Medtronic Inc. (MDT) 51 7/16: This medical device maker should positive feedback from inventors
this morning after late Friday the company received FDA panel support for its Activa device to help
treat Parkinson's disease. Unlike the drug Sinemet, which is currently used to control Parkinson's
disease, Activa is a device very much like a pace maker that delivers a series of electrical shocks to the
brain. It is also seen as a major alternative to irreversible surgery which destroys part of the brain. The
side effects are also seen to be minimal with most problems being treated by adjusting the stimulation
settings. Already, Activa has been approved for the treatment of tremors associated with Parkinson's.
According to the company, if the device is approved, the "Activa Parkinson's Control Therapy would
become the first new approach to treating U.S. patients with Parkinson's disease in more than 30
years." Certainly, the approval would give Medtronic another product in its arsenal that should help
sales along as the company has been able to deliver strong results lately, highlighted by last quarter's
earnings report in which results were driven by double-digit revenue gains from all four of its major
business, including a significant turnaround in its vascular business, strong defibrillator sales, and market
share gains in each of its businesses. While Activa will still need to undergo a three-year, long-term
clinical follow-up study to back-up its results, Medtronic does not anticipate a delay in marketing
clearance associated on the conditions placed by the FDA. Recently, the stock was in the spotlight
after a consortium of medical products and services companies announced plans to create a B2B
exchange. - RN
from briefing.com
Jack |
