Surmodics Inc. reported that it has completed enrollment in the pivotal TRANSCEND clinical trial to evaluate its Surveil drug-coated balloon (DCB), hitting the first in a series of product development milestones tied to an exclusive licensing agreement with Abbott Laboratories. The Eden Prairie, Minn.-based company will receive $10 million for reaching this goal. The randomized, controlled study enrolled 446 patients at 65 sites in the U.S. and abroad and aims to assess the Surveil DCB in treating peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the upper leg. Read More
Dublin-based Medtronic plc reported the retirement of CEO Omar Ishrak effective April 26, 2020. In a move that may lead to further changes at the company, the board named Geoff Martha, currently executive vice president of Medtronic's restorative therapies group, Ishrak's successor. Martha edged out the previous frontrunner for the job, Mike Coyle, who heads Medtronic's cardiac and vascular group, the company's largest division. Read More
