Medtronic plc turned in its fifth consecutive year of mid-single digit revenue growth with the close of its fiscal 2017. It's maintaining an active focus on M&A – working to build on its fastest growing businesses and to divest lesser contributors. Of its 5 percent in revenue growth for the year to $29.7 billion, about 1 percent of that came from acquisitions.

Once patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are hospitalized with a life-threatening event, it's common for them to be readmitted or even die within the following weeks and months after their initial release. The results of a trial backed by Amsterdam-based Royal Philips NV show that adding noninvasive ventilation, a form of which is a common sleep apnea treatment, in addition to oxygen at home extended the median time to readmission or death for these patients by almost three months. RE-EXAMINING COPD The five-year data were published in the latest issue of the...

Once patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are hospitalized with a life-threatening event, it's common for them to be readmitted or even die within the following weeks and months after their initial release.

Small cap Endologix Inc. lost about one-third of its valuation after it pushed back the U.S. regulatory timeline for its Nellix Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing System. The Irvine, Calif.-based company said that it needs to conduct a confirmatory clinical study for a second generation device. That trial will start enrolling during the fourth quarter, with a target for PMA approval in 2020. The company had previously expected a PMA approval for the Nellix EVAS system during the second quarter of next year. Nellix EVAS is a system to treat infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA); it is...

Small cap Endologix Inc. lost about one-third of its valuation after it pushed back the U.S. regulatory timeline for its Nellix Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing System. The Irvine, Calif.-based company said that it needs to conduct a confirmatory clinical study for a second generation device.

Blood draws used for cultures to diagnose bloodstream infections are routinely contaminated at a rate of roughly 2 percent to 3 percent. A device from Seattle-based start up Magnolia Medical Technologies Inc. has been found in a recent study to reduce that contamination rate to 0.2 percent, which could save billions and improve patient care with broad implementation.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will acquire drug development and delivery services provider Patheon NV for $7.2 billion, including $2 billion of debt assumption. Diagnostics and laboratory-focused Thermo Fisher expects that the addition of the Durham, N.C.-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) will add to its offerings for biopharmaceutical customers. The Waltham, Mass.-based company anticipates the deal will be accretive to adjusted EPS by adding $0.30 in the first full year after deal close, which is expected to be before year end. The $35 per share price tag was about a 35 percent premium to...