With $41 billion in sales, the medical technology market in Germany leads Europe, followed by France and Italy, which each manage only half the sales of Germany each month. The U.K., in fourth place, barely sees one-fifth of Germany's revenues, according to a report from BVMed, the German association of medical device manufacturers. German firms also reported a 4.9% reduction in business in 2020 due principally to the COVID-19 pandemic.

PARIS – Biosynex SA signed a binding offer to acquire 100% of the stock in Avalun SAS, a company developing the Labpad in vitro diagnostic device that provides rapid biological test results from small sample volumes. In Europe, Avalun is currently marketing a follow-up test for patients on anticoagulation therapy using antivitamin K agents, and a test for automated antigen detection for COVID-19.

LONDON – Wise Srl has received CE marking for its cortical strip electrode, validating the underlying flexible electronics technology and opening the door to the development of implantable devices for long-term neurostimulation.

Restoring blood flow to limbs is a challenging goal, given the minuteness of the peripheral vasculature. But there is a huge unmet need for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) – a severe form of peripheral artery disease in which patients face major amputation. Now, Limflow SA reports one-year data from the PROMISE I study shows its Percutaneous Deep Vein Arterialization System (pDVA) led to sustained amputation-free survival and wound healing in CLTI patients treated with the device.

PERTH, Australia – As D-Day approaches for the European Medical Device Regulations (MDR), Australia is also nearing completion of implementing its own medical device reforms, which closely mirror the EU MDR. “We had to look at aligning as close as possible with the EU system, but we’ve had to align with a moving, incomplete and delayed target, and the TGA asked us to move ahead of the EU reforms,” said John Skerritt, deputy secretary, Health Products Regulation for the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), during the recent Ausmedtech virtual conference.

DUBLIN – Skysona (elivaldogene autotemcel, Lenti-D), Bluebird Bio Inc.’s gene therapy for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, received a nod from the EMA’s Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP) during its May meeting this week, paving the way for a formal European authorization in the coming weeks. It will constitute the first approval for the product. An FDA approval is some way behind – the company will not complete its BLA filing with the FDA until around midyear.

Where Ilaris (canakinumab) failed, can Kineret (anakinra) succeed? Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB is reporting that an investigator-initiated phase III study of its interleukin-1 (IL-1) blocker, Kineret, in 594 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with moderate or severe pneumonia, who had a poor prognosis, uncovered what appear to be dramatic benefits.

PARIS – Tecmoled SAS has just completed the initial testing phase for its wireless oximeter. A prototype has been tested over the past four months on 30 healthy subjects, aged 2 to 70 years, to measure oxygen saturation (SpO₂), heart rate and body temperature.