Dive Brief:
- Quantum Surgical, which specializes in medical robotics for cancer treatment, said Tuesday that it has acquired NeuWave Medical from Johnson & Johnson.
- Quantum, based in Montpellier, France, with an office in Miami, said the deal supports its strategy of expanding robot-assisted tumor ablation treatment to reduce cancer mortality.
- Last year, J&J informed customers that it planned to discontinue the NeuWave business, before announcing in September that it had received a binding offer from Quantum to buy NeuWave.
Dive Insight:
J&J bought NeuWave in 2016 and worked on integrating its microwave ablation technology with robotic technology acquired through the purchase of Auris Health three years later.
NeuWave’s microwave ablation system is used in percutaneous tumor ablation procedures, where needles are inserted through the skin to treat the tumor. The technology is used by physicians in more than 70% of the top U.S. cancer centers, according to Quantum.
A J&J spokesperson said in an email Wednesday that the decision to sell NeuWave reflects a continued focus on evaluating the surgical technologies portfolio to best support patients and customers, accelerate business growth and optimize manufacturing operations.
“As part of Quantum Surgical, NeuWave will be well positioned to continue delivering innovative products, solutions, and support to its customers,” the spokesperson said. “We are working closely with Quantum Surgical to help ensure a seamless transition for customers, patients, healthcare providers, employees, and other stakeholders globally.”
Quantum has developed the Epione robotic platform for treating early-stage tumors. The system assists physicians in percutaneous tumor ablation.
Epione is CE marked for abdominal, chest and musculoskeletal structures indications and has Food and Drug Administration clearance for the abdominal ablation indication. To date, more than 1,400 patients have been treated with the robot in Europe and the U.S., Quantum said.
Quantum and NeuWave will operate as subsidiaries of Precision IO Group, a newly created parent company whose largest investor is Ally Bridge Group. Remote intervention is a focus of the group’s development efforts, Quantum said.
Kurt Azarbarzin was recently named CEO of Precision IO Group. Azarbarzin is the former founder and CEO of SurgiQuest and also was CEO of EndoQuest Robotics and Verb Surgical, a joint venture between J&J and Google. Most recently, he was a partner at Frazier Healthcare Partners.
