Say hello to MassDevice +5, a bite-sized view of the top five medtech stories of the day. This feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our 5 biggest and most influential stories from the day’s news to make sure you’re up to date on the headlines that continue to shape the medical device industry.
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5. Artificial pancreas: These companies are racing to make one
Medical device companies are close to achieving the holy grail of diabetes treatment: a combined glucose sensor, control algorithm and insulin infusion device that effectively acts as an “artificial pancreas.”
We explain more in the newest video from editors at MassDevice’s sister publication Medical Design & Outsourcing. (And for a deeper dive, check out our recent roundup of companies in the race.) Read more
4. Ultrasound-drug combo treats pulmonary embolism in less time with fewer drugs
When venous clots break off and travel through a patient’s circulatory system, they can become trapped in the lung and block blood flow. This strains the heart’s ability to pump blood through the lungs and can ultimately lead to heart failure.
Traditionally, patients with pulmonary embolisms are treated overnight with systemic infusions of tissue plasminogen activator. Read more
3. Australia mulls green-lighting overseas-approved devices
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration this week proposed to allow the marketing of medical devices that already won approval in certain other jurisdictions.
Under the proposal, devices approved by authorities in countries that are part of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum would be allowed onto the TGA’s Register of Therapeutic Goods. In addition to Australia and the U.S., the IMDRF’s members are Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Japan, Russia and Singapore. Read more
2. CBO: Trumpcare bill cuts deficit, but millions would lose insurance
An estimated 23 million people would lose their health insurance by 2026 under Republican legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare, according to a non-partisan Congressional Budget Office report released yesterday.
The CBO said that the so-called “Trumpcare” bill, which narrowly passed by U.S. House earlier this month, would also reduce federal deficits by $119 billion between 2017 and 2026. Read more
1. Medtronic beats The Street with fiscal Q4, 2017 results
Medtronic posted sales and earnings that topped Wall Street’s estimates for its fiscal 4th quarter and 2017, as its full-year bottom line grew nearly 14% on sales growth of 3%.
The world’s largest medical device company reported profits of $1.16 billion, or 84¢ per share, on sales of $7.92 billion for the 3 months ended April 28, amounting to profit growth of 5.3% and sales growth of 4.6% compared with Q4 2016. Read more