Diabetes wearables look resilient through 2021, bucking broad medtech trends

Dexcom, Tandem and Insulet pointed to targeting Type 2 patients and DTC as growth drivers in posting year-end results. One analyst gushed that "the golden age of diabetes care is still here."

By Ricky Zipp • Feb. 25, 2021

Google opening office near Mayo Clinic campus to galvanize tech collaboration

The goal of the business venture is to form an "AI factory" churning out algorithms and other digital products in a variety of clinical specialties.

By Rebecca Pifer • Feb. 19, 2021

COVID-19 leads to explosion in cyberattacks, data breaches

A survey from CI Security found successful hacks involving healthcare organizations or their business associates soared in the second half of last year, leading to a jump in the number of breached patient records.

By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 12, 2021

Dexcom touts boost from Super Bowl ad, sidesteps access complaints

While acknowledging concerns of the diabetic community, CEO Kevin Sayer said the company has a business to run and "by making more people aware" of CGMs "we'd have a much more positive effect than negative."

By Ricky Zipp • Feb. 12, 2021

Abbott, Medtronic could benefit as spinal cord stim seen rebounding

Physicians plan to prescribe 28% more implants than last year, driving sales above the high hit in 2019, according to a survey of 50 doctors by Baird Equity Research.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 12, 2021

Dexcom's Super Bowl ad puts focus on cost, access issues in diabetes tech

The maker of continuous glucose monitors deflected the criticism, calling the ad an education move to improve access for patients. Questions remain regarding how pricing impacts access to potentially life-saving devices.

By Ricky Zipp • Feb. 9, 2021

Pandemic habits could cause US health spending to decelerate over 2 decades, Deloitte predicts

The consultancy's predictive modeling based its estimate on the rise of digital health products and more consumer engagement. Such a slowing contrasts more dire spending forecasts made prior to the COVID-19 crisis.

By Rebecca Pifer • Feb. 8, 2021

Roundup: Medtech earnings season continues to show COVID-19 uncertainty

BD, Quest Diagnostics and Roche all said they have a clearer view of the first quarter of 2021 but not the second half of the year, while Boston Scientific forecast electives pressure in the first quarter recovering in the second half.

Feb. 5, 2021

FDA appoints first medical device cybersecurity chief

University of Michigan professor Kevin Fu will serve a one-year term as acting cyber director at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Experts fear the chaos of the pandemic creates the perfect storm for hackers to exploit.

By Greg Slabodkin • Feb. 3, 2021

From COVID-19 EUAs to 'insidious' remote care risks: ECRI's top 10 medtech hazards

Risks highlighted by the watchdog include FDA emergency use authorizations and the rapid adoption of telehealth, both of which have increased during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Susan Kelly • Feb. 1, 2021

4 key trends for medtech in 2021

With resurgence of the coronavirus and emergence of more contagious strains, COVID-19 challenges, but also opportunities, lie ahead for medical device and diagnostics companies.

By Greg Slabodkin • Jan. 29, 2021

3 big predictions for digital health in 2021

As tech and data sharing become more pervasive, healthcare will likely pivot to being more predictive and telehealth will evolve, giving rise to new modalities of care. This will force companies to invest more in cybersecurity.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 29, 2021

Low Medicare EKG device draft slams iRhythm, stock price sinks by over 30%

Wall Street analysts questioned whether the lower-than-expected rates are final and what the prospects are for renegotiation. Shares of market leader iRhythm fell over 32% on Friday.

By Ricky Zipp • Updated Feb. 1, 2021

CGM, insulin pump players look to 2021 as watershed year for diabetes wearables market

Insulet, Dexcom and Medtronic have product launches set for this year, and all look to capitalize on the recent skyrocketing of virtual care due to the coronavirus pandemic.

By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 29, 2021

New iRhythm CEO on national pricing setback, Medtronic market expansion lessons

Michael Coyle will try to build off the cardiac monitoring company's recent success amid a telehealth boom. Shares have jumped by over 175% in the last 12 months.

By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 28, 2021

England's NHS moves to boost access to Quidel, Roche, other medtech products

To be a part of the National Health Services' MedTech Funding Mandate, companies must be able to make the claim that their products generate net savings in their first year of use.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 27, 2021

Philips beats Q4 expectations as COVID-19 boosts connected care, slows procedures

The Dutch conglomerate will continue to be active on the M&A front, CEO Frans van Houten told investors, after striking two deals in the space over the past month worth more than $3.4 billion.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 25, 2021

Healthcare funding shatters records in 2020, helped by COVID-19

Medical device startups raised roughly $6 billion in the fourth quarter, a high point over the last three years, according to a CB Insights report.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 22, 2021

Hillrom makes cardiac monitoring play with $375M BardyDx buy

The deal fits Hillrom's existing heart portfolio and efforts to connect devices to the internet, analysts said, but one raised concerns about Medicare reimbursement.

By Susan Kelly • Jan. 20, 2021

Forging trust in AI, sustaining the virtual care boom and other CES takeaways

"You can't just set a piece of software in front of somebody and say 'trust me,'" Christina Silcox, digital health fellow at the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, said at the consumer tech conference.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 19, 2021

MedTech Europe calls for EU to retain support for digital health post-pandemic

The industry wants reimbursement changes and other measures to make digital health permanent.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 19, 2021

Philips to acquire Capsule Technologies in $635M deal, growing patient data capabilities

The move follows the medtech giant's $2.8 billion acquisition of cardiac monitoring company BioTelemetry in December, one of 2020's largest deals.

By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 19, 2021

Neuromod portfolios advance at Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Abbott

The flurry of activity is further evidence of the medtech industry’s latest attempts to make progress in a sector criticized as stagnant just one year ago.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 15, 2021

Google calls Fitbit acquisition complete despite ongoing DOJ review

The search giant closed the deal because the department's 14-month investigation period expired without any objection. However, DOJ could still sue to unwind the buy.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 14, 2021

Remote monitoring, wearable companies look to capitalize on virtual care boom: JPM21

Diabetes players Dexcom and Insulet both projected business growth and market expansion for this year during presentations.

By Ricky Zipp • Jan. 14, 2021