Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, announced the launch of its remote monitoring and defibrillator solution (Tempus ALS) for pre-hospital settings in the U.S. The solution is a complete end-to-end system that combines innovative hardware and advanced software to expand the pre-hospital scope of care for first responders. The professional defibrillator (Tempus LS-Manual) is the final element of the overall solution to receive 510(k) clearance from the U.S. FDA and is now available for sale in the U.S. market.

As a unique modular platform, the remote monitoring and defibrillator solution (Tempus ALS) consists of a remote portable vital signs patient monitor (Tempus Pro), and remote professional defibrillator (Tempus LS-Manual). While the monitor and defibrillator can be used separately, the devices also connect wirelessly to share data and transfer vitals, waveforms and images into Philips web-based software platform (IntelliSpace Corsium). The software platform provides robust, real-time transfer of clinical data and events, interactive ECG measurement, two-way communication and more, enabling rapid clinical and transport decision support and seamless electronic patient care recording (ePCR) integration outside the hospital in emergency settings.

“In emergency situations, where seconds count, having access to advanced patient data collection and sharing and real-time secure data streaming, can help inform confident treatment and transport decisions outside the hospital,” said Arman Voskerchyan, General Manager of Therapeutic Care at Philips. “The integrated remote monitoring and defibrillator solution combined with our web-based software platform will help front line responders provide emergency care, diagnosis and treatment – including defibrillation therapy, data management and clinical and operational efficiency features – in a fully integrated solution.”

Emergencies and care events outside the hospital continue to rise, with an estimated 240 million calls made to 9-1-1 in the U.S. each year. In addition to the stress of the unknown and what to expect at the scene of the call, emergency medical providers must deal with manual handling issues. Equipment carried is heavy, often damaged due to use in unpredictable conditions and has limited data connectivity – inhibiting the ability for on-scene support. In an effort to address these challenges, both elements of the Philips remote monitoring and defibrillator (Tempus ALS) solution are designed with a small, rugged exterior and long-lasting battery to allow emergency medical providers to focus on caring for the patient without the hassle or distraction of bulky equipment.

Earlier this year, Philips launched its new emergency care informatics suite in the U.S. market, previously in use in Europe, helping care teams spot life-threatening conditions remotely, improve accuracy of support from on-scene crews, and enhance tailoring of in-hospital care based on pre-hospital physiology. In October 2019, Philips announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex (AAKSS) where helicopter Emergency Service (HEMS) teams were able to live stream patient medical information from the scene to the hospital through the Philips pre-hospital solution. Philips offers a wide range of emergency care offerings, including automated external defibrillators (AEDs), advanced life support monitors, and more. Visit Philips Emergency Care and Resuscitation for more information on the remote monitoring and defibrillator solution and Philips broad portfolio of Emergency Care solutions.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 81,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries.

Siemens Healthineers AG and Varian Medical Systems, Inc. announced that they have entered into an agreement, pursuant to which Siemens Healthineers shall acquire all shares of Varian for USD 177.50 per share in cash. This corresponds to a purchase price of approximately USD 16.4 billion.

Varian’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the agreement and recommends to the Varian shareholders also to approve the agreement. The acquisition of Varian is expected to close in the first half of calendar year 2021, with closing being subject to approval by Varian shareholders, receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

“With this combination of two leading companies we make two leaps in one step: A leap in the fight against cancer and a leap in our overall impact on healthcare. This decisive moment in the history of our companies means more hope and less uncertainty for patients, an even stronger partner for our customers, and for society more effective and efficient medical care. Together with Varian’s outstanding and passionate employees, we will shape the future of healthcare more than ever before,” said Dr. Bernd Montag, CEO of Siemens Healthineers AG.

“Varian’s innovative and patient centric culture has enabled us to become an iconic leader in radiotherapy and multi-disciplinary cancer care, with a trusted global brand and strong customer loyalty,” said Dow Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Varian. “Siemens Healthineers values our talented and engaged employees and recognizes the strength of the Varian brand, our cutting-edge portfolio, and the relationships we’ve nurtured. We are thrilled to partner with Siemens Healthineers to extend our renowned customer care, serving clinicians and patients from the very first stage in the fight against cancer. With Siemens Healthineers, we will transform care for a greater number of patients worldwide, as well as broaden opportunities for our employees as part of a larger and more global organization. That is why our Board is confident that combining with Siemens Healthineers is the right path forward for Varian – delivering immediate and compelling value to our shareholders, while bringing us even closer to our transformative vision of a world without fear of cancer.”

“With the acquisition of Varian, Siemens Healthineers is entering another attractive growth market that offers the company significant potential for value creation and aligns perfectly with the upgrading phase of Siemens Healthineers’ strategy. Siemens Healthineers is creating an unprecedented, highly integrated portfolio for the global fight against cancer,” said Prof. Dr. Ralf P. Thomas, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Siemens Healthineers AG.

