1. Medtech Insight
  2. >>Archive

Apollo Endosurgery Wants Lap-Band To Become Even More Of An Asset

At the end of October, Apollo Endosurgery announced that it would acquire certain obesity assets from Allergan: Lap-Band, one of the most well-known brands in bariatric surgery, and Orbera, Allergan’s intra-gastric balloon system, the leading such product in Europe. It’s not unusual these days for large companies to unload under-performing businesses, but the Allergan deal is striking because of its choice of partner – Apollo Endosurgery is a small organization acquiring a much larger one.

Success is directly proportional to the amount of energy concentrated on an endeavor, and both Allergan Inc. and Apollo Endosurgery Inc. are betting on that principle. At the end of October, small and focused Apollo Endosurgery announced that it would acquire certain obesity assets from Allergan: Lap-Band, one of the most well-known brands in bariatric surgery, and Orbera, Allergan’s intra-gastric balloon system, the leading such product in Europe. (Orbera is in clinical trials in the US.) Apollo will pay $75 million in cash up front, plus a minority equity interest of $15 million and up to an additional $20 million contingent upon regulatory and sales milestones. [See Deal]

Sales of Lap-Band were way down last year from their peak – Allergan’s obesity products accounted for $243 million in 2010 and brought in only $160 million in 2012, largely...

More from Archive

Final Chance To Have Your Say: Take Our Reader Survey This Week

 
• By Ryan Nelson

Editor’s note: This is your final call to participate in the survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. The deadline is 20 September.

Shape Our Content: Take The Reader Survey

 
• By Ryan Nelson

Editor’s note: We are conducting a survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. If there are any changes you’d like to see in coverage topics, content format or the method in which you receive and access Medtech Insight, or if you love it how it is, now is the time to have your voice heard.

Patients With Movement Disorders Will Benefit From Medtronic’s Expanded MRI Labeling For DBS

 
• By Marion Webb

Medtronic announced it received expanded MRI labeling for its DBS systems, which is critical, given that almost 70% of all DBS-eligible patients will likely need an MRI at some point in their care, says Ashwini Sharan, CMO for Medtronic Neuromodulation.

Podcast: Lung Life AI CEO Shares Regulatory And Reimbursement Journey For Lung Cancer Diagnostic

 
• By Natasha Barrow

In this episode, Medtech Insight reporter Natasha Barrow speaks to LungLife AI CEO Paul Pagano. Lung Life AI is a US-based AIM-listed medical technology company that has developed a liquid biopsy test for the early detection of lung cancer called Lung LB. Pagano runs through the highlights of Lung Life AI journey to date and its future ambition for a strategic partnership. He also provides advice to similar diagnostic companies seeking reimbursement andcompliance with the US FDA Lab Developed Test ruling.

More from Medtech Insight