Product launches for key medtech businesses led earnings calls this season, as new ablation devices and robotic surgery systems hit the market and investors await the upcoming release of an over-the-counter glucose sensor.
Boston Scientific and Medtronic focused on new pulsed field ablation (PFA) systems during their calls, with both companies providing first looks at the performance of the recently launched products to treat atrial fibrillation, a common irregular heart rhythm. Meanwhile, Abbott and Johnson & Johnson provided updates on their PFA systems, which are not yet available in the U.S.
Boston Scientific CEO Mike Mahoney touted the Farapulse PFA system as the “most transformational product that I’ve seen in my career with the company.”
Amid the earnings season, PFA took over the Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting, with a list of clinical trial results published by J&J, Medtronic and Boston Scientific. The conference and earnings comments added to the rapidly building momentum for the new technology.
Intuitive Surgical used its April call to share details on the launch of the da Vinci 5 soft tissue surgical robot. The robotics leader announced FDA clearance for da Vinci 5 in March, adding a twist to the soft tissue market. While Intuitive executives were positive about the early launch of the system, they cautioned that placements could be choppy as the company works on the supply chain.
Orthopedics firms like Stryker and Zimmer Biomet also focused on surgical robots on their calls, providing new product updates for investors and reporting record sales.
Stryker CEO Kevin Lobo called surgical robots the “gift that will keep on giving.”
Finally, Dexcom detailed plans for the summer launch of its over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor, called Stelo. CEO Kevin Sayer said Dexcom will target the 25 million people in the U.S. who have Type 2 diabetes and are not taking insulin or who don’t have severe hypoglycemia.
Check out MedTech Dive’s latest earnings coverage for a more in-depth breakdown of the industry’s newest products and companies’ financial performance last quarter: