Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX) inked a deal to spend $193.5 million in cash and possibly $250 million more on Asthmatx Inc.
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Asthmatx makes a catheter-based bronchial thermoplasty procedure for severe asthma, according to a joint press release. The Alair procedure is designed to "reduce excess airway smooth muscle" by delivering thermal energy directly to lung tissue via a bronchoscope, according to Asthmatx. The company won 510(k) clearance from the Food & Drug Administration in April for the Alair treatment, which is cleared for patients at least 18 years who haven’t responded to conventional drug therapies. It’s also cleared for sale in the European Union under a CE Marking.
The nearly nine-year deal with Natick, Mass.-based Boston Scientific calls for it to pay the $193.5 million in cash up front and the remaining $250 million as revenue milestones are met through 2019. It’s expected to close during the fourth quarter.
BSX CEO Ray Elliott said the deal, expected to dilute earnings per share by 2 cents in 2011 and 2012, "represents an important step in the execution of our strategy to realign Boston Scientific’s portfolio … by buying or building products we understand, to be sold through sales forces we already have."
"Given the large underserved patient population and this innovative technology, we expect this transaction to provide meaningful revenue growth in the midterm," Elliott said in prepared remarks."
In a note to investors, Leerink Swann analyst Rick Wise said that although the acquistion might not move BSX shares higher, it "looks to us like directionally very positive news."
"The deal — the first in some time — importantly highlights CEO Ray Elliot’s determination (and ability) to move past the current portfolio’s growth/profitability challenges and forge into new areas of MedTech — seeking big new markets that can potentially add growth to the BSX product portfolio," Wise wrote. "We expect there will be other deals of this type in coming months and years as Elliot reshapes the portfolio. As the gradual process of rebuilding BSX unfolds, we expect the stock to move higher over time."
Boston Scientific shares were up nearly 1 percent to $5.43 in early-morning activity.
