Dive Brief:
- Olympus is partnering with EndoRobotics to distribute the South Korea-based medical device manufacturer’s endoscopic robotic devices for gastroenterology.
- Olympus will exclusively distribute the technologies globally, beginning in the U.S., as part of its EndoTherapy portfolio, the Tokyo-based company said Monday in the announcement.
- The deal comes less than a year after Olympus entered into an agreement with investment firm Revival Healthcare Capital to found a company called Swan EndoSurgical for the purpose of co-developing a robotic platform for gastrointestinal treatment.
Dive Insight:
EndoRobotics’ technologies are designed to improve precision in complex procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection, or ESD, for removing tumors or lesions in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.
The organ-sparing approach may minimize complications and shorten patient recovery times in treating early-stage GI cancers and precancerous lesions, Olympus said.
The collaboration leverages Olympus’ commercial infrastructure and EndoRobotics’ development capabilities to broaden adoption of advanced endoscopic procedures, Olympus said.
The agreement includes EndoRobotics’ Robopera system console and accessories, articulated grippers, scope-mounted traction device, and EndoCubot ESD training simulator and accessories, an Olympus spokesperson said in an email to MedTech Dive.
“By offering robot-assisted technologies, we aim to help clinicians perform these complex therapeutic procedures with greater confidence and efficiency, while maintaining a strong focus on patient safety and optimizing outcomes," Mike Callaghan, general manager of EndoTherapy at Olympus, said in a statement.
The partnership with EndoRobotics reflects Olympus’ focus on advancing endoluminal robotic technologies.
In July, about two months after former Medtronic executive Bob White joined the company as CEO, Olympus announced it was teaming with Austin, Texas-based Revival Healthcare to found Swan EndoSurgical. The partners planned to jointly invest up to $458 million to develop the platform.
The deal gave Olympus an option to acquire Swan, with Revival taking a majority equity stake in the startup.
Swan named former Stryker executive Erik Todd as its CEO in December.
