Disappointed in the European Union’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, the head of its top science organization has resigned. Mauro Ferrari was president of the European Research Council (ERC) since Jan. 1. His resignation was effective immediately, according to the council. Ferrari claimed he had run into institutional and political roadblocks when he tried to […]
European Union
Europe waives tariffs, import taxes on COVID-19 medtech
The European Commission has decided to waive tariffs and value-added taxes (VAT) on certain medical devices and personal protective equipment (PPE) coming from outside the EU during the coronavirus pandemic. The measure includes testing kits, ventilators and other medical equipment and will remain in force for six months, the commission said today. Get the full […]
Report: Most medical device makers not ready to meet E.U. MDR deadline
Only about a fourth of medical device companies plan to be fully compliant with the European Union’s new Medical Device Regulation when it goes into effect on May 26, 2020, according to a new survey from the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) and KPMG. The survey — which closed in late June and was released […]
Acorda’s Parkinson’s device moves closer to E.U. approval
Acorda Therapeutics (NSDQ:ACOR) said today that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval of its Inbrija device for the intermittent treatment of “off” episodes in people with Parkinson’s disease. The self-administered, inhaled therapy is designed for people experiencing a re-emergence of Parkinson’s symptoms. These “off” episodes are caused by low […]
MedTech Europe warns of device flight to U.S. and China if MDR not ready
Europe’s medical device trade group is again warning the European Commission that its new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) system will not be ready by its 2020 deadline and that E.U. medtech companies are taking their business elsewhere as a result. In an open letter to Jyrki Katainen, the commission’s vice president for jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness, […]
7 medtech ideas out of Europe
Mobile and digital health ideas — and overall medtech innovation ideas — abound in Europe, with DeviceTalks Boston attendees getting just a sampling this morning from seven CRAASH Barcelona participants. The CRAASH Barcelona program trains research projects on how to market their health technologies during a three- to five-year period. It’s a boot camp run by EIT Health, the main European healthcare consortium, […]
Europe’s new MDR: Is it as scary as you might think?
The European Union’s regulation of medical device appears to be increasing under the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) going into effect, while U.S. FDA is easing off. In many ways, the E.U. and the U.S. are going in opposite directions when it comes to medical device regulation, said Michael Drues, a regulatory consultant based outside […]
Report slams European Union’s high-risk medical device approvals rate
A health economics and outcomes research group has concluded that the assessment for high-risk medical devices in the European Union is of low quality and needs improvement. The report appears in the December 2017 issue of Value in Health by ISPOR. Get the full story on our sister site Medical Design & Outsourcing.
Why U.S. first may be the new medical device development strategy
Increased regulatory hurdles in Europe and China could mean more medical device development focusing on the U.S. market first. That seemed to be a major takeaway from panels on regulation and reimbursement at Healthegy’s Medtech Conference, held last week in Minneapolis. “We’re actually going to be doing more early clinical work with the FDA,” said Stacey Pugh, vice […]
E.U. publishes final version of medical device regulations
Ronald Boumans, Emergo Final versions of the European Medical Device Regulations (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulations (IVDR) have been published, and will come to a formal vote by the European Council on March 7 and by the European Parliament on March 20. Following these votes, the MDR and IVDR are expected to be formally published in late […]
Medical device companies fear parallel regulation after Brexit vote
Medical Device companies fear that Britain’s exit from the European Union could result in a “parallel” regulatory system which would require them to file separate applications to access the U.K. and E.U markets, according to a new report from ScienceBusiness. Only 2 weeks ago, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the European Parliament […]
