Boston Scientific to acquire Symetis

Boston Scientific announced it signed a definitive agreement to obtain Symetis SA, a manufacturer of transcatheter aortic valve replacement systems.

According to a press release issued by Boston Scientific, Symetis is a privately held company in Switzerland with approximately 300 employees that has developed numerous devices, including the Acurate TA and Acurate Neo/TF valves, mainly for minimally invasive TAVR procedures on high-risk patients with aortic valve stenosis.

Symetis, whose products are not yet approved in the United States, is currently conducting clinical trials for a next-generation valve system (Acurate Neo/AS), while Boston Scientific has developed its own TAVR valve (Lotus) that is not yet available in the U.S., according to the release.

“The steps we are taking reflect our commitment to being a leader in [TAVR] and structural heart technologies now and over the long term, as we broaden our portfolio and pipeline to address the needs of our global health care providers and their patients,” Ian Meredith, MD, executive vice president and global chief medical officer for Boston Scientific, said in the release. “This compelling combination of technologies will allow us to provide interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons with multiple [TAVR] offerings for varying patient pathologies and anatomy.”

The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, Boston Scientific stated in the release.