Contributors 4383

CONTRIBUTORS

In a changing market, careful planning is the key to continued investment and company growth. In addition to a variety of articles designed to aid medical device executives in their business planning efforts, this issue of MX takes a first look at some of the key issues confronting medtech companies next year and beyond. In "Market Challenges for 2008", panelists explore a variety of concerns facing individual medical device sectors and the industry as a whole.

Topspin

Many medical technology companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars annually exhibiting at trade shows, and in the competitive reality of today's market, it is critical for marketing executives to take advantage of every sales opportunity unearthed at such events. In "No Prospect Left Behind", Glenn Frantz and Mike Drohan discuss a strategic plan implemented by Draeger Medical Inc. (Telford, PA) to help ensure a solid return on the company's trade show investment. Frantz is director of corporate communications for Draeger Medical. He can be reached at 215/660-2332 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Drohan is president of Lead Generation Solutions (Wayne, PA), a company that specializes in lead qualification services. He can be reached at 610/688-7650 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Market Analysis

In "Turmoil in the Interventional Cardiology Market", Kamran Zamanian, PhD, and Milton Tosto Jr., PhD, provide an overview of general trends and forecast information about the U.S. market for interventional cardiology devices. Zamanian is a partner at iData Research Inc. (Vancouver), an international market research and consulting group. He can be reached at 604/266-6933 or via e-mail at [email protected]. The information contained in the article is taken from a more detailed iData report on the U.S. market for interventional cardiology in 2007. Tosto was previously a research analyst at iData Research and has disclosed that he holds securities and short positions in some companies mentioned herein. Tosto is currently a portfolio manager at HSBC Investments (Canada) Ltd. (Vancouver). He can be reached at 604/257-1026 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Business Planning & Technology Development

China has become the foremost manufacturing center in the world today. In 2007, however, the darker side of unconstrained high-speed growth revealed itself in problems with Chinese imports—including medical products. In "Chinese Manufacturing: Scandals and Opportunities", Ames Gross and John Minot outline the steps the Chinese government is taking to address quality concerns, as well as precautions that medtech manufacturers can take to ensure they are working with reliable overseas suppliers and business partners. Gross is president and founder of Pacific Bridge Medical (Bethesda, MD), an independent consulting firm dedicated to assisting medical companies in Asia. He can be reached at 301/469-3400 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Minot is an associate at Pacific Bridge Medical, where he works on research and writing projects. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

Governmental & Legal Affairs

Acquisitions involving medtech intellectual property (IP) require a balancing of projected benefits against costs, liabilities, and risks. In "Buying Big Ideas", Gregory J. Vogler and Robert A. Surrette discuss the role of the medtech executive in assessing and mitigating IP risks involved in such transactions. Vogler is a shareholder and cofounder of the law firm of McAndrews, Held & Malloy (Chicago). He can be reached at 312/775-8000 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Surrette is a shareholder at McAndrews, Held & Malloy, where he focuses on the resolution of intellectual property and technology-related disputes. He can be reached at 312/775-8000 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Copyright ©2007 MX