Boston Scientific Corp. offered $523 million in cash for 65% of Acotec Scientific Holdings Ltd., a manufacturer of vascular intervention devices. The acquisition would significantly expand Boston Scientific’s presence in China, which the company expects to account for about 25% of the global med-tech market by the end of the decade. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2023, subject to shareholder approval. The offer price of HK$20 or US$2.57 per share represents a premium of more than 31% over its close on Friday, Acotec reported.
Avenda Health Inc. secured FDA 510(k) clearance for its Iquest platform, which uses artificial intelligence to map the location of a tumor within the prostate. The visualization created provides better assessment of the extent of the malignancy and improves selection of treatments. Avenda raised $10 million in August to support development of Iquest, which guides the company’s Focalpoint laser ablation system.
Dexcom Inc. ends 2022 on a high note with broad clearance from the U.S. FDA for its G7 continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM). The long-awaited 510(k) clearance encompasses use in people with all types of diabetes age two and older, positioning Dexcom to take advantage of expanded coverage of CGMs to include individuals on basal insulin-only for Medicare beneficiaries as proposed by CMS in October.
Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest of cancers with just one in nine patients surviving five years after diagnosis. The low rate of survival largely results from the late stage at which the cancer is first detected, as 65% patients are not diagnosed until the disease has metastasized. Bluestar Genomics Inc. hopes it has developed an assay that can detect the cancer much sooner, allowing patients and their physicians to get ahead of the malignancy well before it spreads.
In a move that put Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc. on a path to walk over other firms developing exoskeletons, the company acquired the Human Motion and Control (HMC) business unit from Parker Hannifin Corp. The deal expands Ekso’s lower-limb exoskeleton line to include the Indego Personal and Indego Therapy devices, which like its own exoskeleton platform, help patients recovering from stroke or spinal cord injuries walk again. The transaction also includes the development of related robotic-assisted orthotic and prosthetic devices.
The board of General Electric Co. officially approved the tax-free spin-off of the company’s health care business, which will be called GE Healthcare Technologies Inc. The new company will begin trading on the Nasdaq on Jan. 4, 2023, under the ticker symbol “GEHC.”
Integra Lifesciences Holding Corp. agreed to acquire Surgical Innovation Associates Inc. (SIA) in a deal that could be worth $140 million, the companies reported. Integra will pay $50 million on closing, expected by the end of the year. The company will pay an additional $90 million contingent on achievement of certain revenue and regulatory milestones through 2026.
Results from the largest trial yet in transcatheter valve replacement continues to demonstrate strong results for Edwards Lifesciences Corp.’s Evoque system. A late-breaking presentation at the PCR London Valves 2022 meeting provided one-year follow-up results from the Triscend study showing better than 90% survival and 99% freedom from heart failure hospitalization. Further, 97.6% of patients maintained mild or trace tricuspid regurgitation.
While other large med-tech companies are slimming their portfolios, Boston Scientific Corp. plans to beef its up considerably with the acquisition of Apollo Endosurgery Inc. for $10 per share for the 41.7 million shares outstanding. Including the debt assumed, the all-cash deal has an enterprise value of $615 million. The $10 per share price represents a 67% premium to yesterday’s $6 close for Apollo shares. The companies expect the transaction to close in the first half of 2023.
While other large med-tech companies are slimming their portfolios, Boston Scientific Corp. plans to beef its up considerably with the acquisition of Apollo Endosurgery Inc. for $10 per share for the 41.7 million shares outstanding or $417 million. Including the debt assumed, the all-cash deal has an enterprise value of $615 million. The $10 per share price represents a 67% premium to the Nov. 28, 2022, $6 close for Apollo shares. The companies expect the transaction to close in the first half of 2023.
