Surgical Robotics Technology
California company, Auris Health, has been acquired by Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon, Inc. business for around $3.4 billion in cash. Further payments of up to $2.35 billion, in aggregate, will become payable upon the company reaching certain predetermined milestones.
Johnson & Johnson will use Auris Health’s surgical robotic technology focused for use in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the lungs, to advance its commitment to combatting lung cancer.
Ashley McEvoy, Executive VP, Worldwide Chairman, Medical Devices, Johnson & Johnson, said: “We are focused on building a connected, data-driven digital ecosystem that pairs our market-leading surgical solutions with advanced technologies to improve the patient experience. The passionate team and differentiated innovation from Auris will help us amplify the power of digital surgery to address unmet clinical needs and lead a transformation in surgical care and lung cancer intervention.”
The Auris technology complements robotic platform technologies currently in development in general surgery with Verb Surgical, through the Johnson & Johnson collaboration with Verily, and in orthopaedics with the acquisition of Orthotaxy. Johnson & Johnson aspires to bring disruptive innovation to the full continuum of procedures, including open, laparoscopic, robotic and endoluminal.
The company will discuss the transaction further during its next quarterly earnings call on April 16, 2019.
