Latest news with #roboticSurgery
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
ISRG vs BSX: Which Medical Device Stock Has More Room to Run?
In a healthcare landscape increasingly shaped by technology, two names that stand out for their innovation and long-term potential are Intuitive Surgical ISRG and Boston Scientific BSX. Both companies are at the forefront of minimally invasive procedures — Intuitive as the undisputed leader in robotic-assisted surgery, and Boston Scientific as a powerhouse in interventional medical devices. With growing demand for advanced surgical solutions and aging global populations driving healthcare needs, investors are eyeing these med-tech giants as attractive long-term plays. But, which stock offers more compelling upside right now? Let's break down the fundamentals, growth trajectories, and market positions of ISRG and BSX to find out which one deserves a place in your portfolio. ISRG & BSX: Price Performance Intuitive Surgical represents a high-growth, high-premium pure play on robotic-assisted surgery. Its exceptional performance and growth provide compelling upside, but investors must accept margin compression and valuation risk in the short-to-medium term. Boston Scientific offers broader exposure to medical device innovation, with reliable growth driven by cardiovascular and interventional segments. It trades at a more moderate valuation and may appeal to investors seeking growth with less volatility. The year-to-date price performance of Intuitive Surgical has not been impressive, likely due to tariff concerns and rising competition from Chinese robotic device makers. However, BSX has outperformed ISRG likely due to its diversified business as well as strong U.S. demand. Shares of ISRG have lost 1.9% year to date, while those of BSX have gained 13.9%. Market Position & Core Offerings Intuitive Surgical dominates the surgical robotics niche with its flagship da???Vinci system, which continues to gain traction globally — 367 new units placed in the first quarter of 2025 alone, leading to a 17% year-over-year increase in procedures. Boston Scientific, by contrast, operates across a broader landscape of interventional medical devices, from cardiovascular to neuromodulation. Its success with Farapulse pulsed field ablation and strong cardiovascular sales (+26% in first-quarter 2025) highlight its diversified growth drivers. Growth & Performance ISRG delivered robust first-quarter 2025 results: revenues grew 19% to $2.25 billion, adjusted net income rose 22% to $767.5 million, and adjusted EPS grew 21% to $1.81. Its projected procedure growth remains strong at 15-17% for the year, though margins may be pressured by tariffs. BSX also posted solid first-quarter 2025 earnings, with adjusted EPS of $0.75 and sales worth $4.66 billion, both beating expectations on the back of cardiovascular and medical-surgical divisions. For the second quarter of 2025, revenues are expected to grow by double digits, driven by PFA and other interventions. Estimates Comparison for ISRG & BSX The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ISRG's fiscal 2025 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year improvement of 15.6% and 6.8%, respectively. EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have trended southward over the past 60 days. ISRG Estimate Movement The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Boston Scientific's 2025 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year improvement of 16.4% and 15.9%, respectively. Moreover, EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have improved over the past 60 days. BSX Estimate Movement Cash & Cash Flow Intuitive Surgical maintains an exceptionally strong balance sheet, with $4.51 billion in cash and no debt as of the first quarter of 2025. The company generated free cash flow of around $465 million and operating cash flow of $582 million, driven by continued growth in da Vinci system procedures and high-margin recurring revenues from instruments and accessories. Boston Scientific, operates with a more leveraged profile. The company reported $725 million in cash and $11.31 billion in total debt, with a debt-to-equity ratio of nearly 50%. Despite this, BSX maintains strong cash generation, posting $541 million in operating cash flow and $354 million in free cash flow for the first quarter of 2025 alone. Its diversified product base, especially in cardiovascular and electrophysiology, supports ongoing growth and debt service. Risks & Operational Challenges ISRG is exposed to geopolitical and trade-related tariff risks — especially a 125% tariff on Chinese exports — which have led to margin revisions for 2025. Mitigation efforts include supply-chain adjustments and pricing flexibility. BSX contends with regulatory and legal exposures (notably from past medical-device recalls and mesh product lawsuits), but its diversified supply chain and global footprint help buffer macroeconomic pressures. ISRG or BSX: Which Is a Better Bet? For investors focused on explosive, category-leading growth in surgical robotics, ISRG may still be the superior choice. But those who prefer balanced exposure across med-tech segments with a steadier valuation profile might consider BSX as a more diversified, resilient option. Intuitive Surgical stands out for its pristine balance sheet, zero debt, and strong free cash flow, making it an appealing choice for investors prioritizing financial stability and growth. Boston Scientific's leveraged balance sheet is offset by a diversified product base and solid, consistent cash generation, positioning it as a resilient and innovative med-tech player for investors comfortable with moderate financial risk. Both companies currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). However, if we go by the Zacks Style Score, BSX seems to be a better bet compared to ISRG. While ISRG has a Zacks Style Score of 'D', BSX's score is 'C', reflecting better growth potential. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX): Free Stock Analysis Report Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG): Free Stock Analysis Report
