Medtronic and MiniMed: Stuck on the Balance Sheet

MiniMed's growth rate has been slipping down through the teens for some time: the introduction of long-acting basal insulin is slowing growth of its core insulin pump business, and development of a continuous glucose monitoring system has seemingly slowed to a snail's pace. And the dynamic growth opportunity envisioned two years ago, when Medtronic bought MiniMed, is now impinging on the parent corporation's balance sheet.