Covidien Buys Given To Build GI Business Base In Biggest Israeli Medtech Deal
Executive Summary
Three years ago, Covidien signaled its intention to build a gastrointestinal device business with its acquisition of Barrx Medical and its esophageal ablation technology for Barrett’s esophagus. Since then, the industry has been waiting for Covidien to follow through on its strategy to expand its presence in the $3 billion GI market, and that next step came with the company’s recent $860 million acquisition of publicly traded Given Imaging Ltd.
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Just as it did with VNUS, Covidien snapped up a smaller leader in a field where it had very little contact – esophageal cancer and its precursor Barrett’s esophagus – with the intent of building a larger presence. Covidien paid $325 million for Barrx Medical Inc., developer of a radiofrequency tool capable of eliminating Barrett’s, a condition in which damaged esophageal tissue presents an elevated risk of developing into esophageal cancer.