Medscape
06-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Medscape at 30: Three Decades of Amazing Breakthroughs
Medscape turns 30 in 2025. As part of the Medscape 2050 project speculating on what the field will look like 25 years from now, we're looking back at medical history as told through Medscape news coverage. A walk down memory lane, for sure, but also a celebration of the breakthroughs, headlines, and reporting that helped define medicine since 1995. July 5, 1996: Dolly the Sheep Cloned The birth of the first cloned animal led to some interesting cloning coverage over the years, whether from claims of a cloned human baby, ethical concerns surrounding human cloning, and advances in animal cloning as more than just a curiosity: Single Genetic Difference May Make Humans Easier to Clone Knockout Pigs Heralded as Future Organ Source FDA: Meat of Cloned Animals Safe to Eat 1998: Discovery of Human Embryonic Stem Cells A groundbreaking and polarizing discovery. Just over a year later, Medscape would look at the fallout, and advances would attempt to eliminate ethical concerns by tricking mouse and human cells to exhibit all the traits of embryonic stem cells. Coverage would span many conditions over the years: Is New Stem Cell Research Major Step Toward Diabetes Cure? Stem Cell Therapy Among Hot Topics at AAO 2017 Promising New Data on Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson's 1997: da Vinci Robotic Surgical System Begins Development Minimally invasive robotic surgery via the da Vinci system was approved by the FDA in 2000, and by 2011, it was in use in more than 2000 hospitals around the world. Between 2011 and 2012, however, adverse event reports rose 34%, prompting this detailed Medscape slideshow, Robotic Surgery: Too Much, Too Soon? 2000: First Draft of the Human Genome Announced It wasn't perfect, it had gaps and wasn't fully understood, but the turn of the century marked the first map of the human genome, paving the way for what we now see as precision and personalized medicine. In 2020, Medscape commissioned a thorough charting of the genome over its first 20 years to see what grew from that first announcement. Early 2000s: Rise of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing (eg, 23andMe) Inexpensive genetic testing led to the advent of offering tests to consumers, and the most famous purveyor, 23andMe, debuted in 2006. This marked a shift in how people access and interpret genetic data — and raised concerns. It's been a bumpy ride: Ethical Considerations in DTC Genetic Testing 23andMe Relaunches Lower-Risk DTC Genetic Tests FDA OK's First DTC Genetic Risk Tests 23andMe Notifies Customers of Data Breach Into Its 'DNA Relatives' Feature 23andMe's Business Woes Raise Genetic Data Privacy Concerns: Ethicist 2009: Electronic Health Record (EHR) Adoption Incentivized by HITECH Act EHRs, now ubiquitous, started slow in 2009, with one report estimating adoption in US hospitals at less than 2%. All that changed of course, with Medscape eventually releasing annual reports on physicians and EHRs. And in 2024, we even asked if physicians should be compensated for their time using EHRs. Don't Get Too Hung Up on 'Meaningful Use' in an EHR EHR Adoption Grows Rapidly in Office-Based Physician Groups 2012: CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Discovered 2016: First CRISPR Clinical Trial in Humans Gene editing, and the ethical arguments that went with it, took the medical world by storm a little over a decade ago. Medscape has been covering its potential therapeutic (and controversial) applications ever since including the 2018 birth of 'gene-edited babies' in China. 5 Things to Know About CRISPR New CRISPR Tools More Precise, but Targeting Mishaps a Worry CRISPR Gene Editing in Limelight at ASHG 2016 Bioethicist: History Tells Us CRISPR Fears Are Overblown 2016: Semaglutide Shows Superior Glucose Control and Weight Loss in SUSTAIN-6 Trials The hype begins. Not only shown effective for glucose control, semaglutide also demonstrated marked cardiovascular risk reduction in 2016. While that was nearly 10 years ago, it feels like we haven't had a day without GLP-1 news since. Oral GLP-1 Agonists Could Be Game Changers for Obesity Treating Obesity: Will New Miracle Drugs End the Crisis? GLP-1s Treat and Even Reverse Some Forms of Liver Disease GLP-1 Agonists Reduce Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation July-October 2017: CAR T-Cell Therapy Approved for Leukemia The FDA approved tisagenlecleucel-T (Kymriah, Novartis) and soon after a xicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta, Kite Pharma), the first two CAR T-cell therapies in 2017, opening the door for personalized cancer treatment and further progress beyond treating blood cancers. CARs Motor Through Leukemia, Part 2: 'Landscape Changing' CAR T Cells and Beyond: Breakthroughs and Challenges Ahead Outpatient CAR T: Safe, Effective, Accessible Next-Gen CAR T-Cell Therapy: Expanding Beyond Blood Cancers December 2020: mRNA Vaccines Approved After effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines was documented, the FDA granted emergency use of both vaccines within a week of each other. This opened the door for further mRNA usage, including potential cancer vaccines. 