Terumo Acquires Aortica Corporation

Terumo Corporation is acquiring Aortica Corporation, a U.S.-based company dedicated to advancing the science of personalised vascular therapy. 

Aortica has developed an automated case planning software known as AortaFit, designed to precisely match fenestrations on an endograft with the unique locations of each individual patient’s branch arteries during Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Repair (FEVAR). The technology is intended to improve graft anchoring while minimising the potential for endoleaks and migration that can result from the endovascular treatment of complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA).
 
The company has reported successful results for the first 30 patients undergoing FEVAR planned and performed using AortaFit as part of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved physician-sponsored investigational device exemption (IDE) study led by Benjamin Starnes, M.D., chief of Vascular Surgery, University of Washington. One hundred percent of patients who had grafts planned by the automated software were successful including 16 of 30 treated with the TREO AAA stent-graft from Terumo Aortic.
 
Dr. Starnes commented: “Although several endografts are being studied under our protocol, the TREO abdominal aortic endograft has become our platform of choice because of its deliverability, conformability and graft design conducive to creating fenestrations. TREO is most likely to allow strut-free fenestrations in our series.”
 
Also in development is the BoulEVARd covered stent graft built specifically for FEVAR. The balloon expandable device has been designed to enable reliable engagement into the main body graft while improving conformability to the native artery.
 
Paul Holbrook, president of Terumo Aortic, said: “This acquisition is a tremendous opportunity for Terumo Aortic to expedite the development of a first-in-class, purpose-built FEVAR System, particularly in the United States. By leveraging the unique AortaFit System and BoulEVARd covered stent graft together with the proven capabilities of TREO, we aim to transform vascular disease management in this challenging patient population. Furthermore, we are convinced that the system helps us contribute to personalised therapy.”
 
Terumo will advance the development of the Aortica’s products, and then launch them in the United States, Europe, Japan, and other areas. The transaction is aimed to close within 2019 and will be funded through cash on hand. Terumo does not regard the impact of the acquisition on Terumo’s business performance of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, as significant.
 
Terumo Aortic’s mission is to transform the treatment of aortic disease worldwide. With its comprehensive portfolio of surgical, endovascular and hybrid technologies, the company enables surgeons to find the right fit for each patient anatomy.

Terumo Corporation of Japan, a global medical device company founded in 1921, currently has over 25,000 employees worldwide. Terumo acquired Vascutek Ltd. in 2002 and Bolton Medical Inc. in 2017. Terumo Aortic has over 1,250 employees including 850 based in Glasgow, Scotland, and 330 based in Sunrise, Fla.