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For a 3rd year in a row PatientView has published its study on “The corporate reputation of the medical device industry – from the patient perspective”. As in the past the reputation of the medical device industry and specific companies are measured by hundreds of patient groups from all over the world. In the latest […]

As AdvaMed and Eucomed prepare for our next Global MedTech Compliance Conference May 20-22, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain, I reflect on the remarkable policy outcomes attributed to our past conference discussions.  Our MedTech association-led compliance conferences offer a platform—not available in a commercial compliance conference—to spur discussion and best practices exchange among compliance leaders on […]

In 2008 Eucomed published its revised Code of Ethical Business Practice. We’re six years on now and we’re thinking about writing a new one. Why? Because so much has changed in the world of medtech compliance.

Think of innovation in health and many people conjure up images of men and women in white coats – surrounded by coloured test tubes crouched over microscopes in sterile laboratories – developing intricate vaccines or other miracle cures. Yet these tightly controlled, high cost, industrial scale operations are only one end of a very long scale. In the developing world at least, we’re increasingly witnessing some of the more interesting, impactful healthcare innovations coming from lone entrepreneurs and problem solvers. Large multinationals just don’t operate in what can often be seen as the ‘scrappy long tail’ of social innovation. Not only are few present in these markets, many just don’t understand them – or even worse they don’t understand why they need to be in them.

The year is nearing its end and as I look at the christmas tree being put up, the smell of pinewood slowly filling our office’s reception area, I cannot help but think that 2013 was a crucial year for patients, healthcare systems and Europe as a whole. This past year was dominated by one topic of mastodont proportions, but other actions, activities and achievements have been just as important to us.

In June, the US Supreme Court issued its opinion in the Myriad case (Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics Inc.).  The Supreme Court had been asked a seemingly simple question: “Are human genes patentable?”, and concluded that naturally occurring gene sequences are no longer patentable in the US.  In Europe, isolated gene sequences are still patentable, under certain conditions.  However, the differences between the two legal regimes are not as stark as might initially appear, and the practical effect for the diagnostics industry is complex.

Only a few days ago, I heard those words for the first time. Me? Writing a blog? Hmmm, ok, there could be an opportunity here… And now I am looking at a blinking cursor inviting me to put down a few thoughts and ideas.
Well, why don’t I start by answering a few questions “Why now? Why not 3-4 months ago, Serge? How often can we expect to read your posts? And what will you be talking about?”

For the medical technology industry, collaboration with healthcare professionals (HCPs) is an absolute must. HCPs are prime users of new technology and play an instrumental role in the successful diffusion of innovative medical devices throughout Europe. In fact, HCPs often bring the ideas to the table that lead to the development of new devices and inspire continuous incremental improvements to existing technology.

For medtech companies, interacting with Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) is a fact of life. HCPs are an integral part of the R&D process and a source of innovation and creativity throughout the development of medical devices. HCPs are also the prime users of technologies and play an instrumental role in the successful adoption of innovative medical devices in Europe, the US and beyond. With the adoption of new anti-bribery laws in a number of countries, increasing enforcement and new pressures from investors and the general public, the International Medical Device Industry Compliance Conference on 9-11 May in Stockholm, is well-timed to provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss these mounting challenges.