Insight Lifetech Co. Ltd. listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s STAR market via an unprofitable biotech track reinstated last year, with the Feb. 5 IPO raising ¥998.64 million (US$143.93 million).

Insight Lifetech Co. Ltd. listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s STAR market via an unprofitable biotech track reinstated last year, with the Feb. 5 IPO raising ¥998.64 million (US$143.93 million).

The U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of Abbott Laboratories’ Cardiomems HF system, giving people living with heart failure an option to monitor their condition daily from home. The implantable wireless sensor could transform care for individuals with the chronic condition as it will enable them to catch early warning signs before they escalate to medical emergencies.

Medtronic plc is continuing to put its money where its mouth is as it plans to exercise its option to acquire Cathworks Ltd. for up to $585 million. The company said last month it was committed to expanding its pipeline through strategic investments and targeted acquisitions. The move for Cathworks comes on the heels of Medtronic’s $90 million investment in Anteris Technologies Global Corp.

Medtronic plc acted on the increase in M&A and expansion of its investment ecosystem touted at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference earlier this month with a $90 million infusion into Brisbane, Australia-based Anteris Technologies Global Corp. The investment had been contingent on a public offering of stock by Anteris, which it completed on Jan. 22. Together, the new funds for the biomimetic heart valve company totaled $320 million.

Zylox-Tonbridge Medical Technology Co. Ltd. plans to expand globally with M&As, company chairman and CEO Jonathon Zhong Zhao told BioWorld, starting with a stepwise acquisition of Optimed Holding GmbH and its subsidiaries, including Optimed Medizinische Instrumente GmbH.

Highlife SAS secured CE mark for its transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) system, bringing a much needed treatment option for patients with limited alternatives. The Highlife TMVR system is indicated for individuals with symptomatic moderate-severe or severe mitral valve regurgitation who are unsuitable for surgical repair or replacement and transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

The FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health posted two important guidances just in the first week of the new year. The agency seems determined to sustain that pace with a new draft guidance for cuffless blood pressure monitors, apparently in response to sales of unauthorized over-the-counter devices for this indication.

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. Medical devices suffered from market share loss in electrophysiology and slower than expected uptake of continuous glucose monitors. The pharma group performed as anticipated, posting 7% growth.

Microsurgery is performed to connect small human vessels, but the technical difficulty required to conduct this type of surgery is quite specialized and limits the number of surgeons who can perform microsurgery.