Recalls

A failure to properly route cardiac events has led Philips to recall its heart monitoring software that interprets ECG data. Multiple injuries and two deaths are associated with the problem.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is advising companies to get up to speed with its new recall procedure, which is designed to improve the timeliness of recalls, alerts and corrections, and reduce regulatory burden for sponsors.

The settlement with the SEC closes out safety issues around the company’s Alaris infusion pumps. BD reportedly failed to alert investors or the FDA of known problems with the infusion pumps’ software for several years.

The US FDA has issued its first communication as part of a new pilot program the agency initiated to increase transparency in recalls of high-risk medical devices. The early alerts are meant to minimize the time between the FDA finding out about a potential issue and informing stakeholders.

A recent pilot program from public-private partnership MDIC attempted to apply the FDA’s established Voluntary Improvement Program framework to manufacturers with known compliance issues. Participants found an improved mindset, a better relationship with the FDA, and conclusions to ongoing enforcement actions.

This week, the US device center announced a pilot program to speed communications about high-risk recalls; Cardinal paid $3.9B for Advanced Diabetes Supply Group and GIA Alliance; a companion diagnostic for Merck lung cancer drug Tepmetko got FDA clearance; and more.

This week, Medtronic and Hologic announced major safety issues; the US government awarded $110m to innovators in women’s health; CDC partnered with Quest on a bird flu diagnostic; and more.

This week, Establishment Labs Holdings announced the FDA gave it premarket approval for Motiva breast implant, Cologuard lands FDA approval for Cologuard Plus and GE HealthCare gets FDA nod for a new imaging agent. The FDA announces another expansion for TAP into ophthalmology and radiology. The AAMI and CTA will join forces to develop standards for AI and ML-enabled health care products.  

Philips has issued a recall of various Trilogy ventilators due to safety issues that may affect their ability to properly function. The US FDA has designated the recall class I, its most serious.

Smiths Medical has recalled scores of Bivona tracheostomy tubes due to a manufacturing defect that can result in disastrous consequences. The company reports multiple injuries, and one death, linked to the devices.

This week, a Delaware court awarded Auris Health shareholders $1bn in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson; Abbott recalled some FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors; and McKesson purchased a controlling interest in a Florida cancer care chain.

The VMSR program allows manufacturers of many low-risk devices to report adverse events on a quarterly basis. 

Inari Medical is updating use instructions for a clot-removing catheter due to the potential for serious adverse effects, including death.

This week, a medical group sued the FDA to block a lab-developed test rule; the FDA published guidance on device classifications; Defibtec issued a recall of its chest compression device and ICU Medical updated instructions for its infusion pump batteries; Maui Imaging raised a $4m DOD grant to put imaging tech into military-based trauma units.

Despite a March recall and a following update, Tandem’s t:slim X2 application is still causing the battery-depleting defect.

Philips has filed a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania lab it hired to analyze sound abatement foam that prompted widespread recalls of its CPAP machines. Philips alleges PSN Labs grossly overestimated the risk to patients, which led Philips to initiate a larger recall than it otherwise would have.

The US FDA has issued two new warning letters to Chinese syringe makers Jiangsu Shenli and Jiangsu Caina following inspections of their facilities. The letters are the latest in what has been an ongoing investigation into these devices.

This week, Nipro Medical Corp. announced it will invest $397.8m to build a US-based production plant, generating 232 new jobs; both Baxter and Hamilton announced ventilator recalls; Imperative Care wins FDA clearance for its stroke catheter; Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc entered into a conditional sale and purchase deal to sell its Clinical AI business to GE HealthCare for £40.5m; RMI distributed 350m rapid test kits in the fight against HIV/AIDS; Jiangsu Shenli Medical Production Co., Ltd received a second FDA warning letter about quality and safety of plastic syringes.

This week, Roche filed suit against Foresight Diagnostics and Stanford University over patent infringement; the former head of a COVID-19 test company was convicted of securities fraud; and Baxter announced a recall of Life2000 ventilators.