As venture investing in medical devices continues to split between early- and late-stage deals, investors increasingly face a choice: early-stage deals, where valuations are low, but risk is high and timelines are generally long; and late-stage opportunities, where risk is lower and timelines shorter, but the valuations are much higher. What if you could find an opportunity with the timelines and risk profile of a late-stage deal, at the valuation of an early-stage deal? That's what investors at Abingworth believe they've found in Lombard Medical Technologies PLC, a company with a novel approach to endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair procedures account for the majority of abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs performed in the US, and total worldwide revenues from aortic endograft systems now exceed $1 billion per year. Many believe that continuing improvements in endograft technology will drive EVAR penetration to 90% or beyond within the next five to 10 years. This article first appeared in the April issue of Medtech Insight, April 2011.

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair procedures account for the majority of abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs performed in the US, and total worldwide revenues from aortic endograft systems now exceed $1 billion per year. Many believe that continuing improvements in endograft technology will drive EVAR penetration to 90% or beyond within the next five to 10 years. This article first appeared in the April issue of Medtech Insight, April 2011.