Say hello to MassDevice +7, a bite-sized view of the top seven med-tech stories of the week. This latest feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our seven biggest and most influential stories from the week’s news to make sure you’re up to date on the headlines that continue to shape the medical device industry.
7. How reliable are blood glucose meters? Post-market studies raise concerns
A handful of studies presented at this month’s meeting of the Diabetes Technology Society suggest that blood glucose meters, used by diabetics to regulate blood sugar, may not be as accurate as believed.
6. Device makers object to FDA’s proposed recall guidance
Medical device titan Boston Scientific and industry lobbying group AdvaMed respond to the FDA’s latest draft guidance on medtech recalls, warning that the new language may cause more confusion than it clears.
5. Report: Medical devices claim a (barely) growing sliver of U.S. healthcare spending
Medical device costs make up less than 5% of total U.S. healthcare spending, a portion that has grown less than 1% from 2006-2011.
4. Has the medical device tax changed the medtech investment cycle?
MassDevice.com checks in with Kristian Werling, partner at the law firm McDermott Will & Emery, who tell us how investors are reacting to the medical device tax almost 2 quarters after it has taken effect.
3. Masimo throws down the gauntlet with $1M challenge against Covidien
Masimo offers $1 million to any hospital that proves that its Masimo SET pulse oximeters are less accurate that Covidien’s Nellcor devices.
2. Edwards Lifesciences comes back down to earth – hard
Although I have been writing for some time that Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW) is significantly overvalued by the market, I don’t take any particular pleasure in seeing the stock down almost ¼ over the past year and year-to-date in 2013. Even so, it’s a valuable reminder as to the risks of getting a little too bullish about first-movers in fast-growing markets and the danger of the idea that "valuation doesn’t matter."
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1. Boston Scientific legal update: Ups and downs in tussles with Iraq, OrbusNeich and the feds
Medical device titan Boston Scientific provides updates on some of its long-standing legal battles, including a mass-complaint from the Iraqi government, a dwindling whistleblower lawsuit over stent marketing and the never-ending patent spat with OrbusNeich.
