Globus Medical Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to buy Nuvasive Inc. in an all-stock transaction that will combine two leaders in the musculoskeletal industry into one of the largest companies in the spinal surgery market. While there are many companies in the spine market, the acquisition may still set off an alarm among regulators concerned about consolidation in the field. Both boards unanimously approved the deal. Read More
Abbott Laboratories reported its plans to acquire Cardiovascular Systems Inc., (CSI), makers of an orbital atherectomy system, and will pay shareholders of CSI $20 per share. Analysts see the acquisition as a smart move for Abbott even though the purchase price represents a 50%-plus premium over the Feb. 8 closing price of $13.31, but the companies did not provide a date by which the transaction will close. Read More
Feeling “ashamed” of having to use metal flesh-piercing forceps to stabilize the cervix during the insertion of intrauterine contraceptive devices, David Finci a gynecologist and co-founder of Aspivix SA, turned to his brother Julien, a medical device engineer, for his thoughts on how to design a more suitable instrument. Read More
Bayer AG acquired Blackford Analysis Ltd., a British developer of artificial intelligence systems that help make diagnoses using medical images in the U.K. and U.S. The companies did not disclose any financial details. “This deal is part of our strategy to drive innovation in radiology, including the development and adoption of AI within the workflow, with the goal of ultimately improving patient care and advance our position in digital medical imaging,” Stefan Oelrich, a board member at Bayer AG and president of Bayer’s pharmaceutical division, told BioWorld. Read More
With China taking steps to enact or propose amendments to more than 60 intellectual property (IP)-related laws and regulations over the past few years, drug and device companies doing business in the country need to keep abreast of the changes. Despite China’s efforts, most of the participants in the Feb. 9 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s quarterly China IP webinar indicated in a pre-webinar survey that they have yet to see much of an improvement in China’s enforcement and regulation of IP rights. Read More
New hires and promotions in the med-tech industry, including: Bioventrix, Eclinical, Emids, Eurobio Scientific, Hyperfine, Sharps Technology, Verily Life Sciences. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Bluestar Telehealth, Medtronic, Seqone Genomics. Read More
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Airway Management, Allurion, Assure, Clarity, Dermtech, Foundation Medicine, GE Healthcare, Labcorp, Nanovibronix, Neurosense, Quantalx, Roche, Seastar Medical. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Ibex. Read More
