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The Golden Age in Cancer Medtech Investing

Short of investing in the kinds of products that must demonstrate five-year survival rates, the field of cancer offers many near term investment opportunities, and large markets to support them. As noted in US Disease Incidence and Prevalence, a report recently published by the Medtech Insight division of FDC-Windhover, like many diseases, the incidence of cancer increases with age. More than 10.8 million people in the US have a history of cancer; and in 2008, at least 1.4 million more people will be diagnosed. According to the Medtech Insight report, breast cancer has the highest prevalence rate, followed by prostate and colorectal cancers.

In the past few years, the market for cancer therapies and technologies has come a long way. Not so long ago, cancer posed many obstacles to investors including long development time lines to validate new science, prolonged regulatory pathways to demonstrate survival, and small, niche markets for drugs with limited efficacy in narrow patient populations. But all that is changing. There have been several heartening success stories in the field—the colorectal cancer drug cetuximab (Erbitux), for example, caused its developer, ImClone Systems Inc. to become the object of a bidding war, won in October 2008 by Eli Lilly & Co. The winning bid was $6.5 billion. [See Deal] (See "Eli Lilly’s Oncology Focus," IN VIVO, October 2008 Also see "Eli Lilly's Oncology Focus" - In Vivo, 1 October, 2008..)

Cancer is replacing cardiovascular disease as the large, underserved disease of aging (and an enormous, underserved market), judging by the...

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• By Ryan Nelson

Editor’s note: This is your final call to participate in the survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. The deadline is 20 September.

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Patients With Movement Disorders Will Benefit From Medtronic’s Expanded MRI Labeling For DBS

 
• By Marion Webb

Medtronic announced it received expanded MRI labeling for its DBS systems, which is critical, given that almost 70% of all DBS-eligible patients will likely need an MRI at some point in their care, says Ashwini Sharan, CMO for Medtronic Neuromodulation.

Podcast: Lung Life AI CEO Shares Regulatory And Reimbursement Journey For Lung Cancer Diagnostic

 
• By Natasha Barrow

In this episode, Medtech Insight reporter Natasha Barrow speaks to LungLife AI CEO Paul Pagano. Lung Life AI is a US-based AIM-listed medical technology company that has developed a liquid biopsy test for the early detection of lung cancer called Lung LB. Pagano runs through the highlights of Lung Life AI journey to date and its future ambition for a strategic partnership. He also provides advice to similar diagnostic companies seeking reimbursement andcompliance with the US FDA Lab Developed Test ruling.

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• By Medtech Insight Team

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Biden-Era Device Trial Snapshot Pilot Halted Amid DEI Policy Shift

 
• By Elizabeth Orr

The FDA's Device Clinical Trial Snapshot Pilot, aimed at increasing trial transparency and diversity, has been canceled following President Trump’s anti-DEI executive order. Critics warn this may hinder trial transparency, impacting public health and demographic data accessibility.

Fresh Off $100M IPO, Carlsmed Plans For Growth, 2026 Launch Of Customized Cervical Fusion Implant

 
• By Marion Webb

Fresh off an IPO, spinal implant maker Carlsmed is preparing to launch a new cervical fusion application for its aprevo tech. Medtech Insight has two perspectives on these recent moves: CEO Mike Cordonnier and the doctor who performed the first spinal fusion using the technology.