Orthofix chairman Gero steps down | Personnel Moves
FDA warns CooperSurgical about Texas manufacturing plant
The FDA issued a warning to CooperSurgical (NSDQ:COO) after inspectors noted violations at the company’s Stafford, Texas, manufacturing facility.
Cone Health joins Premier healthcare alliance
FDA lets Cooper’s Avaira Toric back on the market | Regulatory Roundup
Cooper Cos. (NYSE:COO) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted a Special 510(k) clearance for CooperVision’s Avaira Toric two-week silicone hydrogel contact lenses for astigmatism.
CooperVision will re-launch Avaira Toric with shipments available for select distribution beginning in early May 2012.
Biolase CEO Pignatelli touts $1 salary | Earnings Roundup
Biolase Technology (NSDQ:BLTI) CEO Federico Pignatelli agreed to another year at a $1 salary as the dental laser maker met Wall Street’s 4th-quarter forecast with a whopping 35% top-line bump.
Pignatelli set his annual pay package at $1 and 35,000 shares of BLTI stock when he took the role of vice chairman in July 2010, a month after he was terminated as president, SEC filings show.
Thoratec settles Oracle beef | Wall Street Beat
Thoratec Corp. (NSDQ:THOR) said it reached an agreement with one of its major institutional shareholders, Oracle Investment Management, over whether or not the heart pump maker should hire an investment bank to find a buyer.
Greenwich, Conn.-based Oracle, which holds a 5.2% stake in the heart pump maker, recommended that Thoratec retain an investment bank to explore strategic alternatives, including sale to a larger company.
J&J CEO Weldon: Medical sales slump has bottomed out | Wall Street Beat
The sales slump endured by the medical industry as the economic crisis hit may be over, according to Johnson & Johnson CEO William Weldon.
That means procedure volumes for elective surgeries could rebound, Weldon told Bloomberg after the company released its financial results for the 4th quarter and 2011.
Bard sues AngioDynamics, Smiths Medical over access port patents | Legal News
Olympus restates books, takes $1.1B hit | Wall Street Beat
Olympus Corp.’s (TYO:7733) re-stated finances for the past 5 years include a $1.1 billion hit from its 13-year scheme to hide investment losses with specious M&A consulting fees.
The endoscopy giant made the filings with Japanese regulators after being caught red-handed cooking its books to hide the fees, just avoiding a de-listing from the Tokyo stock exchange but fueling rumors that it will need to merge, sell a division or two or raise some cash to keep itself alive.
Histogen wins SkinMedica patent battle
Histogen Inc. is declaring victory after a Southern California judge’s decision that its technique for growing human skin cells does not infringe a pair of patents covering SkinMedica’s NouriCel product line.
It’s the second time San Diego-based Histogen, which is primarily focused on regenerative medicine solutions for wound care, has touted a win from U.S. District Court Judge Janis Sammartino. The judge sided with Histogen on how the patents’ claims should be construed.