith & Nephew, ArthroCare said yesterday, clearing the way for a closing by May 29.

The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority granted “unconditional clearance” for the merger yesterday, ArthroCare said in a regulatory filing. Read more

Echo Therapeutics proxy war gets ugly amid alleged threats

May 23, 2014 by Arezu Sarvestani

Embattled Echo Therapeutics issued a new volley against its proxy war rival and largest shareholder Platinum Group, accusing the activist investor of conspiring to tank the company’s stock.

Echo claimed today that a Platinum leader threatened the company’s former CEO via text message, adding that the investment had made some recent deals that hurt other stockholders while lining the company’s coffers. Read more

Symmetry Medical sells off Clamonta aerospace subsidiary

May 22, 2014 by Brad Perriello

Symmetry Medical’s said today that it sold its Clamonta Ltd. aerospace subsidiary to the HLDF Corp. for roughly $1.3 million (£0.8 million), but remains committed to the aerospace machining market.

The move prompted Symmetry to cut its guidance for 2014, sending share prices down slightly on Wall Street. Read more

Analogic cuts guidance, shares hit 2-year low

May 27, 2014 by Brad Perriello

Analogic today cut its forecast for the rest of fiscal 2014 for the 2nd time in as many months, sending share prices to a near-2-year low today on Wall Street.

Peabody, Mass.-based Analogic said it now expects to post earnings of 62¢ per share, or 94¢ when adjusted to exclude 1-time items, on sales of $124 million for its fiscal 3rd quarter ended April 30. Analysts on The Street were looking for adjusted EPS of 1.09. Read more