The heights of two weeks ago may not have been reached, but the medtech industry — despite a slight dip — performed well in the stock markets once again. MassDevice’s MedTech 100 Index — which includes stocks of the world’s largest medical device companies — finished last week at 97.99 (Nov. 20), marking a 1% downturn […]
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.
MedTech Europe gives proposed European Health Union a partial nod
MedTech Europe has endorsed a new plan to strengthen the EU’s response to future pandemics and public health emergencies, with a few caveats. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the plan to create a European Health Union in her state of the union speech on Nov. 11. The plan is a response to lessons learned from […]
5 takeaways from the latest White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting
The White House Coronavirus Task Force promised a swift rollout of COVID-19 vaccines — but one of a number of takeaways from its first briefing since July. The briefing yesterday gave the task force a chance to once again urge Americans to heed COVID-19 guidance while also providing an update on vaccines and therapeutics. The […]
BREAKING: Pfizer, BioNTech submit FDA EUA request for COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and its partner BioNTech (NSDQ:BNTX) announced that they will submit a request today with FDA for an EUA of their mRNA vaccine candidate, BNT162b2, against SARS-CoV-2. If all goes as planned, the companies predict that high-risk populations in the U.S. could start receiving the vaccine by mid- to late-December. Vaccine distribution could start within […]
Owens & Minor continues to boost PPE production in response to COVID-19
Owens & Minor (NYSE:OMI) continues to boost its production of procedure masks, N95 respirators and more to protect healthcare workers as the new wave of COVID-19 hits the U.S. at the same time that the annual flu season is picking up. “At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Owens & Minor acted with urgency and investment […]
FDA OKs first COVID-19 test that people can use on themselves at home
The FDA announced that it issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for the first at-home, rapid COVID-19 diagnostic test. A diagnostic designed for self-testing in the home, the Lucira COVID-19 all-in-one test kit is a molecular (real-time loop-mediated amplification reaction) single-use test designed to detect SARS-CoV-2, according to an FDA news release. Lucira’s test is authorized […]
The new COVID-19 wave could be bad news for the medical device industry
Surging COVID-19 cases across the U.S. could hold medical procedures back for the rest of the year, according to a new report from UBS analysts. If the UBS analysts’ prediction proves accurate, medical device companies could face a challenging environment for the rest of the year, even as they provide the technology, tests and supplies […]
Why the COVID-19 vaccine market won’t be ‘winner take all’
There are a dozen Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine candidates with more than 50 in either Phase 1 or Phase 2 trials. But the fact that Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Moderna (NSDQ:MRNA) have vaccine candidates with efficacy greater than 90% could ultimately narrow the playing field. “Efficacy matters, but I don’t think [Pfizer’s and Moderna’s efficacy rate of] greater […]
Poll: Nearly half of medtech women executives’ companies ready for pandemic’s second wave
Nearly half of medtech executives polled in a recent survey said their companies are prepared for the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping the globe. Forty-eight percent of the 71 MedExecWomen Fall Forum attendees who responded to the question reported their companies’ readiness hinged on scalable remote commercial capabilities, a bolstered supply chain […]
Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines set a high bar for competitors
Moderna (NSDQ:MRNA) is now the second company to release positive preliminary results from a Phase 3 trial of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate — and it appears to be more good news. Last week, Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) announced that early data suggested its BNT162 mRNA-based vaccine was more than 90% effective at reducing symptomatic COVID-19 infections. Today, […]
MedTech 100 roundup: Stocks remain high after record-setting week
Medtech stocks have been on the rise since positive news regarding COVID-19 vaccines broke last week, breaking a record in the process. MassDevice’s MedTech 100 Index — which includes stocks of the world’s largest medical device companies — finished last week at 98.99 (Nov. 13), marking a 1.4% uptick from the 97.62 points registered at the […]