Abbott Laboratories, a major player in the traditional hospital products business, is starting from scratch in the interventional cardiology device market, which offers large opportunities, but involves selling to new customer groups and competing with four entrenched major players: Boston Scientific, Guidant, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic. Rather than attacking this market at its base and attempting to develop a full-line of cardiology devices, Abbott's strategy is to target certain unmet clinical needs and address those primarily with innovative technologies obtained through acquisitions, a pattern it started with the deal to buy femoral artery closure company, Perclose.Abbott is also looking to leverage its pharmaceutical core competency to develop synergies with devices in areas like drug-coated stents, an approach the company believes provides a competitive advantage.The challenge for Abbott will be whether it can develop enough innovative technologies to compete without having a broad basic product line in a market that has undergone significant consolidation. More importantly, in an area where J&J's recent successful stent patent prosecution has demonstrated the importance of intellectual property, it remains to be seen whether Abbott's strategy will make it more than just a niche player in cardiology devices, a position that would be unfamiliar to a company accustomed to major pharmaceutical and diagnostics franchises.
by Stephen Levin
During a panel session on mergers and acquisitions in medical devices at a recent industry conference, the discussion turned to...
Read the full article – start your free trial today!
Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights
A look at Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and other companies' late-stage clinical studies of GLP-1 drugs in indications ranging from neurodegeneration to oncology, and alcoholic liver disease to autoimmune conditions.
Metsera CEO Whit Bernard applies an unconventional leadership philosophy to develop next-generation obesity therapeutics, including monthly GLP-1 injections and oral peptides.
Advanced AI is revolutionizing sales enablement by addressing training gaps and performance challenges. Used correctly, it can help to bridge the sales-marketing divide, accelerate ramp-up times and provide managers with data-driven insights.
Annual survey of patients and professionals shows how attitudes to health system transformation are evolving and what stakeholders are demanding as acceptance of AI tools accelerates.
BioWales in London 2025 showcased the efforts healthtech innovators are making to meet investors on their own turf, illustrating changing attitudes and evolving needs.
Metsera CEO Whit Bernard applies an unconventional leadership philosophy to develop next-generation obesity therapeutics, including monthly GLP-1 injections and oral peptides.