Teleflex Incorporated
(
TFX
), a global leader in medical devices used in critical care and
surgery, recently obtained the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for its Arrow FlexBlock continuous peripheral
nerve block catheter. The company's latest offering will annex its
market dominating line of Arrow StimuCath continuous peripheral
nerve block catheters.
Arrow FlexBlock will help clinicians to better manage the spread
of anesthetic due to its tip design. The product is expected to be
preferred by clinicians who turn to ultrasound-guidance to ratify
the placement of the catheter.
Teleflex's Arrow FlexBlock will enhance its line of Anesthesia
and Airway Management products in its largest segment - Critical
Care (accounted for 66% of total revenues in 2011). The Anesthesia
and Airway Management franchise contributed 22% to Critical Care
revenues in 2011.
The Arrow FlexBlock along with the earlier launched Arrow
SureBlock Kit and the twin acquisitions of Willemstad,
Netherlands-based LMA International N.V. and LMA's laryngeal mask
supraglottic airway business from Intavent Direct Limited, provides
the company an extensive anesthesia and airway management
portfolio. Teleflex expects incremental revenues from the extended
Anesthesia and Airway Management franchise.
Teleflex has embarked on enhancing its Arrow brand ever since
the acquisition of Arrow International in 2007. However, the
failure to protect its intellectual property and lower-than
expected market adoption of the new products may hinder the
company's growth trajectory.
Limerick, Pennsylvania-based Teleflex' focus on profitable and
consistent growth is expected to yield results, helped by
demographic trends and barriers to entry in the industry. The
recent divestiture of its OEM Orthopedic division is expected to
aid the company's strategy of new product introduction, and
investment in innovative technologies. This might accelerate
Teleflex' top-line in the years ahead.
However,
Covidien
(
COV
),
C.R. Bard
(
BCR
) and
CareFusion
(
CFN
), which operate in similar business segments, present a tough
competitive landscape for Teleflex. Additionally, the company
operates in a stringent regulatory environment. The demand for its
products is susceptible to healthcare reimbursement systems in the
domestic as well as the international market.
Teleflex currently retains a Zacks #4 Rank, which translates
into a short-term Sell rating.
BARD C R INC (BCR): Free Stock Analysis Report
CAREFUSION CORP (CFN): Free Stock Analysis
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COVIDIEN PLC (COV): Free Stock Analysis Report
TELEFLEX INC (TFX): Free Stock Analysis Report
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