Terumo has inked a deal for its neurovascular subsidiary to acquire Arsenal Medical and its liquid embolic approach for treating certain brain bleeds.
Arsenal’s investigational NeoCast is being developed for chronic and subacute subdural hematoma, through the blocking of the brain’s middle meningeal artery, or MMA. Terumo Neuro describes the solvent-free, non-adhesive biomaterial as a next-generation method of reaching distal vessels in the brain with a controlled delivery profile.
If approved, NeoCast would go up against established liquid embolic platforms from Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson. Their respective Onyx and TruFill systems both received expanded FDA approvals into subdural hematoma late last year as an adjunct to surgery, with each logging years of use in treating vessel malformations.
“As MMA embolization emerges as an important new treatment option, this purpose-developed, next-generation liquid embolic technology has the potential to make a meaningful impact for physicians and patients, while supporting our mission to preserve and restore brain health,” Terumo Neuro CEO Carsten Schroeder said in a statement.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Waltham, Massachusetts–based Arsenal previously launched a first-in-human trial of NeoCast, and it has received a go-ahead from the FDA to conduct a randomized pivotal study against Medtronic’s Onyx liquid embolic system.
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Subdural hematomas are typically caused by minor head trauma, but can be more common among older adults and people taking blood thinners. Surgery to drain the bleed is standard care, but many patients will see recurrence, potentially causing cognitive decline and disability.
The company is also developing NeoCast to block blood flow to hypervascular brain tumors, and its pipeline includes the trauma-focused ResQFoam for internal abdominal bleeding as well as systems for peripheral embolization and postpartum hemorrhage.
“Arsenal Medical was founded on the idea that advanced materials can transform the way challenging medical conditions are treated,” said President and CEO Dr. Upma Sharma. “Terumo Neuro’s leadership in neurovascular innovation makes it the ideal organization to help realize the full potential of NeoCast through its next stage of development following the close of the transaction.”
