Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX) announced that it received FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) for a new laboratory technique for extracting viral RNA. Secaucus, N.J.-based Quest Diagnostics’ new technique is designed to speed up the process of extracting viral RNA from specimens in an effort to expand daily capacity of COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests in the U.S., according […]
COVID-19
The top 5 MassDevice stories of the week — July 31, 2020
The past week has seen a slew of Q2 earnings reports from medical device companies — and the picture overall hasn’t been pretty amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, medtech CEOs during their earnings calls said they’re starting to see some signs of hospital procedures recovering a bit even as the southern U.S. deals with a […]
Hospital traffic continues to moderately decline, Jeffries reports
Market researcher Jefferies reports that hospital traffic in the U.S. remains on a moderate decline over the past four weeks through July 26. Seeking to inform the recovery in medical procedures after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the delay or deferral of them over the past five months or so, Jefferies is observing 3,300 U.S. hospitals […]
GSK, Sanofi land $2.1B from feds to develop COVID-19 vaccine
The Trump administration has awarded Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) and GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) a contract for up to $1.2 billion to develop, manufacture and deliver a vaccine for COVID-19, the companies announced today. The vaccine candidate is based on the recombinant protein-based technology used by Sanofi to produce an influenza vaccine, and GSK’s established pandemic adjuvant (immunity-boosting) technology. Manufacturing will take […]
Stryker dips despite Street-beating Q2
Stryker (NYSE:SYK) shares dipped slightly today despite second-quarter results that came in ahead of the consensus forecast. The Kalamazoo, Mich.-based company posted losses of -$83 million, or -22¢ per share, on sales of $2.8 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2020, for a bottom-line slide from profits of $480 million last year into the […]
Goggles could provide extra protection against coronavirus, Fauci says
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci reportedly says goggles could further prevent the spread of COVID-19. Reports from ABC News say that Fauci told the outlet’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, on an Instagram Live conversation that Americans should consider wearing goggles or a face shield to protect […]
Sorrento licenses COVID-19 saliva test
Sorrento Therapeutics (NSDQ:SRNE) announced that it entered into a licensing agreement with Columbia University for its COVID-19 saliva diagnostic test. The one-step diagnostic test is designed to detect SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing coronavirus) in as little as 30 minutes from a sample of saliva. Developed by a team at Columbia, the test will be marketed […]
Baxter dips on missed Q2 projections
Baxter (NYSE:BAX) shares took a hit today on second-quarter financial results that came up short of the consensus forecast. The Deerfield, Ill.-based company posted profits of $247 million, or 48¢ per share, on sales of $2.7 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2020, for a 21.1% bottom-line slide) on a sales decline of -4.1%. […]
Masimo providing pulse oximeters to monitor NBA players
Masimo (NSDQ:MASI) announced today that it entered into a partnership with the National Basketball Association to become its official supplier of pulse oximetry. The NBA is scheduled to return to competitive play tonight after going through steps to maintain safety in a “bubble”-style camp in Orlando, Fla. with 22 teams in an effort to ensure safety […]
Dems seek to force EPA action on ethylene oxide monitoring
Democrats in both houses of Congress have introduced legislation that would force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to better monitor emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO) from plants that manufacture the toxic gas or use it to sterilize medical devices. The Public Health Air Quality Act of 2020, sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester […]
FDA issues EUA for Truvian COVID-19 test
Truvian Sciences announced that it received FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) for its Easy Check COVID-19 IgM/IgG antibody test. San Diego-based Truvian’s test is now being produced at a mass scale at a U.S.-based manufacturing facility and will be made available to healthcare practitioners immediately, according to a news release. The test has undergone validation […]