The new company was created in connection with the strategic collaboration between Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson medical devices company, and Google Life Sciences, which was announced in March. Scott Huennekens has been appointed as Verb Surgical’s president and CEO.
“We believe Verb Surgical has the potential to change the future of surgery, not just robotic surgery,” said Gary Pruden, worldwide chairman, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices. “The team has already made meaningful progress on the robotics platform, which is being developed for application across a host of surgical specialties.” Ethicon, which has deep expertise in minimally invasive surgery and advanced instrumentation, is developing surgical instruments for Verb Surgical’s new robotics-assisted platform.
In the coming years, Verb Surgical aims to develop a comprehensive surgical solutions platform that will incorporate leading-edge robotic capabilities and best-in-class medical device technology for operating-room professionals. The goal of Verb Surgical is to develop those new technologies in partnership with surgeons and hospitals to enable better patient outcomes, improve access to minimally invasive surgery, and achieve greater hospital efficiency.
Verb Surgical is supported by investments from Ethicon, Johnson & Johnson Innovation-JJDC and Verily. Both Ethicon and Verily have contributed intellectual property, in-process R&D assets and other resources to Verb Surgical, including managerial, technological and surgical expertise. Verb Surgical will be based in Mountain View, Calif. Under Huennekens’ leadership, the company will be overseen by a board of directors, which will include members from Ethicon, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Verily and Google.
