Israeli medtech company CartiHeal to be acquired for $500 million by Bioventus
The American orthobiologics company announced that it has activated its option to purchase the Kfar Saba-based company by transferring an initial $50 million
16:1930.08.21
Medtech company CartiHeal is being acquired by Nasdaq-traded Bioventus for a sum estimated at $500 million. Bioventus announced on Monday that it has elected to make a $50 million escrow payment pursuant to its option and equity purchase agreement with CartiHeal signed last year, signaling its intent to move forward with an acquisition of the Kfar Saba-based company. Bioventus said that its decision came following its review of a "statistical analysis report of the pivotal clinical trial of the Agili-C implant, reimbursement coding analysis, and significant market diligence including surgeon interviews with respect to Agili-C’s commercialization opportunity and ultimate market potential."
Uri Geiger. Photo: Meirav Bauer
Bioventus invested $15 million in CartiHeal at a $180 million valuation last July which included an option structure, under which Bioventus can acquire CartiHeal if the company secures the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the Agili-C implant, as it recently did.
Uri Geiger. Photo: Meirav Bauer Founded in 2009 and employing around 50 people, CartiHeal develops a biocompatible, coral-based, off-the-shelf implant for damaged joints. Elron Electronic Industries holds a 29% stake in the company; another 37% is held by Israeli-born billionaire Mori Arkin and Uri Geiger via their Accelmed Ventures, and by Marius Nacht via venture fund aMoon. Johnson and Johnson is also a shareholder. CartiHeal has previously raised $51 million, $17 million from Elron.
Uri Geiger's Accelmed fund, which is anchored by investments from Mori Arkin and Migdal Insurance, was the first institutional investor in CartiHeal, investing $10 million in total over the years. It is set to make a return of at least $70 million on its investment. Accelmed is experiencing an exceptional month after it was announced earlier this month that Israeli medical device company Memic Innovative Surgery, in which it invested $2 million in total, had agreed to go public via a SPAC merger, meaning Accelmed will register a return of 30 times its investment.
From its incorporation, CartiHeal was supported by Boaz Lifschitz, General Partner and Co-Founder of Peregrine Ventures. Peregrine, which invested in CartiHeal out of its Peregrine 2 fund, will achieve an ROI of 5000% on its investment. Since its establishment, Peregrine 2 achieved some of the biggest exits in the Israeli Life Sciences industry, including the sale of Valtech to Edwards Lifesciences, as well as Memic's recent SPAC merger.
Agili-C is indicated for the treatment of cartilage and osteochondral defects (defined as ICRS grade III or above) in the knee joint, in patients without severe osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence (KOOS) grade 0-3). The implant is designed to provide a cost-effective solution in patients indicated for Agili-C.
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“The robust data generated from the pivotal clinical trial, a randomized controlled trial with Agili-C, demonstrated superiority over surgical standard of care, microfracture, and debridement, in KOOS overall compared to baseline," said Alessandra Pavesio, Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer at Bioventus. "We believe this product could be a strong alternative for the approximately 650,000 U.S. patients annually receiving microfracture or debridement along with other cartilage treatment options."
Bioventus added that it plans to continue to work closely with the CartiHeal team in the coming quarters in advance of potential FDA approval to be ready to execute on commercialization and reimbursement activities.
