Abbott Laboratories reported fourth quarter sales below expectations before the market opened on Jan. 22, sending the stock down nearly 12% from the prior day's closing. The biggest hits came from contraction in the nutrition group along with continued disruption in the diagnostics unit from volume-based procurement in China and ongoing decline in COVID-19 testing. Medical devices suffered from market share loss in electrophysiology and slower than expected uptake of continuous glucose monitors.

Alzheimer’s finger-prick blood test investigated for diagnosis

A team of international researchers is investigating whether a finger-prick blood test could be used to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear. With current diagnostic methods relying on expensive brain scans and invasive lumbar punctures, the trial is exploring whether the simple test could offer a faster, cheaper and more accessible route to identifying the disease.

Survey confirms the EU’s regs are inhibiting innovation in the EU

The European Commission recently published the results of a study of the impact of the EU regulatory environment, which confirmed the worst fears of some observers about the situation in the EU. The report said that the associated challenges are prompting small and medium companies in Germany to pull at least one product out of inventory for the EU market, with some companies abandoning the EU altogether. 

Med-tech deal value rises in 2025, still below historic levels

Med-tech deal value edged higher in 2025, reaching about $2.69 billion for the year, up from $2.12 billion in 2024 but still well below earlier peaks. Meanwhile, med-tech M&A activity cooled in 2025, with total reported deal value falling to about $42.14 billion, down from $57.9 billion in 2024. The largest med-tech M&A in December saw Solventum Corp.'s proposed acquisition of Acera Surgical Inc. for $725 million in cash, plus up to $125 million in contingent milestone-based payments.

Targetable ‘high-plasticity cell state’ important for cancer progression, drug resistance

Cancer cells expand through mutations – but not just through mutations. They also change their behavior in the absence of underlying genetic alterations. Such plasticity helps the cells both adapt to the cellular stress fueled by out-of-control growth and resist targeted and chemotherapies alike. Investigators from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Huazhong Agricultural University have gained new insights into the underlying mechanisms of plasticity, describing a high-plasticity cell state that was important for tumor progression, heterogeneity and drug resistance.

Also in the news

Akido Labs, Axion Biosystems, Axiscare, Axogen, Biostem Technologies, Biotissue, Cerus, Clairity, Concept Medical, Cytotronics, Guardant Health, Heartbeam, Herowear, Horiba, Human Continuum, Hyperfine, Kardium, Natera, Onemednet, Onward Medical, Pixee Medical, Preludedx, Quanterix, W.L. Gore