A HOLISTIC PARTNER FOR CANCER CARE

Varian is a world leader in the field of cancer care, with innovative solutions especially in radiation oncology and related software. In fiscal year 2019, the company generated revenues of USD 3.2 billion with an adjusted operating margin of approximately 17 percent. Varian is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA, and currently employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide. With a holistic approach to cancer care, the company is increasingly leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analysis to further improve cancer treatment and expand access to care.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer2 expects the prevalence of cancer to almost double between 2010 and 2030, with more than 50 percent of all cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. At the same time, significant growth in therapeutic innovations is driving demand for personalized diagnosis and therapy planning, implementation and monitoring.

Varian’s decades of progress in developing and delivering multidisciplinary, integrated cancer care has kept the company at the forefront of innovation for more than 70 years. Varian thus offers an ideal fit to Siemens Healthineers leading businesses in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics and interventional procedures.

BUILDS ON A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP

Since 2012, Siemens Healthineers and Varian have been working together successfully in the strategic “EnVision” partnership to shape the future of cancer treatment, combining Varian’s innovative therapeutic systems and Siemens Healthineers leading imaging technology. This transaction builds on this long-standing partnership to develop improved cancer therapy solutions – from imaging for treatment planning to focused radiation therapy – for efficient workflow and effective, personalized treatment.

TRANSACTION TERMS

Varian is expected to positively contribute to Siemens Healthineers adjusted basic EPS3 within the first 12 months after closing of the acquisition. Following the closing of the acquisition, Siemens Healthineers aims for EBIT synergies of at least EUR 300 million per annum in fiscal year 2025.

Siemens Healthineers plans to finance the acquisition of Varian with a mix of debt and equity. Siemens Finance B.V., a subsidiary of Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, will provide Siemens Healthineers for a transitional period with a bridge facility in an amount of EUR 15.2 billion to finance the acquisition price and additional costs and expenses in connection with the acquisition of Varian.

Siemens Healthineers plans to replace up to approximately 50 percent of the amount available under the bridge facility granted by Siemens Finance B.V. through the issuance of equity. For this purpose, Siemens Healthineers intends to increase the share capital by issuing new shares with subscription rights expected to be excluded. In a first step, Siemens Healthineers plans to place new shares without a prospectus, depending on market conditions, still within calendar year 2020. The issuance of new shares will raise the free float and presumably the trading volumes of Siemens Healthineers shares. It is planned that the remaining amounts under the bridge facility will be refinanced through debt provided by Siemens AG or one of its subsidiaries to Siemens Healthineers. Such debt will be raised externally by Siemens AG and then be passed on to Siemens Healthineers through loans at market conditions. After closing, Varian will continue to operate under the Varian name, as a Siemens Healthineers brand.

GE Healthcare and Osprey Medical Inc. announced a strategic alliance under which GE Healthcare will exclusively distribute Osprey’s product portfolio in Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Turkey. Osprey’s DyeVert™ contrast minimization devices, complemented by GE Healthcare’s range of iodinated x-ray contrast media, offer healthcare professionals a technology platform to address the rising problem of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) following interventional coronary angiograms in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Osprey’s President and CEO, Mike McCormick, stated: “We are pleased to be partnering with GE Healthcare to commercialize our products in global markets to address the rising problem of AKI following heart imaging procedures in patients with poor kidney function.”

“GE Healthcare and Osprey share a similar goal rooted in improving patient outcomes” added Kevin O’Neill, President and CEO of GE Healthcare’s Pharmaceutical Diagnostics business. “Both our product portfolios and educational efforts, which are aligned with cardiology guidelines for AKI minimization, offer interventional cardiologists the opportunity to safely image patients by reducing the risk of AKI,” concluded O’Neill.

AKI is sudden damage to the kidneys that causes them to not work properly. It can range from minor loss of kidney function to complete kidney failure.1 With one out of four angiography patients presenting with CKD,2 the risk for these patients to develop AKI is a serious concern for catherization labs and hospitals. Patients with impaired kidneys are at a significantly increased risk for negative outcomes and for longer hospital stays.3 The European Society of Cardiology and European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery have issued joint guidelines for the reduction of AKI.4 These guidelines recommend that physicians should screen patients for risk of AKI, ensure they are properly hydrated, consider patient appropriate contrast choice and minimize the contrast volume delivered to the patient. Osprey and GE Healthcare’s portfolios are aligned with these guidelines so that healthcare professionals can help minimize AKI complications in patients with CKD.

Under the four-year agreement, GE Healthcare will commercialize Osprey’s DyeVert portfolio which reduces the amount of contrast that reaches the kidney (40% average reduction) with no compromise in image quality. Osprey’s technology is the only FDA cleared medical device that is indicated for reducing patient contrast exposure. The DyeVert portfolio allows healthcare providers to monitor cumulative dye dose specific to each patient’s kidney function determined prior to the procedure.

