Intuitive Surgical Inc. benefited from keen interest in resuming surgeries during pandemic troughs and hospitals investing in its Da Vinci robotic system in preparation for a more endemic phase of COVID-19, Intuitive CEO Gary Guthart said in a presentation at the J.P. Morgan 40th Annual Healthcare Conference on Jan. 12. The company’s unaudited preliminary fourth quarter and full year 2021 results also showed strong growth in procedure volumes – 19% year-over-year compared to 2020 and 13% compared to 2019. Still, Intuitive reported that “during 2021, COVID-19 resurgences continued to impact Da Vinci procedure volumes. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company’s business has, and continues to, differ by geography and region.”

Viveon Health Acquisition Corp. (VHAQ) reported a merger deal with regenerative aesthetics company Suneva Medical Inc. According to the terms of the deal, the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), will issue 25 million shares and up to 12 million earnout shares to Suneva shareholders. The pro forma equity valuation of the companies is expected to be approximately $511 million, with the merger slated for completion in the first half of 2022.

Digital health company Connectedhealth Pte. Ltd. launched its Sugosure system to offer care management to type 2 diabetes patients in Singapore. The system is aiming to tackle the “poor management” of type 2 diabetes with technology and to reduce the risk of long-term complications, said Ronald Ling, the CEO of Connectedhealth.

Robert Califf moved a step closer to his second stint as head of the U.S. FDA when the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted 13-8 Jan. 13 to favorably send his nomination to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.

In a speech on Jan. 13, President Joe Biden revealed plans to purchase an additional 500 million at-home COVID-19 tests, bringing the total number the administration expects to provide for free to American households to 1 billion. In addition, Biden said the administration would distribute free “high quality masks.” On Wednesday, the administration said it would provide 5 million rapid COVID-19 tests and 5 million lab-based PCR tests to schools each month to support screening testing and test-to-stay programs.