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. FDA expands approval for Navidea’s Lymphoseek for head and neck cancers
Navidea Biopharmaceuticals landed FDA approval to expand use for its Lymphoseek imaging agent to help track cancers spreading in the head and neck.
Lymphoseek is the “1st and only FDA-approved radiopharmaceutical application for sentinel lymph node detection,” according to Navidea, which originally won FDA approval for Lymphoseek in March 2013. Read more
2. Olympus goes after ex-sales manager, ArthroCare
Olympus accused a former sales manager and ArthroCare of breaching non-compete provisions and interfering with a contract, alleging that ex-Olympus territory head Clayton Williard took confidential information along when he jumped ship for the same job with ArthroCare.
Olympus hired Williard from then-subsidiary Gyrus in February 2012 as ear, nose & throat territory manager for New Mexico, according to court documents. Williard resigned from Olympus May 12, effective May 23, saying he’d taken the same position at ArthroCare, according to the documents. Read more
1. Blockbuster: Medtronic in $43B deal to acquire Covidien
Medtronic said yesterday that it agreed to acquire Covidien in a cash-and-stock deal worth nearly $43 billion.
The buyout, a so-called “inversion” deal, will allow Medtronic to lower its overall tax rate by re-incorporating in Ireland. But Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak said main drivers were strategic. Read more