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.
If you read nothing else this weekend, make sure you’re still in the know with MassDevice +7.
7. Medtech newcomer Sony expands device biz, lays off thousands
Medical device industry newcomer Sony plans to cut 20% of its home-base employees as it prepares to expand its footprint in medical equipment.
6. St. Jude Medical slides on negative results from heart implant trial
St. Jude Medical shares are down 4% today after clinical trial results show no significant benefit from its Amplatzer heart implant.
5. McKesson to pay $2B for PSS World Medical
McKesson agrees to pony up more than $2 billion for medical supplies provider PSS World Medical.
4. Report: Medtech spending, pricing barely budged in more than 20 years
Medical device spending as a portion of U.S. national health expenditures increased less than 1% over the last 2 decades, according to AdvaMed’s updated report.
3. Device tax: Impact won’t be as bad as we thought, Zimmer execs say
The 2.3% medical device tax taking effect at the beginning of next year won’t have as large an impact on Zimmer as the company previously expected, executives tell investors during a conference call today.
2. Could medical device tax repeal ride along on bigger bill?
Although it’s unlikely that the lame-duck U.S. Congress will approve a repeal of the medical device tax this year, but repeal of the 2.3% medtech tax could ride along if key Senate Democrats go along.
1. Senate report blasts Medtronic over Infuse bone protein
A report by the U.S. Senate’s Finance Committee blasts Medtronic over its Infuse bone morphogenetic protein, saying the company deliberately schemed to suppress evidence of adverse effects and promoted off-label use.
