Microsoft Corp. will purchase Nuance Communications Inc. for $19.7 billion in cash in a move that demonstrates a massive commitment to building out the Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare reported in late 2020. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of 2021, doubles the Redmond, Wash.-based company’s total addressable market in the health care provider space, bringing it to nearly $500 billion. The size of the transaction is notable even for a company with the active acquisition history of Microsoft. Read More
Cosmo Artificial Intelligence Ltd. received the FDA’s nod for its GI Genius intelligent endoscopy system. The device – the first of its kind, according to the agency – uses artificial intelligence (AI)-based on machine learning to improve the detection of lesions during colonoscopy. It will be rolled out in the U.S. by Medtronic plc, which has exclusive worldwide distribution rights. Read More
The Biden administration has released an exceedingly brief budget framework for fiscal year 2022 that includes $6.5 billion for an advanced research program at the NIH, which mimics a similar program at the Department of Defense (DoD). Beyond that, there is a clear indication that the CDC would see an uptick in monies, but the proposal offers no numbers for the FDA budget, making this one of the skinnier budget proposals to come out of the White House in recent memory. Read More
In just one quarter, 14 med-tech companies overall, nearly half the number in 2020, debuted on public markets around the world, and venture capital (VC) financings for the industry have hit a five-year record. The IPOs raised a total of $3.7 billion, a more than 15-fold increase from last year’s first quarter, whereas 107 VC rounds brought in 77% more, or $4.1 billion, in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021. Read More
LONDON – A large scale prospective study has shown that increased blood plasma viscosity is correlated with disease severity and the likelihood of progression to organ failure, in patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19 infections. Researchers at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, U.K. suggest this could be an easy but sensitive way to quickly triage patients admitted to hospital with symptoms of COVID-19. Read More
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Angiodynamics, Avantor Performance Materials, Diasorin, Luminex, Mediphos Diagnostics Belux, Respicardia, Technomed, Zoll Medical. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Cosmo, Lucira Health, Masimo, Medtronic, Myhomedoc, Thermo Fisher Scientific. Read More
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting medical devices and technologies, including: Medtronic recalls electrophysiology units over battery depletion; ASCA labs listed by FDA. Read More
Keeping you up to date on recent developments in cardiology, including: Rheumatic aortic stenosis responds well to TAVR vs. SAVR; Cardiac MR may improve correct diagnosis of left ventricular non-compaction; Better management needed for infarct patients with mechanical complications. Read More
