Thoratec has agreed with plaintiffs to pay $12m to settle a lawsuit alleging the company hid negative information about the company’s heart pump, thus keeping share prices artificially high. A hearing is scheduled on the settlement for next month.

Becton Dickinson has reached a definitive agreement to acquire CR Bard for $24bn. BD says Bard's product portfolio gives it a strong presence in fast-growing clinical areas and more reach outside the US while Bard expects to reach more customers by building on BD's leadership in medication management and infection prevention.

2016 was a year of surprise and change in political circles, but that's nothing new for the medtech industry, which over a number of years has become accustomed to health care systems demanding different and ever-higher levels of service. Smart medtechs have been ahead of the curve, but the whole industry now factors in clients' wider needs in a holistic approach to patient care. Many companies' current M&A policies are already reflecting the changes to come.