Edwards Lifesciences Corp. set analysts a-spin ahead of its investor day activities with the revelation it plans to launch its critical care unit as a stand-alone public company next year. Edwards expects that dividing the business will allow it to focus on cardiovascular and surgical markets.
The U.S. FDA’s recent approval of Boston Scientific Corp.’s Tenacio pump, a component for its AMS 700 inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP), is an “exciting milestone” for the company, Ronald Morton, chief medical officer, Urology, at Boston Scientific told BioWorld. The AMS 700 IPP is a treatment option for men with erectile dysfunction and is designed to deliver a more intuitive experience for patients when using the device.
Using minimally invasive focal therapies to treat prostate cancer are much more cost-effective and can improve patients’ quality of life compared to surgery or radiotherapy, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Economics.
Johnson & Johnson completed the previously unheralded acquisition of privately held Laminar Inc. for $400 million upfront, with undisclosed contingent payments depending on achievement of clinical and regulatory milestones starting in 2024. The deal provides the med-tech giant a potentially game-changing entree into the lucrative left atrial appendage (LAA) market.
Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion procedures are designed to reduce the risk of thromboembolism in patients who have non-valvular atrial fibrillation, but a study presented at the 2023 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics annual meeting in San Francisco demonstrated that about half of patients continue to have LAA leaks – and potentially the risk of dangerous blood clots and stroke – a year after the procedure.
The EU approved the first drug-coated balloon for treatment of in-stent restenosis nearly a decade ago, but U.S. physicians continue to have their hands tied in treating the fairly common problem. Results from Boston Scientific Corp.’s investigational device exemption trial for its Agent paclitaxel-coated balloon presented in San Francisco at Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics could finally put the tool in the hands of cardiologists. The device demonstrated a nearly 50% reduction in the risk of target lesion revascularization and target vessel myocardial infarction compared to conventional balloon angioplasty.
An analysis of real-world data pulled from Truveta’s electronic health records of 30 U.S. health care systems found that patients treated for pulmonary embolism (PE) using Boston Scientific Corp.’s Ekos endovascular system had lower rates of adverse events, particularly intracerebral hemorrhage, than those treated with Inari Medical Inc.’s Flowtriever system.
Medtronic plc got a jump on its cardiology competitors with big news ahead of the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference that starts on Oct 24 in San Francisco, with U.S. FDA approval of its Aurora extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD). The system delivers defibrillation and heart pacing without placing wires in the heart or vasculature. That puts it in direct competition with Boston Scientific Corp.’s Emblem S-ICD, currently the only player in the market.
Boston Scientific Corp.’s plan to acquire Relievant Medsystems Inc. is part of its ongoing effort to address chronic pain which is significantly impacting the quality of life of millions of people. Relievant’s Intracept intraosseous nerve ablation system will give Boston Scientific another tool in its armory to tackle chronic pain which already includes radiofrequency ablation (RFA) solutions and spinal cord stimulator (SCS) systems.
Cordis Corp. covered its bets a bit as it closed the acquisition of M.A. Med Alliance SA (Medalliance) announced almost a year ago. While the total payment for the company could total $1.135 billion, it could take six years for the owners of privately held Medalliance to see most of the funds.
