FDA asks about regulating foreign firms more and destroying drugs at the border, and questions firms about particles and aseptic practices.

The US endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) market is one of the most dynamic device segments in the interventional arena, with growth and innovation driven in large part by an accelerating effort to expand EVAR to a wider patient pool. This movement toward more challenging cases does have a downside in terms of potential complications and uncertain long-term durability as physicians push the envelope of existing technology. However, innovation in this field is continuing at a fairly steady pace, and several important new technologies that could improve the safety and durability of EVAR in more complex anatomy could be introduced in the near future. If these devices live up to their early promise, they are likely to ignite even stronger growth in a market already valued at over $1 billion annually worldwide.

This article first appeared in Medtech Insight, October 2010.

The global economic downturn has put pressure on large, consumer-based in vitro diagnostic markets, such as diabetes glucose-testing, driving down sales, pricing, and profits. As a result, the IVD industry is actively seeking out higher growth opportunities to offset this impact-and it is finding solutions in several areas, branching into underserved emerging markets like China and India and targeting higher-growth clinical segments such as cancer, women's health, and infectious disease. But perhaps the biggest opportunity for future growth lies in the field of molecular diagnostics, particularly products that address the move toward more personalized care. Suppliers well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity are likely to experience strong growth ahead.