Boston Scientific, a medical device company based in Natick, Mass., is extending its reach into the strategically critical renal denervation market by signing a definitive agreement to acquire Vessix Vascular, a Laguna Hills, Calif.-based held company developing novel RF balloon catheter and bipolar RF generator technology. 

The agreement calls for an upfront payment of $125 million, plus additional clinical- and sales-based milestones aggregating a maximum of $300 million over the period between 2013 and 2017.  Boston Scientific currently expects the net impact of this transaction on adjusted earnings per share to be immaterial for years 2013 and 2014 and break-even to accretive thereafter, and more dilutive on a GAAP basis as a result of acquisition-related net charges and amortization, which will be determined during the fourth quarter.

Vessix Vascular has developed a catheter-based renal denervation system for the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension. Renal denervation is an emerging, catheter-based therapy for medication-resistant hypertension that uses radiofrequency energy to disrupt the renal sympathetic nerves whose hyperactivity leads to uncontrolled high blood pressure. Renal denervation has been demonstrated in published clinical studies to significantly reduce systolic blood pressure.

"Renal denervation represents a potential breakthrough therapy for the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension and is an important part of the Boston Scientific growth strategy,” said Mike Mahoney, president and CEO, Boston Scientific. “The acquisition of Vessix Vascular adds a second generation, highly differentiated technology to our hypertension strategy while accelerating our entry into what we expect to be a multi-billion dollar market by 2020."

The Vessix Vascular V2 Renal Denervation System has received CE Mark in Europe and TGA approval in Australia. Vessix Vascular has initiated a post-market surveillance study and expects to initiate a full launch of the product in CE Mark countries in 2013.

"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 interventionalist with balloon catheter technology,” said Horst Sievert, M.D., Ph.D., director of the CardioVascular Center Frankfurt, Sankt Katharinen Hospital, in Frankfurt, Germany.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Vessix Vascular will become part of the Peripheral Interventions business at Boston Scientific.  The portfolio of this business includes products that treat vascular system blockages in areas such as the carotid and renal arteries and the lower extremities.

The acquisition is expected to close by the end of November 2012.