Abbott has entered into an agreement to purchase IDEV Technologies, a privately held company focused on developing next-generation medical devices for use by interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons and cardiologists. Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will acquire all outstanding equity of IDEV Technologies for $310 million net of cash and debt.

IDEV Technologies' products include SUPERA Veritas, a self-expanding nitinol stent system with CE Mark in Europe for treating blockages in blood vessels due to peripheral artery disease (PAD). Stents are used to prop open a blocked vessel and prevent re-blockage. With its proprietary interwoven wire technology, SUPERA Veritas is designed based on biomimetic principles - attempting to mimic the body's natural movement - to promote blood flow in the treated area while offering strength and flexibility. These properties are particularly important when considering treatment for blockages in the blood vessels in the thigh and knee where rapid and frequent movement occurs with daily activities such as walking, sitting and standing.

In the US, SUPERA Veritas is cleared only for the treatment of biliary strictures (narrowing of a bile duct) related to cancer. It is currently being reviewed under a Premarket Approval Application (PMA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of the superficial femoral artery (SFA), which is the main artery in the thigh that supplies blood to lower extremities, and is not currently approved in the US for that use. SUPERA Veritas has been studied in more than 1,500 patients in company- and physician-sponsored trials around the world, including a trial to support regulatory filings in the US.

"The acquisition of IDEV Technologies will expand and complement Abbott's existing peripheral technology portfolio of guidewires, balloon dilatation catheters and stents, making it one of the most comprehensive and competitive portfolios in the industry," said Chuck Foltz, senior vice president, vascular, Abbott. "This technology has the potential to make a significant impact on the treatment of patients who suffer from peripheral artery disease, a growing concern around the world."

As many as 27 million people in Europe and North America suffer from PAD.  An increasing prevalence of PAD is expected to place further economic burden on the healthcare system, making timely and effective treatment an important consideration. In patients with PAD, fatty deposits accumulate on the inner wall of the artery, causing blockages which reduce the flow of blood to lower parts of the leg. Patients with PAD can experience leg pain when walking and, if untreated, the disease can progress with severe consequences such as critical limb ischemia and amputation.  

IDEV Technologies is headquartered in Webster,Texas. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year and will not impact Abbott's ongoing full-year 2013 earnings-per-share guidance. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including antitrust clearances.

Abbott Vascular is the world's leader in drug eluting stents. Abbott Vascular has an industry-leading pipeline and a comprehensive portfolio of market-leading products for cardiac and vascular care, including products for coronary artery disease, vessel closure, endovascular disease and structural heart disease.