Strategy
Valued at over $1.9bn, ConcertAI is building on its pre-existing multi-agentic AI SaaS solution CARAai to bring life science customers the new Precision suite of applications: Precision Explorer, Precision Trials, Precision GTM and Precision360.
Roche aims to grow its diagnostics sales by mid to high single digits, said CEO of Roche Diagnostics Matt Sause. The company unveiled the Axelios synthesis and sequencing solution and discussed its “long-term commitment” to China, as well as its business strategy for the next five years.
BD is accelerating transitions of product sourcing for China to avoid tariffs. Historically, products like Vacutainer were exported from Sumter, SC, to China, and Flush was shipped from Columbus, NE.
During MD&M East in Manhattan last week, a panel of experts discussed how the Trump administration’s trade policy is affecting manufacturing and offered some ideas on what manufacturers can do to help mitigate the chaos.
Surgify Medical’s selective drill tip, Surgify Halo, is “an obvious choice for surgeons,” said Boris Hofmann, head of ZEISS Ventures and lead investor in the company’s series A funding round.
German Bionic’s new exoskeleton Exia helps healthcare practitioners, nurses, and other caregivers to lift and move patients by supporting muscle movement and reducing the risk of injury.
Medtronic expects operating profit to grow approximately 7% in fiscal 2026, excluding tariff impacts. If tariffs materialize at the upper end of the projected range, operating profit growth could drop by 2.2 to 3.2 percentage points.
Medtronic’s diabetes spin-out – a process likely to run up to 18 months and involve 20% IPO followed by a split-off for Medtronic shareholders – will allow firm to focus on higher-margin devices.
The brunt of the tariff exposure stems from Singapore and Costa Rica, which together account for an estimated 70% to 80% of the tariff-related cost burden. Less than 10% of the exposure is tied to China.
Mirvie launched Encompass, a blood test to help identify women over age 35 who are at moderate risk for preeclampsia, and will conduct additional studies to support reimbursements from payers.
Apart from the reimbursement-driven turbulence in diagnostics, other aspects of Danaher’s China business are showing signs of resilience. Patient volumes remain strong and the company does not see evidence that the Chinese government is attempting to actively push Western suppliers out of its healthcare system.
The REFLECT studies showed a 78% reduction in cardiovascular disease-related hospitalization for people living with type 1 diabetes with prior low blood sugar episodes.
Despite Danaher’s confident outlook, the company acknowledged near-term profitability fluctuations, particularly in the second quarter. Matt McGrew, Danaher’s CFO, clarified during the company’s first-quarter earnings call on 22 April, that expected operating margin softness in the second quarter – forecast at 25.5% – was not related to tariffs, but to seasonal dynamics in its respiratory diagnostics business.
Roche’s Indianapolis site currently produces 5.2 billion Accu-Chek test strips annually and supports distribution to 53 countries. The new CGM line will add to an already diversified operational footprint, which includes R&D, laboratories, manufacturing, and IT services.
Digital pathology makes it possible to unlock insights previously hidden to the human eye, “reshaping how we diagnose and treat patients,” said Nathan Buchbinder, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Proscia. He shared his views on the future of digital pathology and the lessons he has learned from working with pathologists.
“It’s quite likely [consumer wearable manufacturers] are changing the sensitivity and specificity based on consumer feedback, but not for medical reasons,” said Dipak Kotecha, a University of Birmingham professor of cardiology. Often, self-reported performance evidence from manufacturers is “low quality and biased.”
GE HealthCare anticipates most of the $0.85 EPS tariff impact will play out in the second half of 2025. Jay Saccaro, vice president and CFO, said the tariff-related burden is minimal in Q1 at about $10 million, rising to nearly $100 million in Q2 and then spiking to around $200 million each in Q3 and Q4.
Peerbridge Health is preparing to submit its next-generation ECG patch, CorMDx, for US FDA clearance this quarter, with plans to launch in the second half of 2025. The rechargeable device is designed for continuous, real-time heart monitoring from the hospital to home, aiming to detect early signs of heart failure and reduce emergency room visits.
Dexcom’s relatively strong position amid tariff-related uncertainty is rooted in its long-standing investments in domestic manufacturing, but raw material inflation is driving cost concerns even in the face of operational efficiencies.
New continuous glucose monitoring manufacturing site in Indiana is part of Roche’s plan to boost its US presence. Roche’s launch of Accu-Chek SmartGuide system last year with AI-powered prediction capabilities puts it as a key differentiator from competitors such as Abbott and Dexcom.