Acquisition Extends Critical Care Monitoring Solutions

Single-use medical devices group Vygon has acquired Lyon-based start-up Advanced Perfusion Diagnostics (APD), a developer of monitoring solutions for critical care and the operating room. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Scientific studies have shown that re-establishing macrovascular blood flow (cardiac output and blood pressure) after critical surgery or in cases of sepsis does not necessarily improve patient outcomes. While no clinical proof has been established to date, it appears that microvascular blood flow, ie blood flow in the arterioles, venules and capillaries, is not always aligned with macrovascular blood flow.

APD, founded in 2014, developed IKORUS®, a device that detects changes in visceral microvascular blood flow in the most critically ill hospital patients. It obtained CE marking in June 2019, enabling the launch of an expanded clinical trial phase with several leading European centres. Combined with a catheter, the device has introduced a new indicator that helps to evaluate the quality of microvascular blood flow known as ‘uPI’, the urethral Perfusion Index.

“This acquisition is in line with our strategy of external growth. APD is an ideal fit for our vision and a start-up that we have been keeping an eye on for some time,” said Stéphane Regnault, CEO of Vygon Group. “Manufacture of the monitor will be brought in-house in 2020, at Medwin, near Montpellier in France, our specialist production site for active medical devices. This will give Vygon the ability to provide its international customers with a comprehensive product range for critical surgery.”

“Vygon’s renowned expertise in medical devices is a major advantage for the IKORUS solution. We will be able to continue developing intelligent, innovative medical solutions for individual monitoring of critically ill patients,” said Ludovic Richard-Vitton, Vygon’s vice president, Critical Care.