Mauna Kea (ENT:MKEA) said today it inked a global commercialization partnership deal with Cook Medical for urology applications of its Cellvizio platform.
Cellvizio is a confocal laser endomicroscopy system that provides images of cells and, in current implementations, helps doctors diagnose cancers of the stomach, oesophagus and bile ducts, Mauna Kea said.
“We’re extremely pleased to partner with a global market leader such as Cook Medical to address the urology market with our unique confocal laser endomicroscopy technology. This 1st global commercial partnership is a major milestone of our new strategy to commercialize our innovative technology through private labeling or integration of our Cellvizio platform with established leaders in a range of indications,” Mauna Kea CEO Sacha Loiseau said in a press release.
As part of the agreement, Cook Medical will launch a private-labeled version of the Cellvizio platform for use in urologic applications during the 1st half of 2016, Mauna Kea said.
“While we focus resources on the execution of our commercialization partnership with Cook Medical, we are continuing to work to develop additional indications for Cellvizio that will position us to explore many new partnership opportunities in the coming year and beyond,” Loiseau said in prepared remarks.
Urologic applications for the Cellvizio system include detection and surveillance of cancer in bladder cancer patients and identifying upper urinary tract urothelial cancer, the company said.
In November, Mauna Kea looked to some of the biggest names in medtech for help in commercializing its Cellvizio device in the U.S. after winning 510(k) clearance from the FDA in October.
Paris-based Mauna Kea could ink a deal by the end of the year that would allow it to speed Cellvizio to market here. The device was cleared for use in surgical procedures to diagnose cancer; Cellvizio provides images of cells and helps doctors diagnose cancers of the stomach, oesophagus and bile ducts. MKEA shares jumped almost 60% in a single day after it was approved by the FDA.
