NEW PRODUCTS3M Drug Delivery Systems, a unit of 3M Co., Maplewood, has introduced the 3M Microchannel Skin System that can be used by dermatologists for pretreatment of patients' skin before dermatological procedures. The product consists of a patch with hundreds of microneedles used to create microchannels in the outermost layer of the skin with minimal discomfort for patients.
St. Jude Medical Inc., Little Canada, has received European CE Mark approval for its Genesis neurostimulation system for peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves for the management of the pain and disability associated with intractable chronic migraine. This type of migraine is defined as headache lasting at least four hours per day for 15 or more days per month, causing at least moderate disability, and not responding to three or more preventive drugs.
NEW BUSINESSMayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., said that longtime Mayo benefactors Robert and Patricia Kern have given $20 million to help launch its Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery. The goal of the center is to create, evaluate and implement approaches to deliver high-value care.
DEBT AND EQUITIESDigital River Inc., Eden Prairie, said that its board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $100 million of its outstanding common shares. The shares may be repurchased in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.
PERFORMANCEStandard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its credit outlook on health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc., Minnetonka, to "positive" from "stable," saying the company's financial position has improved compared with its competitors'. The new outlook means Standard & Poor's could raise its rating on UnitedHealth in the next year or two.
PERSONNELCeridian Corp., Bloomington, has named Jayson Saba as its new vice president of marketing strategy and industry analyst relations. Saba most recently served as the lead research analyst for workforce management and core human relations within the HCM practice at Aberdeen Group.
