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.

Nervonik Inc. raised $52.5 million in a series B financing round for its peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) system designed to treat patients with chronic pain and other neurological conditions. The funds will be used to support the continued development Nervonik's PNS system, including enhancements to the system’s sensing capabilities, as well as preparations for commercialization.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. agreed to sell its microbiology business to Astorg, a private equity firm, for approximately $1.075 billion, consisting of cash and a $50 million seller note. The business unit provides antimicrobial susceptibility testing and culture media solutions for clinical, pharmaceutical and food safety testing.

Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. will pay $11.75 billion cash to acquire Organon & Co. The transaction is expected to close in early 2027. The addition of Organon’s women’s health products, legacy drug brands and biosimilars are expected to boost Mumbai, India-based Sun’s global reach. The all-cash buy is also expected to relieve Jersey City, N.J.-based Organon of an $8.6 billion debt pile, accumulated after its debt-laden 2021 spinout from Merck & Co. Inc.

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.