Organox Ltd.’s normothermic machine perfusion device, Metra, has been cleared by the U.S. FDA for use during air transport. The greenlight from the regulatory body paves the way for the broader use of donor organs that might otherwise be discarded, as the Metra system circulates oxygen and nutrient rich perfusate through the organ at near-body temperature, extending preservation times.
After making a significant strategic investment in Oxganox Ltd. earlier this year, Terumo Corp. quickly returned to buy the organ preservation company. On Aug. 25, the companies announced that Terumo would acquire Organox for $1.5 billion, marking Terumo’s entry into the organ transplant sector. The transaction is one of the largest exits ever for the U.K. med-tech sector.
Medtronic plc received a CE mark for its Vitalflow extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system, which provides temporary support for the heart and lungs in critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU). The company said the Vitalflow ECMO system represents a ‘new paradigm’ in ECMO therapy as it is designed to simplify ICU operations and brings performance, ease of use and adaptability to the forefront of patient care.
The FDA’s new program for communicating the hazards of devices is in play and resulted in the posting of a notice of a problem seen with the Ivenix line of large volume infusion pumps by Fresenius Kabi USA, which will require some repair work by the manufacturer.
The U.S. FDA cleared Paragonix Technologies Inc.’s Kidneyvault portable renal perfusion system, which combines digital monitoring capabilities and hypothermic perfusion technology to preserve donor kidneys during transportation.
Organox Ltd. gained approval from Health Canada for its Metra system for use during liver transplantation. The system utilizes normothermic machine perfusion to maintain donor livers under physiologic conditions prior to transplantation.
Getinge AB agreed to acquire Paragonix Technologies Inc. for $477 million, including upfront and earn out payments. The deal marks Getinge’s entry into the global organ preservation and transportation market, a rapidly advancing field driven by rising transplant volumes, technological innovations and evolving clinical practices.
Route 92 Medical Inc., of San Mateo, Calif., reported a class I recall of nearly 1,000 microcatheters because of reports of separation of the distal tip of the catheter, which is associated with two injuries and one reported death. The company indicated that the problematic catheters had been manufactured by an unidentified contract supplier, once again highlightingthe hazards of a failure to properly oversee the contract manufacture of critical medical devices.
Getinge AB has acquired Healthmark Industries Co. Inc. for $320 million on a cash and debt basis in a bid to bolster its presence in sterile reprocessing in the U.S. The deal was financed using cash on hand and existing credit facilities. Getinge expects to fully integrate Healthmark’s operations by the end of 2024 and is not expected to see any material integration costs in 2023 and 2024.
Getinge AB received U.S. FDA premarket approval (PMA) for its Icast covered stent system, which has been used by clinicians for 20 years under the brand name Advanta V12. Icast is designed to treat patients with iliac arterial occlusive disease, a type of peripheral arterial disease where atherosclerosis narrows and blocks peripheral arteries.
