Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) shares ticked up today on mixed first-quarter results compared to the consensus forecast. The Marlborough, Mass.-based company posted profits of $11 million, or 1¢ per share, on sales of $2.54 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2020, for a 97.4% bottom-line slide on sales growth of 2%. Adjusted to exclude one-time […]
COVID-19
SEC charges company & CEO in COVID-19 mask scam
The SEC announced today that it is charging Praxsyn Corp. and its CEO Frank Brady for allegedly issuing false and misleading press releases regarding its ability to acquire and supply N95 respirator masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an SEC news release, West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Praxsyn issued a Feb. 27 news release announcing […]
Neuronetics, Obalon Therapeutics get PPP loans
Neuronetics (NSDQ:STIM) and Obalon Therapeutics (NSDQ:OBLN) are the latest companies to announce that they entered into loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The U.S. Small Business Association administers the PPP as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Under the PPP, 75% of the loan proceeds must be used for payroll purposes, […]
AtomicBlue launches ultraviolet light device to decontaminate N95 masks
Atomic Blue announced today that it launched a UV-C germicidal light to eradicate the COVID-19 virus during equipment decontamination processes. Earlier this month, the National Institutes of Health validated four methods for mask decontamination, one of which was ultraviolet light. Atomic Blue said in a news release that the NIH tested its UV-C germicidal light, […]
3M ticks up on Street-beating Q1 results
3M (NYSE:MMM) shares ticked up today on first-quarter results that topped the consensus forecast amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The St. Paul, Minn.-based company posted profits of $1.3 billion, or $2.22 per share, on sales of $8.1 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2019, for a 45% bottom-line gain on sales growth of 2.7%. Adjusted […]
Is coronavirus causing a run on pulse oximeters?
Multiple reports cited pulse oximeters as a device of interest as stores are selling out of the products amid claims of capabilities in detecting COVID-19 at home. Pulse oximeters can measure the saturation of oxygen in red blood cells by shining a light through the skin when clipped to the user’s body. They can be […]
How Johnson & Johnson is expanding manufacturing for a potential coronavirus vaccine
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) recently announced that its Janssen Pharmaceutical Cos. will collaborate with Emergent BioSolutions to support the manufacturing of its lead investigational COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The New Brunswick, N.J.–based pharmaceutical and medical device giant described the deal as the first in a series of contract manufacturing agreements that it expects to ink as it seeks […]
Stratasys, Origin partner to produce millions of COVID-19 testing swabs
Stratasys (NSDQ:SSYS) and Origin announced that they signed an agreement to produce more than 1 million nasopharyngeal COVID-19 testing swabs per week. Under the agreement, Stratasys is slated to market and promote Origin’s 3D-printed swabs to healthcare providers and other U.S. testing centers. Each Origin One 3D printer can produce batches of 1,500 Origin NP O1 swabs at […]
Baxter granted FDA EUA for Oxiris blood purification filter in COVID-19 treatment
Baxter (NYSE:BAX) announced that it received FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) for use of its Oxiris filter in treating COVID-19 patients. The authorization is for the use of Oxiris in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with confirmed or imminent respiratory failure that are in need of blood purification therapy to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine […]
Cutera, Senseonics and more receive Paycheck Protection Program loans
A number of medtech companies announced that they received millions of dollars in loans through the Paycheck Protection Program of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Cutera (NSDQ:CUTR), Senseonics (NYSE:SENS), Viveve Medical (NSDQ:VIVE) and Encision (ECIA:ECIA) received approximately $15 million combined through the program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration amid the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
Next COVID-19 device shortage? ‘Smart’ infusion pumps
Severely ill COVID-19 patients may need multiple medications delivered by infusion pumps. Manufacturers and hospitals are planning on how to avoid shortages of these pumps and the associated tubing. You’ve likely seen the videos of ICU hallways lined with medical devices that would normally be in patient rooms. Among them are machines that are ubiquitous […]