May 10 Reuters U.S.German medical device maker Siemens Healthineers on Wednesday said it was discontinuing its heart surgery robot business as it posted a 30 drop in secondquarter operating profit on shrinking demand for COVID19 tests.

The group said it would take a 329million euro 362 million writedown on the robotassisted endovascular cardiology business, which it acquired as part of the 1 billioneuro Corindus acquisition in 2019.

The use of Corindus robots for cardiology operations did not fulfill our expectations, Chief Financial Officer Jochen Schmitz said on a press call. Schmitz added it will take several years before robots for neurological operations are ready for the market.

The group confirmed its fullyear guidance of comparable revenue to be within a range of a 1 fall to a 1 increase from last year39;s 21.7 billion euros. However, it expects comparable revenue for its Diagnostics Dx unit to decline by 2326 compared to a previous forecast of a 1921 decrease as demand for COVID antigen tests falls.

Results are overshadowed by disappointing Dx and lowered segment guidance, and a writedown in Advanced Therapies, Jefferies said in a note, referring to the discontinued robotics business.

J.P. Morgan analyst David Adlington added that diagnostics continued to be the key disappointment.

Siemens Healthineers39; adjusted earnings before interest and taxes EBIT fell 30 to 681 million euros 750 million in the JanuaryMarch period, missing the 702 millioneuro…