Livanova plc is exploring strategic options for its cardiac rhythm management (CRM) unit. The London-based company's CRM business generated $249.1 million in net sales in 2016. Key products in the unit include the Kora 250, a full-body MRI conditional pacemaker, and Platinum, a range of implantable cardiac defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices. Outside of CRM, Livanova also has two other business franchises – cardiac surgery and neuromodulation.

Looking at the prevalence data on depression is enough to set off depression in itself.

Genomic sequencing specialist Wuxi Nextcode Inc. has received a significant cash infusion to further develop what it is calling the "gold standard" for a genomics database. The Shanghai-based company closed on a $240 million series B funding round it started near the end of the first quarter. Previously, the company had raised about $30 million. 

Abbott Laboratories Inc. said it will stop selling its Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS), citing low commercial sales as the reason for the decision. The Abbott Park, Ill.-based company first received FDA approval for Absorb in July of last year. (See BioWorld MedTech, July 6, 2016.) But a series of setbacks and safety concerns significantly hindered adoption of the technology.

Genomic sequencing specialist Wuxi Nextcode Inc. has received a significant cash infusion to further develop what it is calling the "gold standard" for a genomics database.