Olympus Assumes Commercial Activities for VERSAPOINT^TM - Electrosurgery System for Intrauterine Pathologies from Ethicon

October 16, 2019

Olympus Corporation (President and CEO: Yasuo Takeuchi) announced today that Olympus and Ethicon, Inc. have entered an agreement in which Olympus will take over all new commercial activities related to the VERSAPOINT^TM Electrosurgery system from Ethicon. With this agreement, Olympus will acquire new channels in its Gynecology Business toward its goal of bringing patients and customers more minimally invasive technology and product options.

For several years Olympus has supplied Gynecare (part of Ethicon) with resectoscopes, generators and electrodes that together comprise the VERSAPOINT^TM Bipolar Electrosurgery System. The VERSAPOINT^TM system is used and trusted by healthcare practitioners worldwide for the treatment of various intrauterine pathologies such as myomas, polyps, intrauterine adhesions and uterine septa. In addition to continuing to manufacture the products, pursuant to the new agreement Olympus will take over all new commercial sales and marketing activities related to VERSAPOINT^TM starting from 1 January 2020. As part of the transaction, Olympus will also acquire the VERSAPOINT^TM trademark. Going forward, the current VERSAPOINT^TM resectoscope will be phased out and replaced with Olympus’ OES Pro 8,5mm resectoscope.

The companies anticipate that Olympus will take over commercial activities in most European countries and the U.S.^*, as well as countries in which only an EU declaration of conformity is required for marketing of VERSAPOINT^TM products, starting from 1 January 2020. Ethicon will continue to provide VERSAPOINT^TM products to customers in certain other territories until applicable regulatory approvals have been obtained, at which point Olympus will take on sales and marketing activities in these countries. Olympus will also offer repair services for the VERSAPOINT^TM generators (subject to local availability). The Versascope hysteroscope does not form part of the agreement and will remain with Ethicon.

Manisha Shah-Bugaj, Global Head of Olympus’ Gynecology Business, commented, “We believe that the VERSAPOINT^TM Electrosurgery system will form an important and highly complementary part of Olympus’ product offering, supporting our strategy of offering best in class, minimally invasive treatments to gynecologists. We will continue developing our business to support more customers and patients as a global medtech company.”

A customer letter with further details will be sent to Ethicon customers in respective regions following this announcement.

* The products are not yet authorized for marketing by Olympus in the U.S.