A Congressional committee has launched an investigation into a $70 million White House contract for ventilators that reportedly are inadequate to treat people with COVID-19. The Department of Defense signed a $16.2 million contract in spring 2020 to buy SAVe II ventilators, manufactured by AutoMedx (Addison, Tex.), from the supplier Combat Medical Systems, according to the House Committee […]
coronavirus
Here at MassDevice — medtech's online business journal — we're covering news about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic daily. Here is the latest about coronavirus and the medical device industry, regulatory changes related to the pandemic, new tests for the virus, vaccine development, and much more.
COVID-19 assays sales power Hologic to Street-beating Q1
Hologic (NSDQ:HOLX) shares ticked up after hours today on first-quarter results that topped the consensus forecast. The Marlborough, Mass.-based company posted profits of $653.4 million, or $2.50 per share, on sales of $1.6 billion for the three months ended Dec. 26, 2020, for a 69.4% bottom-line gain on sales growth of 89.3%. Adjusted to exclude one-time […]
Johnson & Johnson gearing up for COVID-19 vaccine data announcement
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is poised to announce new data related to its Ad26 COVID-19 vaccine early next week. In an earnings call yesterday, management hinted that they expect results from the vaccine to be positive but stopped short at revealing details. “We think it’s very important to follow the data — to follow the science,” […]
Sanofi to provide COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing for rival Pfizer
Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) announced today that it entered into an agreement to support the manufacturing and supply of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine is one of two to receive FDA emergency use authorization in the U.S. and it also has clearance in Europe, having received both nods in December 2020. The deal between Sanofi provides BioNTech access […]
COVID-19 test sales boost Abbott in Street-beating Q4
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) shares ticked up this morning on fourth-quarter results that bested the consensus forecast. The Abbott Park, Ill.-based company posted profits of $2.2 billion, or $1.20 per share, on sales of $10.7 billion for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2020, for a more than doubled bottom line on sales growth of 28.7%. Adjusted to […]
BD touts study of antigen test over molecular test for identifying infectious COVID-19 cases
Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX) is touting the results of a small, in-house study of its Veritor Plus antigen test over molecular (PCR) tests to indicate whether an infected person is more likely able to spread SARS-CoV-2. The peer-reviewed study compared antigen and PCR test results to positive results using a viral cell culture test. Viral growth […]
GE ticks up on mixed-bag Q4
General Electric (NYSE:GE) shares ticked up today on fourth-quarter results that were mixed compared the consensus forecast. The Boston-based company posted profits of $2.6 billion, or 27¢ per share, on sales of $21.9 billion for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2020, more than tripling its bottom line despite a sales decline of -16.4%. Adjusted to […]
Moderna details ‘proactive’ strategy to fight emerging COVID-19 variants
While the so-called ‘U.K. variant’ of COVID-19 has triggered alarm, it may be a harbinger of things to come, as the novel coronavirus mutates across the world, complicating mass-vaccination efforts. Moderna (NSDQ:MRNA) detailed its plans to combat the matter in a briefing with investors. While it expects two 100-µg doses of its mRNA-1273 vaccine to be […]
Abbott Panbio rapid antigen test wins CE mark for asymptomatic COVID-19 screening
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) announced today that it received CE Mark for two new uses of its Panbio COVID-19 Ag rapid diagnostic. Panbio COVID-19 Ag has received an updated label with clinical data on asymptomatic individuals to enable mass testing of people who do not currently present symptoms of the disease, according to a news release. The other […]
Authorities investigating death of California recipient of COVID-19 vaccine
Last week, Norwegian officials raised eyebrows when they announced that they were investigating the deaths of 23 elderly patients who had recently received COVID-19 vaccine doses. Now, California authorities are investigating the death of a Placer County-based patient who received a COVID-19 vaccine dose on Jan. 21. The patient died hours afterward. Placer County officials […]
AdvaMed wants input on Biden pandemic DPA use
AdvaMed reacted to President Joe Biden’s plan to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to tackle the pandemic with some cautionary words. In a letter responding to Biden’s 200-page COVID-19 plan, the medtech trade group asked for collaboration and urged the president to consider the industry’s experience with DPA orders issued by former President Trump. Get the full story […]