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. FDA cuts could threaten medtech innovation: Here’s why
The Trump administration’s proposed federal budget could hurt the speed and quality of FDA review times, says a top expert at Musculoskeletal Clinical Regulatory Advisers (MCRA). Read more
4. Studies support anti-stroke PFO closure devices from Abbott, Gore
A trio of studies published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that devices from Abbott and W.L. Gore & Assoc. designed to close a heart defect lowered the risk of a recurring episode in certain cryptogenic stroke patients.
Long-term results from the 980-patient Respect trial of the Amplatzer device Abbott acquired along with St. Jude Medical this year, along with data from the Reduce study of Gore’s Helex and Cardioform and the French Close study of PFO closure devices with CE Mark approval, showed that they reduced the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke compared with anti-stroke medications. Read more
3. Tactile Medical shareholders ready $109 million offering
Tactile Systems Technology said this week that its investors have priced a new offering, looking to raise approximately $109 million.
In the offering, investors in the Minneapolis, Minn.-based company will look to offer 3.3 million shares of common stock at approximately $33 per share. The offering will also include an underwriters option to purchase an additional 495,000 shares, which could bring in an additional $16.3 million. Read more
2. Medtronic, Mazor Robotics close $40m round
Mazor Robotics said today that closed the third, $40 million tranche of a deal with Medtronic, which is due to take on exclusive global distribution rights for the Mazor X robot-assisted surgery device.
It’s the third investment in the Israeli surgical robotics concern for Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic, taking its total investment to $72 million, 10.6% stake in Mazor. The deal also includes 1.21 million warrants priced at $44.23 apiece; if exercised in full Medtronic would own a 14.2% stake in Mazor, having invested some $125 million. Read more
1. The 10 largest medtech employers – and what their workers really think
Among the 10 largest medtech employers, workers feel pride in working on life-saving products – but there’s also frustration with big corporate bureaucracy.
That was the major takeaway as Medical Design & Outsourcing compiled some of the most insightful current and former employee reviews posted on Glassdoor. Read more