May 13, 2022

MedCity News With the FTC’s conditional approval, Medtronic completes its $1.1B acquisition of Intersect ENT To get approval for the deal, Medtronic agreed to sell an Intersect subsidiary to soothe the FTC's concerns. Shares0 It has in some ways been a long time coming, but Medtronic ‘s $1.1 billion acquisition of medtech company Intersect ENT is now complete, the Dublin-based device maker announced Friday . Earlier this week, the FTC announced that Medtronic would have to divest an Intersect subsidiary —selling surgical navigation company Fiagon to the biotech firm Homeostatis—to get approval for the acquisition. Intersect, which is based in Menlo Park, California, is focused on advancing ear, nose and throat treatment. But the FTC expressed concerns that Medtronic’s acquisition of the company could lead to higher prices and reduced innovation; and it required Medtronic to offload Fiagon no later than 10 days after it acquired Intersect. “Additionally, Medtronic and Intersect must obtain prior approval from the FTC for 10 years before buying ENT navigation systems and balloon sinus dilation assets to address any future attempts to consolidate these important markets,” the FTC ordered. After agreeing to the agency’s terms, Medtronic got the OK to move ahead, following more than a decade of buildup to the deal. Medtronic first invested in Intersect in 2010. It has had a close relationship with Intersect since, and investors had long speculated Medtronic might buy the company. Finally, last August, Medtronic announced it was moving forward with the acquisition, which it completed Friday. One thing that made Intersect a particularly attractive target to the device maker is its steroid-coated stents, according to Medtronic. The sinus implants are used to treat chronic rhinosinusitis, a common chronic condition where spaces inside the nose and sinuses become inflamed, causing symptoms ranging from a lingering cold to headache. Intersect’s Propel sinus implants are used in conjunction with sinus surgery, while its Sinuva implants are a nonsurgical treatment for nasal polyps, noncancerous growths lining the nose and sinuses. Intersect was the first company to get FDA clearance for these types of devices. Medtronic said the acquisition will broaden its device offerings and improve care for patients with conditions like chronic sinusitis, or CRS. “By combining Intersect ENT’s groundbreaking localized drug delivery products with the leading navigation and powered instruments of Medtronic, we can now equip physicians with the right tools for many unique patient needs,” said Vince Racano, president of Medtronic’s ENT business, in a statement. “This acquisition expands our portfolio, and we can now provide a more comprehensive continuum of care for CRS patients while supporting the bold ambition of Medtronic to be the global healthcare technology leader.” After the completion of the acquisition was announced, the device maker saw its stock price rise by more than $1.60 to over $102 per share in trading Friday morning on the New York Stock Exchange. Photo: maxsattana, Getty Images Promoted