News Digest 25.08.2023-28.08.2023
Regulators
The Ministry of Finance will review the terms of the VAT exemption for medical devices
The Ministry of Finance of Russia proposed to reform the procedure for applying a preferential VAT rate of 10% and tax exemption for medical devices. If the amendments to the new version of the Tax Code are approved, the benefit will be valid through the provision of a registration certificate to the Federal Tax Service, subject to conditions that the government will subsequently determine. However, the exemption will not apply to parts and accessories that are sold separately from the medical device. So the Ministry of Finance intends to equalize the rights of Russian manufacturers and foreign suppliers.
The bill proposes amendments to Article 149 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, which regulates the application of a preferential VAT rate. In the case of medical devices, the basis for the benefit will be the provision of a regulatory certificate by the manufacturer or supplier to the Federal Tax Service.
If the registration certificate lists the components and accessories, the exemption will apply only to the sale of a complete product, consisting of all components and accessories. It will not work when selling individual parts and accessories of a medical device.
In addition, the application of benefits will be linked to the fulfillment of conditions, which will subsequently be determined by the Government of the Russian Federation in a separate document.
Source: https://vademec.ru/news/2023/08/28/minfin-peresmotrit-usloviya-lgoty-po-nds-dlya-medizdeliy/
Market news
Danaher to buy Abcam for $5.7 billion
Danaher Corp, one of the world's largest suppliers of medical instruments, announced its intention to acquire competitor Abcam Plc (manufacturers and supplies instruments for protein research) for $5.7 billion, including debt. Danaher will pay $24 per share, despite a $22 pre-bid price for Abcam shares.
With the deal, Danaher will be able to increase production in the face of a lack of funding (which previously led to a decrease in demand for its products used in drug and vaccine development). In 2019, the company acquired the biopharmaceutical solutions business of General Electric Co for $21.4 billion and biotech company Aldevron for $9.6 billion in 2021.
Other
Singapore creates tear-rechargeable 'smart' contact lenses
Singaporean researchers have created another "smart" contact lens to detect early signs of diseases such as glaucoma or diabetes. Their difference is that they are "charged" from tears.
The smart lens battery does not use any metal. It is made from biocompatible materials and has a glucose-based coating that reacts with sodium and chloride ions in the water inside the device. Both elements can be found in tears, which means that the lenses are charged as the wearer wears them. When not in use, the device can be charged in a saline solution containing glucose, potassium and sodium ions.
The "smart" lens displays information about the current state of human health on the user's cornea. It can also be used to detect early signs of certain diseases such as glaucoma or diabetes. And you can get acquainted with the data in the mobile application of the smartphone.
Source: https://medvestnik.ru/content/news/V-Singapure-sozdali-zaryaemye-ot-slez-umnye-kontaktnye-linzy.html
In Russia, developed flexible sensors for prostheses
Scientists at Penza State University have created a flexible sensor. The work was carried out under the project of the Russian Science Foundation. At the Department of Nano- and Microelectronics, they talked about plans to create low-cost sensors in the near future.
Tension and compression sensors (strain gauges) are obtained by growing nano- and microcrystallites of zinc oxide on the surface of polymer filaments. So it is possible to create fabrics based on polystyrene and ABS plastic with any necessary microstructure. The scientists added that, in addition to being used in bionic prostheses, the sensors can be used in "smart" clothing and in robot elements.
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