Terumo Corp. (TYO:4543) said today it’s expanding its distribution partnership with Olympus (TYO:7733) to include its Glidewire endoscopic hydrophilic coated guidewire designed for endoscopic treatment of the biliary and pancreatic systems.
Olympus will be the exclusive distributor in the U.S. for Terumo’s device effective immediatley. The guidewire is designed for gastroenterological procedures as a complement to imaging and therapeutic devices Olympus offers through its EndoTherapy division.
“I have used the Glidewire for ERCP and for complex advanced endoscopic procedures for more than 20 years. I find it to be extremely useful for navigating difficult strictures, especially when other guidewires have failed. It is an indispensable tool for consistently succeeding in ERCP,” UNC director of advanced tehapeutic endoscopy Dr. Todd Baron said in a press release.
In May, Terumo inked a deal to name Olympus as the exclusive U.S. distributor of its Glidewire urologic hydrophilic coated guidewires through Olympus’ urology and stone management sales force.
The move came 2 years after Terumo dumped Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) as a distributor of the guidewires. In February 2013, Terumo dropped Boston Scientific as a distributor for the GlideWire device, saying it would launch its own direct sales, marketing, support and distribution operations for its urological business.
“By adding this trusted guidewire to our EndoTherapy line-up, we extend the guidewire options for complex ERCP procedures. The Glidewire endoscopic guidewire improves the quality of care by providing physicians access to complicated anatomy where they may not have had the benefit of access before,” Olympus America endotherapy marketing exec director Earl Adamy said in prepared remarks.
