Say hello to MassDevice +3, a bite-sized view of the top three medtech stories of the day. This feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our 3 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.
3. Judge: Ex-Synthes sales manager broke noncompete
A former sales manager for Johnson & Johnson’s Synthes orthopedics subsidiary broke a non-compete agreement when he jumped ship to help form and lead Emerge Medical, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled this month.
Emerge Medical CEO John Marotta resigned from his role at Synthes in April 2010, after incorporating Emerge Medical in Colorado in January of that year, according to court documents. Synthes sued Marotta and a clutch of other former employees in March 2011, alleging that they violated non-compete agreements, attempted to steal Synthes customers and illegally used proprietary information. Read more
2. FDA approves Medtronic’s CoreValve for high-risk patients
Medtronic said the FDA expanded the approval for its CoreValve transcatheter aortic heart valve to include patients at high risk from open heart surgery.
The CoreValve device was acquired by Medtronic for $700 million plus milestones in 2009. Read more
1. FDA panel OKs Bard’s Lutonix balloon
An FDA advisory panel yesterday recommended approval for the Lutonix drug-eluting balloon made by C.R. Bard.
The FDA’s Circulatory Systems advisory panel unanimously voted in favor of the Lutonix DCB, finding it safe & effective and ruling that its benefits outweigh its risks, although they did note data for effectiveness was not robust and that further study of the device’s effects on women is needed. Read more