The US FDA approved the extended-release amantadine for levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease. Adamas will finalize its pricing and begin selling the product later this year.

Brief summaries of recent medtech market and industry developments. This month we cover J&J's and Medtronic's moves in a-fib, Abbott's acquisition of AMO, Northstar Neuroscience's demise and Invatec's European launch of its drug-eluting balloon. Plus a snapshot of ambulatory surgery in the US.

Between big-name statins going generic and high-profile blow-ups like torcetrapib, Cordaptive and Vytorin, cholesterol drug development has been tough going. Some drug companies think the next big thing in lipid management is something different altogether: prescription-grade supplements. It may be just the thing for a risk-averse FDA.

Xopenex reimbursement is being slashed by Medicare. The message: CMS wants proof of differentiation before it will pay more for line extensions and new formulations. That means trouble ahead for a lot of other products.