CryoCath Acquires Rights to SurgiFrost

The exclusive global rights to a surgical probe system to ablate cardiac arrhythmias have been acquired by CryoCath Technologies, Inc. (Montreal, Canada) from Endocare, Inc. (Irvine, CA, USA) for upfront and milestone payments of US$10 million as well as royalties.

Previously, CryoCath had licensed the marketing rights for the probe system, called SurgiFrost, from Endocare. SurgiFrost uses a malleable, cryosurgical probe to treat cardiac arrhythmias while a patient is undergoing a coronary bypass procedure or mitral valve repair. The system is routinely used in a growing base of more than 50 centers across the United States and Europe, says the company. SurgiFrost also complements CryoCath's own Freezor CryoAblation catheter system for treating atrioventricular node re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT), recently cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"This transaction's strategic potential to bolster our catheter-based business can only serve to increase our momentum as the global leader in cryotherapy products to treat cardiovascular disease,” said Steven G. Arless, president and CEO of CryoCath Technologies. SurgiFrost may ultimately be used on a primary basis for certain surgical procedures such as a stand-alone treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), the company noted.





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