Blue brings more than 25 years of leadership in medical devices. Since joining HistoSonics in 2017, he has led the company through significant regulatory milestones for its Edison histotripsy technology. He also oversaw the $2.25 billion acquisition of a majority stake of HistoSonics by an investor syndicate last year.
Prior to his time at HistoSonics, Blue served in senior leadership roles at NeuWave Medical before its 2016 acquisition by Johnson & Johnson. He also had a stint at superDimension (acquired by Covidien in 2012), leading commercialization and growth efforts.
Now, he joins the board of Pharaoh Neuro, which looks to advance its Neurapheresis cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) management system and MindsEye expandable port for cranial access in minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures.
Neurapheresis offers a new approach to CSF management, the company says. A closed-loop platform, it was designed to circulate and filter a patient’s own (autologous) CSF without introducing replacement fluids. MindsEye was first brought to market by Minnetronix Medical, earning FDA clearance in 2020, and Pharaoh seeks to reintroduce it on the U.S. market.
The company said his appointment comes as it looks to expand its strategic capabilities across product development and long-term commercialization planning. It comes after the company named former Medtronic executive Amaza Reitmeier as CEO and closed a $20 million Series A round earlier this year.
Commentary from Pharaoh Neuro leadership and investors
Reitmeier said:
“Mike brings the combination of visionary leadership, commercialization perspective, and operating experience that matters at this stage of Pharaoh’s development. His experience leading HistoSonics through the journey of developing and launching a novel platform technology and establishing a new therapy category is invaluable as we seek to transform care for people suffering from conditions that today have poor treatment options.”
Blue said:
“Pharaoh is at a critical and exciting stage in its journey – one that reminds me a lot of HistoSonics when I first joined,” said Blue. “They are developing an innovative platform with the potential to transform the treatment of neurocritical care patients, supported by compelling science and visionary leadership. I’m excited to join the Board and work alongside this incredible team as they build a category-defining company and bring this important technology to patients around the world.”
Jeff Terrell, partner at Arboretum Ventures, which led Pharaoh’s Series A, said:
“We were looking for someone with passion for patient care, skill navigating the path to market for new platform technology, and demonstrated success in today’s complex capital markets. It’s tough to imagine a better fit than Mike. We’re thrilled to have him on board to partner with the expert team at Pharaoh.”
