New data on pulsed field ablation (PFA) presented at Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago over the weekend continue to show the benefits and superiority of the technologies in treating patients with atrial fibrillation. The PFA landscape is fast-evolving and med-tech players are jostling for market share with ever-differentiated platforms looking to attract electrophysiologists.

Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd.’s HK$1.8 billion (US$230 million) raise on Jan. 9 was the sole Chinese biotech IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, despite a growing backlog of more than 70 filings from China life science firms in 2025. Among med-tech companies, Hangzhou Diagens Biotechnology Co. Ltd. debuted with a $101 million Hong Kong IPO March 30, 2026.

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. raised its full-year 2026 guidance after seeing strong sales in the first quarter, particulalry from its transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) business. The company now expects sales growth of 9% to 11%, up from prior outlook of 8% to 10%, and adjusted earnings per share of $2.95 to $3.05, compared with earlier guidance of $2.90 to $3.05.

Artificial intelligence tools are springing up at multiple points along drug discovery and development, but despite the hype, as yet there is minimal return on investment (ROI). “I would say a lot of companies sort of get this big excitement about AI, but then when you look at how much ROI they get, it’s actually very little. And that’s because the workflow and the process, end-to-end, isn’t mapped to really understand where AI can truly make an impact,” said Laura Matz, chief science and technology officer at Merck KGaA.

Shares in Aussie hearing implant maker Cochlear Ltd. plummeted nearly 39% April 22 after the company slashed fiscal 2026 earnings guidance and warned that weaker-than-expected demand in developed markets was exposing a more cyclical and discretionary side to its business than investors had assumed.

The U.S. FDA and CMS are teaming up to give Medicare beneficiaries quicker access to breakthrough medical devices and provide manufacturers with certainty of reimbursement.

The first fully robot-assisted cataract surgery recently performed using Forsight Robotics Ltd.’s Jasper platform was not only a “transformative” event and a major “milestone” for the company, but also a “huge step forward for the industry,” Joseph Nathan, co-founder, president and chief medical officer, told BioWorld. With one in two people globally needing cataract surgery and unable to get access to care, robot-assisted platforms hold the potential to increase surgical throughput and broaden access to treatment.

Artificial intelligence tools are springing up at multiple points along drug discovery and development, but despite the hype, as yet there is minimal return on investment (ROI). “I would say a lot of companies sort of get this big excitement about AI, but then when you look at how much ROI they get, it’s actually very little. And that’s because the workflow and the process, end-to-end, isn’t mapped to really understand where AI can truly make an impact,” said Laura Matz, chief science and technology officer at Merck KGaA.

Boston Scientific Corp.'s CEO Mike Mahoney said that the year is turning out to be “more challenging” than the company anticipated, prompting a cut to its organic sales growth guidance to 6.5% to 8%, from 10% to 11%. The company also lowered its adjusted earnings-per-share guidance to $3.34 to $3.41, from $3.43 to $3.49 previously. Analysts welcomed the lower guidance seeing it as somewhat of a relief and an opportunity to reset on the back of the company’s share price, which has fallen sharply over the last year.

Total med-tech financings reached $8.81 billion in the first quarter (Q1) 2026, a 6% decline from $9.33 billion in Q1 2025 but well above the post-downturn lows of recent years.