Boston Scientific Likely Faces FTC Scrutiny on Urology Expansion

Boston Scientific Corp.’s proposed $3.7 billion acquisition of medical device maker Axonics Inc. will likely be scrutinized by the US Federal Trade Commission because the companies are the dominant providers of some treatments for urinary incontinence, according to antitrust experts.

The deal announced in January would give Boston Scientific — whose urology business brought in $1.96 billion in 2023 — the two leading treatments for stress urinary incontinence in women, a condition where people accidentally urinate in response to bladder pressure caused by laughing, sneezing, exercising or other activities.

Boston Scientific already is the top maker of vaginal slings, ...