Profound Medical Corp. Completes Acquisition of Royal Philips’ Sonalleve MR-HIFU Business
Transformative Transaction Immediately Establishes Profound as a Market Leader in MR-Ultrasound Ablation Therapy
TORONTO, July 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With reference to its press release dated June 30, 2017, Profound Medical Corp. (TSXV:PRN) (OTCQX:PRFMF) (“Profound”) announced today that all closing conditions have been satisfied and it has completed the acquisition of Royal Philips’ (NYSE:PHG) (AEX:PHIA) (“Philips”) Sonalleve MR-HIFU business.
Sonalleve MR-HIFU is an innovative therapeutic platform that combines real-time MR imaging and thermometry with high intensity focused ultrasound to enable precise and incision-free ablation of diseased tissue.
Philips will continue to distribute Profound’s TULSA-PRO® system, which is designed specifically for ablation of prostate tissue and also uses real time MR imaging with thermal ultrasound for precise ablation. In addition, Philips and Profound have now expanded this non-exclusive strategic sales relationship to include distribution of Sonalleve MR-HIFU. For a limited time, Philips will also provide other services, including, but not limited to, manufacturing and installation.
With the completion of this acquisition, Profound becomes the only company to provide a therapeutics platform that provides the precision of real-time MR imaging combined with the safety and ablation power of directional (inside-out) and focused (outside-in) ultrasound technology for the incision-free ablation of diseased tissue.
“This transaction with Philips is truly transformative for Profound, and represents an opportunity for us to immediately transition from a development-stage to a growth-stage company,” commented Dr. Arun Menawat, Profound’s CEO. “From a commercial perspective, our strengthened MR-Ultrasound ablation technology platform not only benefits Profound by significantly increasing the total opportunity size and creating synergies, but also benefits hospital customers by providing them with the ability to better utilize their MR system assets. In addition to the contribution the acquisition of the Sonalleve MR-HIFU business will make to our revenue base, we believe that it will also help accelerate our growth going forward.”
“We are excited about our enhanced close collaboration with Profound, as we aim to accelerate the development of new clinical applications and address the evolving needs of our current and future customers,” said Rob Cascella, Chief Business Leader Diagnosis and Treatment at Philips.
About Profound Medical Corp.
The Profound Medical team is committed to creating the powerful combination of real-time MR-guidance as the imaging platform and ultrasound as the energy source for delivering non-invasive ablative tools to clinicians. These key technology pillars, linked with intelligent software and robotics, have the potential to fulfill unmet needs of patients and clinicians in many anatomies and disease states, including prostate cancer, uterine fibroids, and bone metastases. Our mission is to profoundly change the standard of care by creating a tomorrow where clinicians can confidently ablate tissue with precision; a tomorrow where patients have access to safe and effective treatment options, so they can quickly return to their daily lives.
Profound Medical is commercializing a novel technology, TULSA-PRO®, which combines real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging with transurethral, robotically-driven therapeutic ultrasound and closed-loop thermal feedback control that is designed to provide precise ablation of the prostate while simultaneously protecting critical surrounding anatomy from potential side effects. TULSA-PRO® is CE marked and Profound Medical is currently conducting a pilot commercial launch of the technology in key European and other CE mark jurisdictions. The Company is also sponsoring a multicenter, prospective FDA-registered clinical trial, TACT, which, if successful, is expected to support its application to the FDA for approval to market TULSA-PRO® in the United States.
Profound Medical is also commercializing Sonalleve MR-HIFU an innovative therapeutic platform that combines real-time MR imaging and thermometry with thermal ultrasound to enable precise and incision-free ablation of diseased tissue. Sonalleve is CE marked for the treatment of uterine fibroids and palliative pain treatment of bone metastases. The Company is also in the early stages of exploring additional potential treatment markets for Sonalleve MR-HIFU, such as non-invasive ablation of abdominal cancers and hyperthermia for cancer therapy, where the technology has been shown to have clinical application.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Profound and its business which may include, but are not limited to, the expectations regarding the efficacy of Profound’s technology in the treatment of prostate cancer. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “is expected”, “expects”, “scheduled”, “intends”, “contemplates”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “proposes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Profound. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release, may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, including risks regarding the pharmaceutical industry, economic factors, the equity markets generally and risks associated with growth and competition. Although Profound has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Profound undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts For further information, please contact: Stephen Kilmer Investor Relations skilmer@profoundmedical.com T: 647.872.4849 Or Rashed Dewan Vice President, Finance T: 647.476.1350
