Halt Assembles Power Team to Sell New Technology

Brentwood, Calif.-based Halt Medical Inc. has assembled a team to drive commercialization of the Acessa system, a medical device recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat uterine fibroids.

On the medical team will be Jayne A. Little, serving as vice president of global health economics and reimbursement, and Nonni Letasse, R.N., as senior director of professional education and corporate compliance. Rodney Marcy has been appointed senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Little most recently was vice president of reimbursement at Optonol Inc. (acquired by Alcon Inc. in December 2009) She has been responsible for American Medical Association CPT (current procedural terminology) code implementation, and Medicare and commercial payer coverage and policy. Joining Little’s team is Sean McKinney as region director.

Letasse previously was senior director of global professional education for Conceptus Inc. She has more than 20 years of training experience in the women’s health sector. She has recruited Michelle Schwinges, a professional education specialist, to join her group.

Marcy was vice president of sales and marketing for venture-funded Interlace Medical Inc. (acquired by Hologic Inc. two years ago) He also was sales director for the launch of the Gynecare Division of Ethicon Inc., successfully introducing more than five platform technologies in women’s health. He has held senior management positions with Johnson & Johnson and Covidien plc.

“Rodney has extensive commercial experience in the medical device field, and women’s health sector,” said Jeffrey Cohen, Halt’s CEO. “This will be instrumental in our launch of Acessa.”

“Acessa is the only medical device that can be used by gynecologists to treat all fibroid symptoms and types,” said Marcy. “It is an alternative for the millions of women with fibroids who choose to suffer with their symptoms rather than having their uterus removed. Our launch of Acessa will be led by three regional sales directors: Larry Anderson, Tyler Holcomb, and Mike Roddick.”

Halt Medical has developed and launched the Acessa system and procedure, which reportedly use radiofrequency energy to destroy uterine fibroids. The results of both U.S. and international trials have led to the clearance of the product by the FDA for use in percutaneous, laparoscopic coagulation and ablation of soft tissue, including treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids under laparoscopic ultrasound guidance. The system also has CE marking in the European Union and is licensed for sale in Canada.