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. The 2026 total exceeds $6.45 billion in Q1 2024 and $4.69 billion in Q1 2023, indicating continued recovery from the weaker funding environment that followed the 2021 peak. While still below the $16.59 billion recorded in Q1 2019 and the pandemic-era highs, the data suggest that financing activity has stabilized at a higher baseline, with 2026 maintaining momentum despite a slight year-over-year pullback.

Nearly a year after the first U.S. commercial launch of the multicancer molecular residual disease (MRD) detection platform Pathlight, developer Saga Diagnostics entered a definitive merger agreement under which Roche Holding AG subsidiary Foundation Medicine Inc. will take over the firm in return for up to $595 million in payments.

Abbott Laboratories saw its shares fall in early trading April 16 after cutting its guidance for 2026 on the back of dilution related to its $21 billion acquisition of Exact Sciences Corp. The company revised its full year adjusted earnings per share guidance to $5.38 to 5.58, down from $5.55 to $5.80 previously. The updated outlook includes 20 cents of dilution related to the Exact deal. Abbott also reported first quarter profits of $1.08 billion, down 18.7% from a year ago.

A new metasurface design strategy that replaces rigid order with “engineered disorder” could significantly increase how many optical functions can be integrated into a single ultra-thin device without increasing size or complexity, according to a study published in Nature Communications. The study challenges a longstanding assumption in optical engineering that highly ordered, periodic structures are required to precisely control light.

Med-tech M&A activity surged in March 2026, with deal value reaching $23.66 billion, the highest monthly total since June 2022’s $36.27 billion and a sharp increase from $17.53 billion in February and $1.69 billion in January.

Alivecor Inc. has secured CE marking for its Kardia 12L electrocardiogram (ECG) system, which is powered by its KAI 12L AI technology and can detect life-threatening cardiac conditions. Kardia 12L is a portable, AI-guided, 12-lead ECG solution that delivers measurements and interpretations similar to standard 12-lead ECG solutions, right at the point of care. The company said the simplified design will enable faster acquisition of complete ECG data while leading to better patient outcomes.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. is entering the radiopharmaceutical space via a collaboration with Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. to jointly develop and commercialize next-generation radiopharmaceutical therapies.

Avanos Medical Inc. has agreed to be acquired by affiliates of American Industrial Partners (AIP)  in an all-cash deal valuing the company at approximately $1.272 billion. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Avanos stockholders will receive $25 per share in cash for each share of common stock they hold.