Although the medical device industry is dedicated to advancing healthcare innovation, pursuing environmental responsibility has encountered obstacles mainly due to rigorous regulations. Many companies have significantly pushed for sustainable packaging and efficient energy utilization, but medical device companies still need to catch up in sustainability approaches. Only two medical device companies made it to the 20th Global 100 rankings by Corporate Knights for the most sustainable corporations.

2022 was always going to have trouble following a bonanza 2021 for medtech mergers and acquisitions. In the event, last year turned out to be the most disappointing in recent memory, at least in terms of the numbers of deals closed.

On the plus side, the total spent on buyouts was relatively healthy, and in fact surpassed that seen in three of the past 10 years. However, this was largely down to Johnson & Johnson’s $16.6bn takeover of Abiomed, which accounted for a whopping 42% of M&A spend. Without this transaction, 2022 would have looked very lacklustre indeed.

Coloplast has struck a €2.2 billion ($2.5 billion) takeover of Atos Medical, giving it control of a portfolio of devices targeted at people who have their voice boxes removed.