Merz lifts aesthetics unit with $600m Ulthera takeover
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
German pharmaceutical firm Merz is expanding its aesthetics business with the agreed acquisition of Ulthera, a company specializing in non-surgical skin lifting, for up to $600m. The deal would mark Merz’s largest purchase in its history. It also illustrates an increasing interest from pharma companies in aesthetics, following Valeant’s hostile $54bn bid for Botox developer Allergan – the latter has so far resisted its rival’s overtures.
You may also be interested in...
Beauty Device Brands Take Heed: Ulthera Fraud Suit Rooted In ‘FDA-Approved’ Versus ‘FDA-Cleared’
The terms “FDA-approved” and “FDA-cleared” are not interchangeable; rather they denote distinct premarket regulatory pathways for medical devices with differing levels of FDA endorsement. Merz’s Ulthera unit recently failed to dismiss a false-advertising class action challenging its “FDA-approved” claims on an ultrasound system used in clinical settings for line and wrinkle treatment.
What are the hottest innovations from Israel?
Israel is well-known as a medtech hot-spot, with a focus on academic research and strong government support helping the country punch well above its weight when it comes to innovative devices.
EuroPCR: St Jude and Philips talk up rival intravascular imaging techs
St Jude Medical had a heavy focus on its intravascular imaging offering at this year’s EuroPCR meeting, presenting data supporting its optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology. OCT provides intravascular images to help assess culprit lesions, which can improve stent selection and deployment, according to St Jude.