Roche Holding AG, of Basel, Switzerland, is the first company with an FDA-approved, blood-based genetic test to detect a gene mutation associated with the most common type of lung cancer.

Roche Holding AG, of Basel, Switzerland, is the first company with an FDA-approved, blood-based genetic test to detect a gene mutation associated with the most common type of lung cancer. The agency approved the cobas EGFR Mutation Test v2 as a companion diagnostic for the cancer drug Tarceva (erlotinib).

Two veterans who had previously undergone sleeve gastrectomies but failed to achieve sufficient weight loss and diabetes control were recently treated with Vbloc Neurometabolic Therapy, representing the first time the device has been used as an adjunctive treatment to a previous gastric surgery.

Medtronic plc.'s $49.9 billion Covidien acquisition, which closed in January 2017, boosted the company's fiscal year 2016 revenue 42 percent (or 7 percent on a constant currency basis, which includes a first quarter extra week benefit) to a record $28.8333 billion. Fourth quarter revenue grew 4 percent (6 percent at constant currency) to $7.6 billion, beating analysts' expectations for 3 percent growth.

Varian Medical Systems Inc. has decided to shed its imaging components business in exchange for more freedom to fight cancer. The company plans to spin off its imaging components business as a new public company via a tax-free distribution to its shareholders in a transaction expected to close by the end of the year.

A handful of companies received a green light from the FDA last year to launch devices intended to treat metabolic disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, and several other technologies are in various stages of development. One of the most interesting aspects of this competitive market is the wide array of approaches these companies are taking to treat this patient population.