Medical Devices Today

TCT Medical Offers A New Model For Device Distribution In China

Article preview from Start Up - July, 2010

China has become especially enticing as an unpenetrated, gigantic health care market, especially since the government in 2009 signed into effect a health care reform bill promising $125 billion over a three-year period to modernize the infrastructure of health care and provide insurance coverage to hundreds of millions of people. Medical device companies look to China as an enormous and rapidly growing market for medical disposables and equipment. However, the complex nature of the distribution infrastructure in China will make it difficult for companies to get a foothold. Headquartered in Beijing, TCT Medical Inc., which recently received $10 million in venture funding from Fidelity Asia Ventures and Fidelity Biosciences, its sister firm in the US, offers a potential solution for companies focused on women's health, and a model for the future.

Medtronic Plans To Test Patient Education Program In Beijing

Article preview from "The Gray Sheet"- June 14, 2010

The Medtronic Patient Care Center pilot program will launch Aug. 8 in Beijing to help educate prospective cardiovascular implant patients about the benefits and costs of the therapy, according to Jean-Luc Butel, group president of the company's international division.

Investing In China: Views from Windhover's PharmAsia Summit

Full article reprinted from Start Up - October/November 2009

A recap of the first annual PharmAsia Summit, outlining current views on the opportunities and risks associated with investing in China. Read more...

SEC, DoJ Beef Up Investigation Of Corporate Bribery And Corruption Overseas

Full article reprinted from "The Gray Sheet" - September 7, 2009

Device and pharmaceutical companies have been battered by government and congressional investigations of their domestic marketing practices. They now face increased scrutiny on another front as the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are stepping up their investigation of corporate corruption and bribery abroad. Read more...

Roche Diagnostics' Asia Pacific Head Roland Diggelmann On The Growth Of Diagnostics In China With Healthcare Reforms: An Interview With PharmAsia News

Full story reprinted from PharmAsia News - August 03, 2009

The head of Roche Diagnostics' operations in Asia Pacific said the region, and especially China, is primed for high-speed growth in terms of diagnostics. Roland Diggelmann, Managing Director of Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific, told PharmAsia News that diagnostics products can play a strengthening role in providing more efficient healthcare across Asia Pacific (PharmAsia News, Feb. 12, 2009). Roche Diagnostics, in turn, is focused on leveraging its research and development to become a top provider of diagnostics products in the region. Read more...

Eisai To Market U.K.'s Biocompatibles' Drug-Eluting Beads In Japan; Dips Toes In Device R&D; Risk

 Full story reprinted from PharmAsia News - July 30, 2009

TOKYO - In a rare arrangement for a Japanese pharma, Eisai said July 28 it signed a licensing agreement with Biocompatibles International to develop and market the U.K. company's drug-eluting bead products DC Bead and Precision Bead in Japan. Read more...

Shanghai Hi-Tech Park Acquires Stake In Medical Devices Company MicroPort As Part Of Overhaul Of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Industry

Full article reprinted from PharmAsia News - July 9, 2009

SHANGHAI - Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development announced June 27 the company will pay $85.35 million to acquire a 24.4 percent stake in MicroPort Scientific.

Hitachi Medical Of Japan To Expand Production Of High-End MRIs

Full translation summary from PharmAsia News - April 27, 2009

Japan's Hitachi Medical plans a 10 percent increase in sales with greater production of its imaging devices, particularly its MRI scanners.

China Using Healthcare Reforms To Upgrade National Medical Device Industry

Full translation summary from PharmAsia News - April 27, 2009

Sang Guowei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, recently headed a delegation to Jiangsu, Shanghai and Chongqing to conduct studies on implementing healthcare reforms in grassroots healthcare institutions.

Tianjin To Establish Quality Test Center For Medical Devices

Full translation summary from PharmAsia News - April 06, 2009

According to Tianjin municipal FDA, the city's medical device quality test and supervision center is stepping up the pace of constructing its RMB 100 million building.