There has been a tendency in the health care products industries to design products that serve the maximum number of patients, in order to create the biggest markets. In pursuit of that all inclusive goal, medical device companies have often overengineered products, adding features - and costs - not necessary for the majority of patients. This has been the case in the field of arrhythmia monitoring. By challenging previous assumptions about arrhythmia monitoring, iRhythm believes it's developed a device that improves the diagnostic efficiency and ultimately the economics of arrhythmia care.

There has been a tendency in the health care products industries to design products that serve the maximum number of patients, in order to create the biggest markets. In pursuit of that all inclusive goal, medical device companies have often overengineered products, adding features - and costs - not necessary for the majority of patients. This has been the case in the field of arrhythmia monitoring. By challenging previous assumptions about arrhythmia monitoring, iRhythm believes it's developed a device that improves the diagnostic efficiency and ultimately the economics of arrhythmia care.

Big Pharma is under the gun, with plenty of top management changes. By early next year, the industry will have seen five new CEOs; five new CFOs; a handful of changes in the top R&D spots, and a couple of new commercial bosses, all announced since the beginning of 2007 (an exhibit charts the changes). Of the sixteen job changes, six came about because the predecessor in the job was, if not outright fired, at least pressured to leave. But how much change are we really going to see?