The agency is reopening the coverage policy on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, non-invasive blood pressure measurement over 24-hour cycles, in response to a request from medical professional societies. Currently, Medicare only covers ABPM in limited circumstances where there is reason to believe a patient's in-office blood-pressure is not an accurate representation of their normal blood pressure.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced July 2017.

Product announcements from St. Jude, Medtronic, BD, Masimo and Fujifilm Medical.

This year will be one of reckoning for US biosimilars: the four known submissions to the FDA’s biosimilar pathway will between them stress test all aspects of the regulatory framework. The coming months will determine how far FDA can go in support of biosimilars – and how far innovators are prepared go in defense of their portfolios.