Boston Scientific Acquires Vessix Vascular

November 8, 2012—Boston Scientific Corporation (Natick, MA) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Vessix Vascular, Inc. (Laguna Hills, CA), which developed a catheter-based renal denervation system for the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension.

Upon completion of the acquisition, which is expected by the end of November 2012, Vessix Vascular will become part of the Peripheral Interventions business at Boston Scientific. The agreement calls for an upfront payment of $125 million, plus additional clinical- and sales-based milestone payments of up to $300 million over 5 years.

Vessix Vascular's V2 Renal Denervation System has received CE Mark approval in Europe, as well as Therapeutic Goods Administration approval in Australia. Vessix Vascular initiated the REDUCE-HTN postmarket surveillance study and expects to initiate a full launch of the product in CE Mark countries in 2013. The V2 system is an investigational device and not available for use or sale in the United States.

“The Vessix system offers the potential for a significant step forward in the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension,” commented Prof. Horst Sievert, MD, in the Boston Scientific announcement. “In my experience, the system offers ease of use, faster treatment times with decreased patient discomfort and an intuitive approach to renal denervation that leverages the expertise of the interventionist with balloon catheter technology.” Prof. Sievert, who serves as REDUCE-HTN's lead Principal Investigator, is Director of the CardioVascular Center Frankfurt at Sankt Katharinen Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany.