In a U.S. Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing marked by shouted protests, outbursts of applause and tense exchanges on several issues, including ones beyond the reach of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) tried to present himself as someone who follows the science, not a conspiracy theorist or anti-vaxxer.

In a move that the company, said demonstrates its commitment to investing in higher growth areas, Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. reported its plans to buy foot and ankle (F&A) orthopedic specialist Paragon 28 Inc. for an up-front payment of $13 a share in cash, corresponding to an equity value of approximately $1.1 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion.

Nobi BV secured €35 million (US$37 million) in an oversubscribed series B financing round to develop its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smartlights which can detect falls in the elderly.

In a remarkably news-filled earnings call on Jan. 28, Stryker Corp. revealed plans to sell its U.S. and spinal implants business to Viscogliosi Brothers LLC for an undisclosed sum, announced the retirement of Chief Financial Officer Glenn Boehnlein on April 1, reported sales growth of 11% for the fourth quarter and 10% for the full year 2024 and said the $4.9 billion acquisition of Inari Medical Inc. should close by the end of February.

While the U.S. Supreme Court sidelined itself over patent issues such as subject matter eligibility, the diagnostic patent wars are still in full swing as a casual review of cases at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office discloses.

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration posted a draft guidance dealing with non-mandatory audits for premarket applications, which says that a transcatheter aortic valve replacement device that has been approved by the U.S. FDA may not be subject to such an audit.