4 Things to Know About Moderna's mRNA Cancer Vaccine New mRNA Vaccines in Development for Cancer and Infections 'Encouraging' Early Data for mRNA Vaccine in Glioblastoma New mRNA Vaccine May Shield Against C difficile Infections 2023: FDA Approvals in Medical Artificial Intelligence (AI), Especially Diagnostics, Increase While AI was not invented in 2023, that year became a tipping point in everything AI — from diagnostics to drug development to medical scribes, inspiring the first Medscape Physicians and AI Report, done annually since. A sampling of the flood of Medscape coverage: Minding the Machine: Assessing the Case for AI Regulations in Healthcare Harnessing FDA-Approved AI Technologies in Your Medical Practice The Protein Problem: The Unsolved Mystery of AI Drug Dev This Bill Could Make It Legal for AI to Prescribe Medicine AI vs Physicians in 2050: Happy Future or No Future?
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Warrington woman's life turned around thanks to robotic knee replacement
A WARRINGTON woman's life has been turned around thanks to robotic knee replacement surgery. Amanda Burns, 56, suffered from severe osteoarthritis pain in both knees. This was significantly impacting her life and her mobility had become so reduced that she had no option but to seek advice. Amanda said: 'Even everyday activities became difficult. "I struggled to drive any distance and found it challenging to do much beyond managing my full-time office-based job. 'The constant discomfort and limitation on movement affected not just my physical wellbeing, but also my overall lifestyle and independence.' Desperate to find relief and a chance to reclaim her independence, Amanda sought out a specialist who could offer a solution to her ongoing pain. She chose Spire Cheshire Hospital's Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Gareth Stables, who advised she would need a total knee replacement. After discussing all options with Mr Stables, Amanda had decided on the ROSA robotic knee replacement procedure. She said: 'It mattered that I could fully trust the surgeon performing such a major procedure. 'Mr Stables explained the potential benefits, including enhanced precision and alignment through the technology working alongside the surgeon, as well as the possibility of smaller incisions. "These advantages made the robotic approach feel like the right decision for me.' In February, 2025 Amanda was admitted for four days in the inpatient ward and underwent a total knee replacement procedure. She praised the 'professional, reassuring and kind' team there and said this level of care continued following surgery. 'The nursing staff were brilliant in managing my pain medication and ensuring my overall wellbeing, always checking in and ready to help with anything I needed," Amanda said. "The kind ladies who cleaned my room and brought me cups of tea were always friendly and took the time for a welcome chat, which really helped keep spirits high. 'The physiotherapist was also incredibly supportive in helping me to mobilise and build confidence step by step. "A mention also must go to the aftercare physio Matthew Gouldthorpe, who was pivotal in my progression. "A special mention goes to the lovely pharmacist, Danielle, who was so organised and kind while guiding me through the pain management plan for when I went home. "And I can't leave out the amazing catering team—the food was of exceptional quality, with a fantastic range of choices. "Overall, the entire team showed so much care, professionalism, and positivity — it made such a difference to my recovery experience and I'm incredibly grateful to them all.' Following the surgery, an 'incredible' difference has been made to Amanda's daily life. 'I'm currently eight weeks post-operation, and one of the biggest changes is that I'm sleeping really well now— something that had been difficult before," Amanda explained. "Interestingly, I'm now experiencing more discomfort from my other knee, which still has osteoarthritis, compared to the operated one, especially during the night. It really highlights just how successful the surgery has been.' When asked about the difference the surgery has made, Amanda said: 'The most significant benefit so far is that the awful osteoarthritis pain that I lived with for so long is now completely gone in the operated knee. It's incredible to feel that difference, especially when I compare it to the ongoing pain in my other knee. 'My knee feels stronger than before, and the wound has healed really well. 'The progress has given me the confidence to start looking ahead again — I've even planned a holiday later in the summer. "My family have commented that I seem more like my old self, which means a lot. "My experience has given me the confidence in having my other knee replaced. Once I've had this done, I'm really looking forward to putting the pain and mobility limitations behind me and getting back to enjoying life without those constant restrictions."
