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Contributors

CONTRIBUTORS

Planning for the coming year will be harder than usual for medical technology executives. In this issue, MX looks at some key elements that company leaders will need to consider as they prepare to navigate the treacherous waters of 2009.

Finance

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DeFranco

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Hughes

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Hutchinson

Many venture capital firms have an abiding interest in medical device investments—but that doesn't mean they will fund just any proposal. In her article, "Raising Capital in a Cool Investment Market", Renee DeFranco looks at the funding options available for med­tech companies, and suggests that med­tech executives who take the time to do their homework—and prepare a good business presentation—can still get the attention of venture capital investors. DeFranco is a writer based in Pennsylvania.

In the past, the ongoing need for healthcare products has helped the medical device industry to avoid most of the effects of major economic downturns. But the scale of this year's pullback could change everything. In their article, "2009 Medtech Funding and Investment Climate", Bryan Hughes and Joseph Hutchinson look at how current trends will affect medtech companies in the coming year. Hughes is a director and Hutchinson is an associate at P&M Corporate Finance (Southfield, MI), an investment banking firm. Hughes ([email protected]) leads the firm's life sciences industry team, as­sisting clients with mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, private placements, financings, valuation, and strat­egic consulting. Hutchinson ([email protected]) is a member of the firm's life sciences industry team, focusing on the medical device sector.

Market Analysis

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Carney

When it comes to developing business strategies for addressing needs in the medtech marketplace, having access to a lot of market intelligence can be a good thing. But to make use of all that information, medtech executives will be best served by creating an integrated market intelligence strategy that can guide the company's business and product development efforts.

In her article "Building a Navigation System for Medtech's New Business Environment", Rebekkah Carney describes the key features of such a strategy, and how companies can apply such a tool to im­prove their business outcomes. Carney is associate vice president responsible for medical device research at GfK U.S. Healthcare (East Hanover, NJ), a provider of custom healthcare market research. Carney has 12 years of business and new product development experience in healthcare. She can be reached by phone at 973/599-3510 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Business Planning & Technology Development

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Bafan

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Prsha

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Schenberger

Combination products may be the next big thing in healthcare, but figuring out how to create workable cross-sector partnerships is still the first step for life sciences companies. In their article "Convergence, Collaboration, Commercialization", Marco Bafan, Jeffrey Prsha, and Deborah Schenberger, PhD, argue that tomorrow's healthcare marketplace will belong to companies that can collaborate effectively to produce next-generation combination products. The authors are analysts at Nerac Inc. (Tolland, CT), a research and advisory firm for companies developing in­novative products and technologies. Bafan ([email protected]) partners with medical device companies to develop innovative R&D solutions by conducting competitive reviews, assessing technology solutions, and examining market opportunities. Prsha ([email protected]) is a hands-on engineer with more than 29 years of rich and varied design experience in the fields of electrical, mechanical, optical, and marine engineering. Schenberger ([email protected]) helps medical device companies achieve product approval through the FDA, ISO, and CE registration processes.


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