Johnson & Johnson medical-device unit Ethicon agreed to buy NeuWave Medical Inc.
NeuWave developed a system that eliminates soft-tissue lesions with microwave energy and is used by cancer patients.
Ethicon said in a statement that “we continue to work to push the boundaries of access and treatment for patients for whom traditional surgery may not be an option today.”
Last May, Madison, Wis.-based NeuWave said it had raised $25 million in Series C financing. New investor Versant Ventures led the round, joined by returning backers H.I.G. BioVentures, Venture Investors and others.
Ethicon and the life-sciences division of Google Inc. formed a partnership last year to develop robots to assist surgeons. In December, Johnson & Johnson said Scott Huennekens will serve as chief executive of an independent company called Verb Surgical Inc. that emerged from the collaboration.
Ethicon expects to complete the NeuWave deal during the second quarter.
By Josh Beckerman
Giovanni Caforio, the former CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb, is set to become the next board chairman of Novartis, which on Tuesday proposed the pharmaceutical industry veteran as its pick to replace Joerg Reinhardt in the role next year. Reinhardt has served as Novartis’ chair since 2013 and plans to retire when his 12-year term ends in 2025.
GE HealthCare has raised the curtain on two ultrasound systems equipped with artificial intelligence programs designed to assist in diagnosing conditions in women’s health, including obstetric exams. The Voluson Signature 20 and 18 imaging systems include AI tools capable of automatically identifying and annotating measurements of fetal anatomy.
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry have revealed a new sustainable method of manufacturing complex molecules that could reduce waste produced during drug production. The method published in Nature Chemistry could help to prevent severe side effects caused by drugs that can exist as enantiomers.
