COVID-19: Page 3
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FDA seeks feedback on plans to draft and finalize medical device guidance in 2023
The agency’s review includes guidance on transitioning away from emergency use authorizations, while abandoning plans for guidance on software as a medical device.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 19, 2022 -
Avellino, Cepheid, GeneMatrix update COVID-19 test EUAs amid shift in FDA’s approach
COVID-19 test manufacturers have amended their fact sheets to state that diagnostics cleared or approved by the agency should be used instead of their emergency-authorized kits.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 17, 2022 -
Abbott, J&J and Intuitive to lead off medtech earnings season; procedures, supply chain in spotlight
Results from the three companies are expected to shed light on how the economic slowdown is affecting procedure trends in the industry.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 17, 2022 -
Hospital staff shortages spurred drop in TAVR procedures in Q3, surgeon survey shows
Staffing at hospitals is expected to remain disrupted until at least 2024, reducing the number of surgeries, more than 40% of respondents said.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 14, 2022 -
Jiangsu Well Biotech distributed unapproved COVID-19 tests, FDA says
The company is the latest firm to recall rapid antigen tests that had never received an emergency use authorization or clearance from the regulator.
By Elise Reuter • Oct. 12, 2022 -
Quest agrees to buy Ohio-based health system’s lab-testing business
It’s the latest deal in a string of acquisitions by commercial laboratory companies as hospitals seek to cut costs and improve testing capacity.
By Elise Reuter • Oct. 6, 2022 -
Pulse oximeter bias delayed treatment of Black COVID-19 patients by hours: study
An author of the paper called for manufacturers to “go back to the drawing board to provide clinicians with a tool that is free from bias.”
By Nick Paul Taylor • Sept. 30, 2022 -
FDA switches COVID-19 tests to De Novo, 510(k) pathways, limiting EUAs
The FDA will still review EUA requests from “experienced developers” of tests that meet certain criteria.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Sept. 28, 2022 -
Puerto Rico-based lab ceases COVID-19 test; FDA revokes EUA
The FDA disclosed the action alongside updates to the instructions for use for Thermo Fisher Scientific’s TaqPath COVID-19 test.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Sept. 26, 2022 -
Racial bias in pulse oximeters to be subject of FDA panel
The design of the ubiquitous fingertip monitors has inadvertently caused false blood oxygen readings in darker-skinned patients, a problem the FDA hopes to fix.
By Peter Green • Sept. 16, 2022 -
CDC backs updated COVID shots from Pfizer, Moderna
One day after the FDA’s authorization, the CDC recommended the companies’ omicron-targeted vaccines for most adults and children over 12 years old.
By Delilah Alvarado • Sept. 2, 2022 -
Another COVID-19 test supplier ordered by FDA to take its products off the market
USA Medical has been warned by FDA that its rapid antigen tests had not been cleared or authorized by the agency.
By Elise Reuter • Sept. 1, 2022 -
FDA clears updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer, Moderna
The new shots, which are designed to better target circulating strains of omicron, could be available within days. Advisers to the CDC are set to meet later this week.
By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 31, 2022 -
FDA takes N95 respirators off medical device shortage list
Respirators were one of the first medical devices identified as being in critical shortage during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the agency said.
By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 29, 2022 -
Moderna sues Pfizer, BioNTech over COVID-19 vaccine technology
The biotech claims its rivals’ vaccine Comirnaty, one of the world’s top-selling pharmaceutical products, infringes on two patents covering its messenger RNA technology.
By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 26, 2022 -
Medical device industry poised to withstand an economic slowdown, experts say
While procedures volumes may decline, analysts said the effects likely won’t reach levels seen in 2020 or during the Great Recession.
By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 22, 2022 -
Q&A
Friday Q&A: ResMed CEO Mick Farrell discusses Philips recall, improving supply chain, prioritizing patients
The executive spoke about managing a 12-month patient backlog following a spike in demand due to Philips’ recall and supply constraints.
By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 19, 2022 -
Medical device recalls hit two-year high in Q2, report finds
While the number of recalls jumped in the period, the total units affected dropped to the lowest point in five years.
By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 18, 2022 -
Insulet raises forecast as Omnipod 5 sales climb; Tandem expects tougher market in second half
Both insulin pump companies grew revenue by more than 10% in the second quarter, but Tandem lowered its 2022 forecast amid a tougher market, while Insulet increased its guidance.
By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 11, 2022 -
Roundup: Medical device industry confident it can ride out recession, wary of slowing capital sales
While companies may weather a recession, they still face challenges like hospital staffing shortages, supply chain disruption and inflation, RBC Capital Markets analysts wrote.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Updated Aug. 10, 2022 -
QuidelOrtho reports 37.5% sales growth in first quarter since $6B merger
The testing firm is increasing sales after Quidel merged with Ortho, opening opportunities to cut costs and increase point-of-care and molecular diagnostics revenue.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Aug. 5, 2022 -
BD’s base business growth in Q3 offset by drop in COVID-19 testing
The company reported a year-over-year drop of about $224 million in COVID-19 testing revenue compared to 2021, with the testing slowdown expected to continue.
By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 4, 2022 -
Siemens Healthineers stumbles as lockdowns, falling COVID-19 sales and rising costs hit business
Lockdowns in China caused a steep decline in equipment orders and a big setback to the firm’s core diagnostic business, even as the company expects to meet full year revenue targets.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Aug. 3, 2022 -
North American Diagnostics latest to recall COVID-19 tests, gets Class I label from FDA
The recall adds to a list of medtech firms that have been forced to withdraw illegally distributed COVID-19 tests, amid concerns they could yield false results.
By Ricky Zipp • Aug. 2, 2022 -
FDA reauthorizes Meridian’s COVID-19 test after changes to enable omicron detection
The renewed emergency use authorization comes as SD Biosensor works to close its $1.53 billion takeover of Meridian.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Aug. 1, 2022