Let’s find out what the growth opportunities are for these three medical instrument companies, and how investors can profit from them.
Launch of new pen needle in the U.S.
Around 26 million U.S. residents live with diabetes, and it has now become a growing health concern. Insulin is a life-saving drug for patients with diabetes. There has been a growing demand for a pen needle that reduces the pain of injection and allows for easier self-injection. Last month, Becton, Dickinson and Co. (NYSE:BDX) launched its BD Ultra-Fine Nano 4mm Pen Needles with EasyFlow Technology, under its medical segment, in the U.S. Compared to other pen needles, Becton’s new insulin injector has EasyFlow technology with the thinnest, shortest needle, requiring less thumb force. This makes it faster and easier for diabetes patients to administer their daily insulin injections. The company has also increased the space inside the needle, which increases the flow rate. With the launch of the new pen needle, Becton, Dickinson and Co. (NYSE:BDX)’s medical segment revenue is expected to increase from $983.4 million in the first quarter to $1.08 billion in the fourth quarter of this year.
Bordetella pertussis, or ‘whooping cough,’ is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is most prominently observed in infants and young children. Europe observes nearly 30-50 million cases of Pertussis yearly. Timely detection with the help of polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, testing is required to prevent the spread of disease. Therefore, Becton, Dickinson and Co. (NYSE:BDX)’s diagnostics segment, along with Diagenode SA, a Belgium-based biotech company, has a launched a Europe-only Diagenode Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis real-time PCR kit for the use in the BD MAX System. The BD MAX system is fully automated and standardized for the extraction process, ease-of-use, and is cost effective in nature for molecular tests. The use of the PCR kit in the BD MAX system will enhance the range of molecular tests in laboratories to meet current and future clinical needs. The new system is expected to boost the company’s diagnostics segment revenue from $651.9 million in the first quarter to $679.8 million in the fourth quarter.
New remedy for Hemophilia B
In the last month, the FDA has approved Baxter’s ‘Rixubis,’ a new rFIX remedy to control excessive bleeding and Hemophilia B, a blood clotting disorder. This medication will be used for patients with Hemophilia B who are of age 16 years and above for twice weekly dosing. It can also be used for perioperative management, providing better condition to the patient before surgery, during the surgery, and after the surgery. This is the first drug in the form of a therapy for patients affected by Hemophilia B. According to the National Hemophilia Foundation, there are around 3,300 U.S. residents suffering from Hemophilia B, and around 25,000 across the world. The approval will benefit physicians and patients with an option to reduce or prevent the frequency of bleeding. With this drug, rFIX sales of $375 million are expected this year, $386 million in 2014, and $398 in 2015 in the U.S.
In order to expand its kidney-equipment business, Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) entered into an agreement to acquire a leading Swedish dialysis product maker, Gambro AB, for $4 billion in the end of 2012. The deal is expected to close in this year. The acquisition will open a global platform for dialysis offering for the company as there are around 2 million patients receiving treatment. New technology will help Baxter to improve its manufacturing techniques and supply of dialysis around the world. Gambro is spread across nine countries with 13 production facilities, and it serves customers based in 100 countries. Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) will gain a strong market that will grow in the long run. Gambro reported $1.6 billion in sales from its portfolio that consists of hemodialysis devices. With the help of this acquisition, $300 million in cost synergies will be generated annually from 2015.