GE Healthcare’s Pharmaceutical Diagnostics unit develops and supplies imaging agents used to support approximately 90 million procedures per year globally, equivalent to three patients every second. Its range of products include iodinated X-ray contrast media used in interventional and other diagnostic procedures including coronary angiography.

The four (4) year exclusive distribution agreement enables GE Healthcare to commercialize Osprey’s products within the Region. During the term of this agreement necessary commercial terms have been discussed and agreed. As Osprey develops new products GE Healthcare will be granted a right of first refusal to distribute and promote these products in the Region.

About Osprey Medical Inc

Osprey Medical’s vision is to make heart imaging procedures safer for patients with poor kidney function. The amount of dye (contrast) used during angiographic imaging procedures increases the patient’s risk for dye-related kidney damage known as contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). The Company’s core technologies originated from research conducted by Dr David Kaye at Melbourne’s Baker Institute. Its proprietary dye reduction and monitoring technologies are designed to help physicians minimize dye usage and monitor the dose of dye in real time throughout the procedure. The Company’s DyeVert™ Plus System reduces contrast while maintaining image quality in a self-adjusting, easy-to-use design that monitors dye usage. Osprey Medical’s Board and Management are composed of experienced and successful personnel with established track records covering medical device development, regulatory approvals, sales and marketing, and mergers/acquisitions. Osprey Medical’s advisory board comprises world-recognized experts in heart and kidney diseases.

About GE Healthcare:

GE Healthcare is the $16.7 billion healthcare business of GE. As a leading global medical technology and digital solutions innovator, GE Healthcare enables clinicians to make faster, more informed decisions through intelligent devices, data analytics, applications and services, supported by its Edison intelligence platform. With over 100 years of healthcare industry experience and around 50,000 employees globally, the company operates at the center of an ecosystem working toward precision health, digitizing healthcare, helping drive productivity and improve outcomes for patients, providers, health systems and researchers around the world.

Olympus, a global technology leader in designing and delivering innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, has announced the launch of the ViziShot 2 25 G needle for Endobronchial Ultrasound Transbronchial Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). This device is a part of the Olympus EBUS Solution which offers a comprehensive solution for diagnosing and staging lung cancer. The Olympus EBUS system is the only solution recommended for both lymph node sampling and peripheral lesion detection.

“As the only company manufacturing and selling both bronchoscopes and needles, Olympus is proud to expand our EBUS-TBNA product family portfolio with the 25 G EBUS-TBNA needle. Our comprehensive pulmonary solutions bring great value to our physician customers striving to advance diagnosis and staging capabilities for lung disease and lung cancer,” said Lynn Ray, Vice President, General Manager, Global Respiratory, Olympus.

EBUS-TBNA, a procedure used in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, allows physicians to visualize diseased tissue, lymph nodes or lesions beyond the walls of the airways. Samples from parts of the lymph node that require further investigation can be taken using a specialized aspiration needle.

The ViziShot 2 25 G, is the smallest gauge size of the Olympus EBUS-TBNA needle portfolio. Benefits of the smaller lumen and enhanced design features of the 25 G needle include:

High Quality Samples: Even with a smaller lumen, the needle is able to obtain sufficient quantities of high-quality specimen needed for establishing a diagnosis and reliable staging.
Increased Accessibility during EBUS-TBNA: The small diameter of the 25 G EBUS-TBNA needle enhances scope angulation leading to increased accessibility, and flexibility and of difficult-to-reach lymph nodes.
Improved Puncture Capabilities: This needle requires less puncture force to the sample due to the curved edge back-cut needle tip design feature.
Clear Target Visualization: Clear ultrasound echogenicity is maintained due to the dimpled needle design.

“A 25-gauge needle is something I have always wanted available in our lab,” said Ramyar Madhavi, MD of Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. “From our point of view, the needle tip is sharper; it handles easily and provides a more than adequately sized, high-quality specimen. Having this needle allows me to feel more comfortable when proceeding with EBUS on patients for whom discontinuing anticoagulant therapy is not an option.”

Among both men and women, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and the American Cancer Society. It is estimated that over 370 Americans will die each day from the disease in 2020.1 Since the announcement of new lung cancer screening recommendations for high-risk patients by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in July 2013, we have seen a 5 percent decline in lung-cancer related deaths2, lending evidence to the effectiveness of early diagnosis and accurate staging of lung cancer.

About Olympus Medical Systems Group
Olympus is a global technology leader, crafting innovative optical and digital solutions in medical technologies; life sciences; industrial solutions; and cameras and audio products. Throughout our 100-year history, Olympus has focused on being true to society and making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling.

Our Medical Business works with health care professionals to combine our innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing with their skills to deliver diagnostic, therapeutic and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance quality of life for patients.