Edwards Lifesciences has signed three agreements worth €15m with Affluent Medical, a French clinical-stage medical technology company, to secure rights to the latter’s structural heart products and technologies.
Affluent Medical develops next-generation, minimally invasive, adjustable, and biomimetic implants to restore critical physiological functions.
The deal includes Affluent Medical’s Kalios adjustable mitral annulus and mitral valve technology.
Under the agreement, Edwards Lifesciences will make an initial payment of €5m to secure an exclusive option to acquire Kephalios, a wholly owned subsidiary of Affluent Medical.
Kephalios supports the development of Kalios adjustable mitral ring, based on clinical outcomes from its trial.
Kalios is intended to treat residual and recurrent mitral insufficiency.
The French firm will continue to manage operational activities related to the development of Kalios throughout the option period.
Under the second agreement, Edwards Lifesciences will pay €5m to license Affluent Medical’s intellectual property for the biomimetic cardiac mitral valve replacement technology, specifically for open-heart surgery.
The technology replicates the structure and function of a human valve, aiming to lessen the workload on the left ventricle and enhance heart haemodynamics.
The medical technology company is entitled to additional future royalties on all potentially commercialised products using the licensed patents throughout their lifespan.
Affluent Medical retains complete patent rights for transcatheter valves, including its Epygon mitral valve, which is presently undergoing clinical development.
Additionally, Edwards Lifesciences will invest €5m to acquire an equity stake in Affluent Medical.
Upon completing the transaction, the heart valve technologies developer will acquire a 9.21% ownership stake in Affluent Medical.
Affluent Medical CEO Sébastien Ladet said: “We are proud to sign these agreements with the global leader in structural heart innovation. We look forward to welcoming Edwards as a shareholder in our company.
“Edwards’ strong global market presence and commercial infrastructure holds the potential for our product Kalios to help doctors and their patients worldwide, while creating a strong partnership for Kalios and surgical mitral valves using our technology.
“Affluent will continue to develop its transcatheter mitral valve Epygon and its urinary incontinence artificial sphincter Artus.”
Last month, Edwards Lifesciences announced plans to divest its critical care product group to BD for $4.2bn.
