Olympus framed the deal consistent with its “Innovation-driven Growth” strategy and its focus on minimally invasive care across the full patient pathway. Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in men globally, with an estimated 1.5 million new cases annually.
BioProtect develops implant technologies designed to improve prostate cancer care. Its Balloon Spacer system creates spacing between the prostate and surrounding structures, protecting healthy tissue during radiation therapy. The implant biodegrades naturally after treatment.
Since its commercialization in 2023, the Balloon Spacer has been used in more than 11,000 procedures worldwide.
“BioProtect brings a highly differentiated solution to prostate cancer care, with a compelling clinical value proposition and early commercial success,” Seiji Kuramoto, executive officer at Olympus, said in a statement. “By combining BioProtect’s strengths with Olympus’ global reach and relationships with healthcare professionals, we believe we can expand access to solutions that support better patient outcomes.”
BioProtect CEO Itay Barnea said the combination would bring together innovative technology and commercial scale to broaden access for men undergoing prostate cancer treatment.
“We look forward to integrating our differentiated spacing technology into the overall portfolio of Olympus. This represents a significant advancement for BioProtect, our physician partners and ultimately the patients we serve, combining innovative technology, clinical excellence and commercial scale to expand access to high-quality care for men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer,” he said.
Olympus signed a global distribution agreement with EndoRobotics earlier this month. This deal gives Olympus the right to distribute EndoRobotics’ robot-assisted technologies, which are used for endoscopic procedures in patients with gastrointestinal cancers.
“By offering robot-assisted technologies, we aim to help clinicians perform these complex therapeutic procedures with greater confidence and efficiency, while maintaining a strong focus on patient safety and optimizing outcomes,” Mike Callaghan, general manager of EndoTherapy at Olympus, said.