Cardiovascular Systems (Nasdaq: CSII) announced today that it is expanding its product portfolio through new partnerships with OrbusNeich and Integer.
The OrbusNeich partnership makes St. Paul, Minn.–based CSI the exclusive U.S. distributor of Hong Kong–based OrbusNeich’s balloon products. The deal with Frisco, Texas–based Integer (NYSE: ITGR) involves Integer producing CSI-branded Zilient guidewires.
Cardiovascular Systems CEO Scott Ward said he’s excited about the new partnerships’ long-term growth potential.
“We’re increasing the value and expertise that we bring to physicians and patients and expanding our product portfolio in the key areas where CSI excels,” Ward said in a news release.
The goal, according to Ward, is for CSI to become the “partner of choice” for peripheral and coronary interventions through the offering complementary products that support CSI’s core capabilities.
“Adding high-quality balloons and guidewires to our portfolio is an important first step as we begin to leverage our commercial footprint and enhance CSI’s value to physicians treating patients with peripheral or coronary artery disease,” Ward said.
OrbusNeich PCI balloons include the Sapphire II Pro, which OrbusNeich and CSI officials expect to obtain FDA clearance this year was the first and only 1.0 mm coronary balloon to be available in the United States. SI presently offers 1.5-4.0 mm Sapphire II Pro and the 2.0–4.0 mm Sapphire NC Plus coronary balloons. The expectation is that OrbusNeich’s full balloon product portfolio will become available throughout 2018 and 2019.
Entering the U.S. market with coronary and peripheral dilatation catheters has been a major goal for OrbusNeich, according OrbusNeich’s SVP and COO Scott Addonizio.
“This exclusive distribution partnership with CSI provides us with the necessary channel to achieve a dominant presence in the United States,” Addonizio said. “OrbusNeich’s technically advanced balloons coupled with CSI’s highly skilled sales force and management team is the strong strategic partnership needed to achieve our objective.”
The contract manufacturing agreement with Integer will help enable broad market launch of CSI-branded Zilient peripheral guidewires later in CSI’s present fiscal year – with the anticipation of additional Zilient guidewires for coronary interventions and radial peripheral interventions becoming available in the future.
