Robocath Appoints CEO

Robocath has raised 5 million euros ($5.5 million) to support the rollout of its robotic platform in strategic European target markets. The company has also hired Lucien Goffart as CEO.
 
With 20 years of experience in interventional cardiology, Goffart has held a number of key positions in leading companies in the sector. He also has a strong track record of supporting international marketing of new products. His résumé notably includes a position as business unit manager for France at Boston Scientific Corp., a post he occupied for the last four years, and his recent appointment as an executive board member at Electroducer, a French manufacturer of vascular devices.
 
Philippe Bencteux, founder and president of Robocath, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Lucien Goffart to the company at such a key moment for us with the commercial launch of our first robotic platform. His experience in the industry is undeniable. This appointment has been made at a particularly auspicious time, with our only direct competitor, Corindus Vascular Robotics, having been bought out by Siemens for $1.1 billion (1 billion euros). I would like to thank our longstanding shareholders, who have once again demonstrated their belief in us by raising this new capital. We are also grateful for the support shown by new shareholders.”

The 5 million euros capital injection was provided by shareholders (GO CAPITAL, NCI, Normandie Participations, M Capital, and Supernova Invest) and new funds (Caisse d’Epargne Normandie Innovation, Crédit Agricole Innove en Normandie, and Unexo, a subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole group). The company previously raised 6.4 million euros ($7 million) in 2017. This new injection will allow Robocath to lay the groundwork for rolling out the R-One robotic platform in a number of target European countries.
 
Goffart added: “It’s an honor for me to begin work as CEO of Robocath. I’m impressed by the progress the company has made since it was founded and I’m excited to be working with such a young team. R-One is a product that offers several advantages to physicians and, by extension, to patients. It has significant potential on the market, and I’m looking forward to starting clinical studies and writing a brand new page in the history of interventional cardiology.”

Founded in 2009 by Philippe Bencteux, M.D., Robocath designs, develops and commercializes robotic solutions to treat cardiovascular diseases. As an active player in the evolving medical robotic industry, these solutions aim to make medical procedures safer, thanks to reliable technologies, while complementing manual interventions. R-One is the first solution developed by Robocath. It uses a  technology that optimizes the safety of robotic-assisted coronary angioplasty. This medical procedure consists of revascularizing the cardiac muscle by inserting one or more implants (stents) into the arteries that supply it with blood. Every 30 seconds, somewhere in the world, this type of procedure is performed.

R-One is designed to operate with precision and perform specific movements creating better interventional conditions. Thanks to its open architecture, R-One is compatible with market-leading devices and cath labs. It received the CE marking in February 2019. Robocath aims to become the world leader in vascular robotics and develop the remote treatment of vascular emergencies, guaranteeing the best care pathway for all. Based in Rouen (France), Robocath has more than 25 employees and is financially supported by regional investment funds (GO CAPITAL, NCI, Normandy participations), national investment funds (M Capital, Supernova Invest), by several business angels and financial institutions (Caisse d’épargne, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole) and Bpifrance.