Medical devices are a vital component to the overarching life science industry, with devices ranging from cardiovascular, dental, implants and prosthetics, in vitro diagnostics and neurological to name a few.
A market research report by Technavio estimates that the global medical device industry will grow at a compound annual growth rate of five percent between 2018 and 2022 resulting in an increase of diseases, including: acute and chronic, cardiovascular, neurological, orthopedic and respiratory.
In short, what this means is the need for medical devices to treat these diseases is only going to continue rising. Case in point, in 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved or cleared 55 devices in 2018 alone, which translates to roughly one approval per week.
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Including: 3+ stocks to watch as well as valuable market data Get My Free ReportClick here to download for freeCurrent FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb released a statement on March 15 indicating this is an “unprecedented era in medical devices.” He said advancements in material sciences have “led to technological breakthroughs,” including the 3D printing of medical devices, continuous glucose monitoring patches for diabetes, and “miniaturized” brain implants for treating epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.
However, in the statement, Gottlieb said the agency will be taking measures to more closely evaluate the materials that go into medical devices and “improve the safety of devices for patients.”
Gottlieb said the FDA will collect input from patients, device manufacturers, researchers and physicians to better understand concerns and to gather ideas on how the FDA should proceed.
“Any new initiatives we implement must be rooted in putting patient safety first and based on sound science,” the statement read.
On that note, while the FDA plans to ramp up its review process on evaluating medical devices, the agency has cleared or approved five so far this year. Here, the Investing News Network takes a closer look at four of the devices which were developed by publicly-traded companies. For more information on the FDA approval process, you can read about it here.
1. Sangia Total PSA Test
The Sangia Total Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test device was developed by OPKO Health (NASDAQ:OPK) and was FDA approved on January 30. The device is used as a tool in diagnosing prostate cancer and is the first point-of-care test that provides PSA results where the patient is being looked at, such as a doctor’s office, rather than waiting for lab results. PSA is a protein that is produced by cancerous and non-cancerous tissues in the prostate gland.
The tests are done with a finger prick with results usually available within 15 minutes. The blood sample is collected and fills up the Sample Collector of the device, which connects to the Cassette Assembly that is installed into the Claros 1 Analyzer to finish the test.
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Including: 3+ stocks to watch as well as valuable market data Get My Free ReportClick here to download for freeOverall, the device aims to detect prostate cancer in men over the age of 50. A clinical study tested the safety and effectiveness of the Sangia Total PSA test in more than 4340 men across 10 different sites in the US. Results of the trial indicated the device is safe and effective in detecting prostate cancer.
In the company’s Q4 2018 results, OPKO Health said that it is proceeding to obtain CLIA waiver for the test and analyzer for its Sangia Total PSA Test using the Claros 1 analyzer. The waiver would allow the test to be done by “most medical office personnel” without training while the company also plans to have the device scaled up for “manufacturing capacity” sometime in 2019.
2. MANTA Vascular Closure Device
The MANTA Vascular Closure device, which was created by Essential Medical, which was acquired by Telefex (NYSE:TFX) in October 2018, was FDA approved on February 1.
This product is intended to close large puncture sites in large vessels of the leg, particularly the femoral artery, after catheterization procedures. The way it works is a surgeon uses the device by putting a toggle-collagen plug in the punctured area of the leg to stop blood from flowing. From there, the toggle is released in the vessel while the collagen is placed outside of the vessel.
According to a press release issued by Teleflex, the MANTA Vascular Closure Device, which received premarket approval from the FDA, is the first commercially available biomechanical vascular closure device specifically for large bore femoral arterial access site closure. Data from the clinical trial demonstrated it achieved “fast reliable biomechanical closure with rapid hemostasis” and met all primary and secondary endpoints.
3. M6-C Artificial Cervical Disc
The M6-C Artificial Cervical Disc device was developed by Spinal Kinetics, a company that was acquired by Orthofix Medical (NASDAQ:OFIX) in 2018. This product received FDA approval on February 6.
An Orthofix Medical press release indicates the device is designed for patients with cervical disc degeneration, which is intended to replace an intervertebral disc damaged by the condition.
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Including: 3+ stocks to watch as well as valuable market data Get My Free ReportClick here to download for freeThe product contains a series of polymer fibers, which are ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, “wound in a specific pattern.” The M6-C device is implanted, and works by replacing a damaged or diseased disc in the neck or spine and helps to relieve pain and “allow motion in all directions.”
According to Orthofix Medical, the M6-C device is the only artificial cervical device that “mimics” the anatomic structure of a natural disc by integrating an artificial visco-elastic nucleus and fiber annulus into the design.
The device received premarket approval, which was based on clinical data from a US Investigational Device Exemption study that showed safety and effectiveness of the product when compared to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for treating symptomatic cervical radiculopathy with or without cord compression.
Orthofix Medical estimates releasing the device sometime in 2019 by way of a controlled, limited market launch across the US with a training and education curriculum for surgeons.
4. MitraClip NT Clip Delivery System and MitraClip NTR/XTR Clip Delivery System
The final product to land on the list are two devices that are updated models of the MitraClip Clip Delivery System, which had previously received FDA approval. This product line is developed by Abbott Vascular, which is a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT).
The FDA granted approval for the system on March 14. In a press release issued by Abbott, the company states this is the first ever minimally invasive mitral valve repair device to assist difficult-to-treat heart failure patients with significant secondary mitral regurgitation. The approval is based off results of the COAPT Trial.
According to the regulatory agency, the MitraClip is implanted using a tube-like device through the femoral vein in the leg which is guided into the left side of the heart. The device aims to reduce the amount of blood that moves in the wrong direction through the mitral valve, which will improve heart failure symptoms, quality of life and increased chance of survival to name a few.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Jocelyn Aspa, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.