Zimmer posts $509M loss in Q1 as 80% of business faces COVID-19 hit

Like rivals, the medtech expects Q2 to bear the brunt of deferred procedures. But the pace of expected recovery thereafter is fluid and does not assume significant recurrence of the virus later this year, execs noted.

By Maria Rachal • May 11, 2020

AtriCure treatment for persistent AFib shows superiority in study

The ablation procedure met study goals among patients with hard-to-treat forms of the heart rhythm disorder, which analysts say put it on track for FDA approval to address a market worth at least $1 billion.

By Susan Kelly • May 11, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from MedTech Dive

From haphazard layoffs at the Food and Drug Administration to the industry’s current IPO environment and tracking FDA-authorized AI devices, here is a collection of top stories from MedTech Dive.

By MedTech Dive staff

Roundup: Q1 medtech reports give glimpse into coronavirus-era gains and losses

Much of the sector may be considered recession-proof — but it's not social distancing-proof. The last weeks of March previewed the dramatic trajectory of drops in routine testing and a mounting backlog of elective procedures.

By Maria Rachal • May 7, 2020

BD says surgery revenues fell as much as 70% in April

As it faces pandemic headwinds, BD is also continuing to deal with problems with its Alaris infusion pump system and modules and expects to record a $200 million charge related to remediation efforts.

By Greg Slabodkin • May 7, 2020

FDA details COVID-19 era reporting rules to stymie medical device shortages

Under new powers granted by the CARES Act for the duration of the health crisis, the guidance to industry lays out when and how to notify the agency about changes that could affect product availability.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 7, 2020

Canceled surgeries drive hospitals to estimate $200B in losses in early months of coronavirus

The American Hospital Association's approximation counts the first four months of the pandemic, including a forecast through June. It comes as the lobby pushes for more aid on top of the $175 billion Congress has allocated so far.

By Ron Shinkman • May 6, 2020

Notified bodies saw CE marks spike in 2019 ahead of now-delayed MDR

Team-NB attributed the surge to an industry push to get certified under the outgoing Medical Device Directive, before the COVID-19 pandemic led the EU to postpone the new regulations start date by a year.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 6, 2020

Deferred elective procedures wipe out Smith & Nephew revenues, prompting $200M in cost cuts

The medtech's sales were nearly halved in April due to the pandemic, with its orthopaedics, sports medicine and wound management lines all experiencing drops in demand. The company is “not reducing headcount at this stage."

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 6, 2020

Oncology systems maker Varian ekes out sales gain amid procedure delays

The company managed a 2% uptick in Q2 revenues despite the slowdown in non-essential procedures as people postponed routine screenings, which in turn has delayed the start of treatment for new cancer patients.

By Susan Kelly • May 5, 2020

AHA, societies share new roadmap amid restarts to TAVR, other postponed procedures

As more U.S. states ease coronavirus-driven restrictions on elective medical care, North American cardiovascular groups laid out stages of safe reintroduction for invasive procedures and diagnostic imaging.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 5, 2020

Respiratory muscle stimulator greenlighted by FDA for COVID-19 patients

In an attempt to more quickly free up sought-after ventilators and limit long-term health risks, the Liberate Medical device aims to provide therapy that reduces disuse atrophy of the abdominal wall muscles.

By Maria Rachal • May 4, 2020

7 states team up to buy $5B in ventilators, PPE to meet COVID-19 demand

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are aiming to use their combined purchasing power to drive down prices amid rivalry with other states and even the federal government.

By Rebecca Pifer • May 4, 2020

Ventilator sharing among states critical to save COVID-19 patient lives: Health Affairs paper

Without a coordinated federal effort to promote the exchange of the breathing assist machines, thousands more Americans will die in the coming weeks as the virus continues its rampage across the U.S., a new paper warns.

By Susan Kelly • May 4, 2020

Stryker sees 50% of revenue vulnerable to elective procedure pullback

Despite making it out of Q1 with total sales up 2%, the medtech's U.S. orthopaedics and spine sales dropped roughly 65% in April after a near total halt in non-essential procedures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

By Maria Rachal • May 1, 2020

Coronavirus surge in critical care sales helps Hillrom beat Q2 guidance

The company on Friday said it is hiring 300 additional staff globally to enable a fivefold increase in production of non-invasive ventilators, while doubling output of other products in high demand for COVID-19 patients. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 1, 2020

COVID-19 spurs 'incredible demand' for ventilators, buoying ResMed's 16% revenue uptick

CEO Mick Farrell told investors sales of breathing assist machines added $35 million in coronavirus-related revenue. However, sleep testing declined by double digits.

By Greg Slabodkin • May 1, 2020

Medtronic continuous dialysis system designed for small children gets FDA nod

The De Novo authorization, one of a only a handful doled out by the agency so far this year, gives Medtronic a chance to dominate a pediatric niche. Baxter tested a similar system but terminated the study in 2018.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 1, 2020

Abiomed buys artificial lung device for use with Impella, potential COVID-19 patients

The addition of a novel ECMO system comes as management attributed declines in recent heart pump sales to lingering negative sentiment following a pair of studies released last year and the pandemic's impact on procedures.

By Maria Rachal • April 30, 2020

Hologic to launch 2nd coronavirus test amid broader sales slide

The molecular diagnostics business posted its best growth rate in eight years, but the breast health and surgical segments slowed as a result of postponed elective surgeries.

By Susan Kelly • April 30, 2020

Teleflex yanks guidance as coronavirus craters key product

Sales of UroLift plummeted 64% in the last two weeks of March, wiping out an important growth driver.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 30, 2020

Baxter cites 'extraordinary' Q1 demand from customers fighting coronavirus

Revenues grew 6% to $2.8 billion thanks to growth across all six of the company's global business units and three geographic segments.

By Greg Slabodkin • April 30, 2020

AdvaMed pushes US to lift tariffs on Chinese imports of COVID-19 devices

The trade group wants indefinite exemptions for imaging components and devices used in ventilators, among other items. It also floated a compromise: re-imposing them one year after the pandemic passes.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 30, 2020

Boston Scientific sees April sales cut in half amid coronavirus

One potential area of optimism: two-thirds of the device giant's business comes from procedures in outpatient settings like ambulatory surgery centers and physicians offices, which the company expects will resume operations sooner.

By Maria Rachal • April 29, 2020

Dexcom's hospital strategy accelerates, but next-gen iCGM path slows

The continuous glucose monitor manufacturer recorded its highest number of new users ever during the first quarter as it topped Wall Street revenue estimates by around $50 million, weathering a dip in business in late March.

By Maria Rachal • April 29, 2020

GE reducing healthcare headcount in $700M cost-cutting drive

The cuts come as the conglomerate seeks to adapt its business to volatility and pressures created by the global coronavirus pandemic.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 29, 2020