ZOLL Medical Corporation acquires TherOx, Inc., offers new therapy for treating heart patients in the cath lab

ZOLL Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group Company that manufactures medical devices and related software solutions, announced it has acquired TherOx, Inc., of Irvine, CA, a privately held company. TherOx is focused on improving treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and markets systems to deliver SuperSaturated Oxygen (SSO2) Therapy.

SSO2 Therapy, which was recently approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), has been demonstrated to reduce infarct size after primary coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting in patients with left anterior descending ST-elevation myocardial infarction. When a large ischemic area of muscle damage remains following AMI, the patient condition often deteriorates into debilitating heart failure.

"ZOLL and TherOx are both focused on emergency cardiac care," said Neil Johnston, President of ZOLL Circulation in the statement. "This acquisition expands the ZOLL product portfolio in support of excellence for patients and caregivers."

"SSO2 Therapy can help reduce infarct size among patients who suffer from large anterior AMIs,1 which are the most serious heart attacks,” said Kevin T. Larkin, President and Chief Executive Officer of TherOx. “Adjunctive to PCI, SSO2 Therapy is intended to salvage heart muscle and reduce infarct size.”

“No delay in door-to-balloon times and improved clinical outcomes is a combination we think physicians will find appealing,” Johnston added. “Because SSO2 Therapy is delivered following PCI and stenting, there is no disruption of today’s workflow in the cath lab.”