Top Device Companies

St. Jude, Zimmer Weather Hospital-Equipment Cuts When Others Do Not

St. Jude Medical and Zimmer Holdings appear to be weathering the effort by hospitals to cut costs by paying lower prices for medical devices. Both companies indicated in quarterly reports they were well-positioned to survive the current down economy. Their reports were significant in a market that saw rivals Johnson & Johnson and Stryker already hit by lowered orthopedic sales to hospitals. (Click here for more)

“Zimmer, St. Jude Beat Street; Fight Price Pressure” – Reuters (7/22/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

J&J Draws On Other Device Sales To Overcome Defibrillator Problems

Johnson & Johnson’s medical devices helped to offset an otherwise disappointing quarterly report for the company. The firm said its orthopedic-products unit faced pricing pressures in the United States and Europe, particularly for its spinal devices. J&J also expects its surgical-procedure products to lead some of the favorable trends it sees for the device sector. The DePuy subsidiary was considered especially vulnerable to hospital cost-cutting, leading to tougher negotiations for lower prices for devices. (Click here for more)

“J&J Sends Mixed Signals About Medical-Device Sector Trends” – Nasdaq (Dow Jones) (7/20/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

J&J, Covidien May Set Trend With Buys Of Neurovascular Firms

Johnson & Johnson and Coviden may be setting a new trend by buying smaller firms specializing in neuroscience products. Covidien bought ev3 for $2.6 billion just a year after ev3 itself bought the smaller Chestnut Medical Technologies for $26 million. While Covidien completed its ev3 purchase, J&J said it would buy Micrus Endovascular for $480 million. An analyst guessed that Boston Scientific’s neurovascular unit might be the next acquisition target and suggested Abbott Laboratories and Medtronic might have to buy other neuro assets to stay competitive. (Click here for more)

“Covidien, J&J Getting Into People’s Heads” – Investors Business Daily (7/16/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

J&J To Buy Micrus For $480 Million In Race With Covidien, ev3

Johnson & Johnson plans to buy Micrus Endovascular and its devices for preventing stroke for $480 million. The purchase is seen as an effort by J&J to remain a strong competitor of Covidien in the neurovascular sector of the market. Covidien said the previous week it would buy ev3 for $2.6 billion to obtain the same type of products.Boston Scientific also is a significant player in the sector and could take advantage of the increased interest as it undergoes a restructuring effort. (Click here for more – a subscription may be required)

“J&J To Acquire Micrus To Bolster Stroke Lineup” – Wall Street Journal (7/13/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

J&J’s Ethicon Endo-Surgery Sells Breast-Care Line To Devicor

Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon Endo-Surgery has sold its breast-care business to Devicor Medical Products to become the buyer’s Mammotome subsidiary. The purchase also included Devicor marketing and distribution rights for Ethicon Endo-Surgery’s Neoprobe Gamma Detection Systems. The financial arrangements were not disclosed. Devicor is owned by a private-equity firm, GTCR Golder Rauner. (Click here for more)

“Devicor Buys Ethicon Endo-Surgery Breast Care Biz From Johnson & Johnson” – MassDevice (7/12/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

J&J’s DePuy Sued In Florida Over Hip Replacement System

Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopedics Unit has been named in a lawsuit alleging it knowingly sold a defective hip replacement system. The suit by a Florida woman said the product involved wasDePuy’s ASR metal-on-metal hip, which was implanted in her in March, 2008. The suit said DePuy failed to warn physicians the device was defective and that it was subject to a high rate of failure. (Click here for more)

“Florida Woman Sues DePuy Orthopedics Over Hip Implant” – Mass Device (6/15/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

GE, J&J, Abbott, Medtronic Lead Devices Lobbying Spree Early In Year

Abbott,Medtronic, Boston Scientific and other major device makers spent $20 million during the first quarter of this year lobbying in the nation’s capital. Filings the companies are required to make show General Electric alone contributed more than $7.1 million while a proposal to increase taxes on medical devices was being considered by Congress. Johnson & Johnson spent $2.4 million, Abbott Laboratories more than $1.8 million, Medtronic and Baxter Healthcare more than $1.2 million each, while Boston Scientific reported spending only $605,000 during the period. (Click here for more)

“Medical Device Makers’ Lobby Bill: $20 Million” – MedCity News (6/14/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

J&J Says Medical Devices 38 Percent Of Sales, Led By Depuy, Ethicon

Johnson & Johnson says its medical-device business now accounts for more than a third of the vast health-care products company’s annual sales. Medical devices and diagnostics are produced by seven companies owned by J&J, and together they account for 43 percent of profits, 38 percent of sales. The leading unit in terms of sales for the first quarter of this year was DePuy with $1.5 billion, followed by Ethicon Endo-Surgery with $1.2 billion, Ethicon at $1.12 billion, andCordis and Vision Care, each with $700 million in sales. (Click here for more)

“Johnson & Johnson Showcases Its Medical Devices” – MedCity News (6/7/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

J&J Sees Continued Price Increases In Europe For Devices, Diagnostics

Johnson & Johnson believes prices for medical devices and diagnostics in Europe will rise in the near term, but eventually will have to succumb to pressures to hold down expenses. The forecast comes from J&J’s Alex Gorsky, worldwide chairman for devices and diagnostics. He said he expects the part of that market that J&J focuses on, now judged to be worth $350 million, to grow over the next few years at a faster rate than the overall market in Europe. As for J&J, he said to expect about 80 significant filings in Europe over the next two years. (Click here for more – a subscription may be required)

“J&J Sees Longer-Term Device Price Pressure In Europe” – Wall Street Journal (6/3/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

J&J’s Cordis Drops Plans To Develop Own Transcatheter Heart Valves

Cordis, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has decided not to attempt to develop its own replacement heart valves, instead to enter the hot device market by investing in a firm already there. Cordis seeks to use J&J’s venture-capital arm to invest in the market, dropping previous plans to develop its own devices. Cordis Chairman Seth Fischer said the current plan is to form collaborations and partnerships to enter a market already crowded with 40 emerging companies. (Click here for more – a subscription may be required)

“J&J’s Cordis Isn’t Working On Transcatheter Valves Internally” – Wall Street Journal (6/3/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!