What You Should Know:
– HistoSonics, the company behind the non-invasive Edison® Histotripsy System, has announced a management-led majority stake acquisition by a syndicate of private and public investors, including K5 Global, Bezos Expeditions, and Wellington Management.
– The transaction values the company at approximately $2.25 billion and is expected to accelerate the growth of its Edison System across new clinical indications and global markets. The company will continue to be led by President and CEO, Mike Blue, who will also assume the role of Chairman of the Board.
Non-Invasive Tissue Destruction
HistoSonics’ technology uses non-invasive focused ultrasound energy to mechanically destroy and liquefy targeted tissue and tumors at a sub-cellular level, without the invasiveness or toxicity of traditional procedures. The Edison Histotripsy System received FDA De Novo clearance in October 2023.
To date, the system has been used to treat over 2,000 patients at more than 50 leading U.S. medical centers, with another 50 planned installations by year-end. The company is currently enrolling patients in clinical trials for liver, kidney, and pancreas tumors, with plans to expand to other indications in the future. Mike Blue stated that the new partners’ support provides the “firepower to accelerate our momentum, expand into new clinical indications, and reach even more patients around the world”.
Expanding Beyond Liver Tumors
HistoSonics plans to expand its focus from initial liver tumor applications to include kidney, pancreas, and prostate indications. The long-term vision is for histotripsy to be used across a wide range of clinical applications throughout the body, treating both benign and malignant conditions. Bryan Baum, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at K5 Global, commented that the company “turned a breakthrough into real clinical traction” and that the science, execution, and opportunity all align to ensure the technology reaches every hospital in the world.
