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. Study: Stent patients benefit from long-term blood thinners

Patients implanted with a drug-eluting stent who have coronary artery disease may benefit from dual anti-platelet therapy for longer than the standard year, according to the landmark DAPT study of 10,000 DES patients.

The study compared DAPT treatment for 12 months with a 30-month course in preventing stent thrombosis and a composite of death, heart attack or stroke. Results were presented yesterday at the American Heart Assn.’s annual meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Read more

2. Medtronic readies $10B bond flotation for Covidien deal

Medtronic is preparing to float about $10 billion in bonds to help fund the $43 billion merger with Covidien, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing “people familiar with the sale.”

Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic originally planned to use some $13.5 billion in overseas cash in the Covidien buyout, scheduled to close early next year. Read more

1. Actavis trumps Valeant with $66B offer for Allergan

Actavis trumped by $12 billion the hostile takeover bid for Allergan by Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals and William Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management, offering $219 per share for the Botox maker.

Actavis and Allergan said today that they’ve come to terms over the $66 billion deal, consisting of $129.22 in cash and 0.3683 Actavis shares for each AGN share. Read more