Ezisurg Medical & Vathin Medical, Strong Collaboration!
Ezisurg Medical and Vathin Medical have reached a strategic partnership to accelerate the global implementation of innovative disposable endoscope products.
On August 18th, 上海逸思医疗科技股份有限公司 (referred to as "Ezisurg Medical") and Hunan Vathin Medical Instrument Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Vathin Medical") successfully completed the strategic cooperation signing ceremony. The two parties plan to engage in long-term strategic cooperation in the research and development, commercial promotion, and marketing of disposable endoscope products worldwide.
Ezisurg Medical is a leading company in the minimally invasive surgical instrument market, focusing on the research, development, and industrialization of high-end minimally invasive surgical medical devices. It has currently established three major product platforms: surgical anastomosis platform, surgical energy platform, and optical imaging platform. Ezisurg Medical's innovative product lineup includes endoscopic anastomotic staplers, ultrasonic scalpels, disposable endoscopes, and more, covering minimally invasive surgical procedures in fields such as the digestive system, respiratory system, and urinary system.
As a national-level "specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative" (SPRI) small giant enterprise and a demonstration unit for brand cultivation, Ezisurg Medical has achieved remarkable accomplishments in technological innovation, quality manufacturing, and brand marketing. It has made significant contributions to the localization and substitution of high-end medical devices, as well as the promotion and popularization of domestic minimally invasive techniques for cancer treatment. Ezisurg Medical has maintained its position as the leading domestic company in the field of minimally invasive surgery for cancer for several consecutive years.
The company's innovative products, such as endoscopic anastomotic staplers and ultrasonic scalpels, have been introduced into more than a thousand domestic hospitals, with tertiary hospitals accounting for over 40%. Its overseas business has reached over 70 countries and regions worldwide.
Vathin Medical is an innovative leader in the field of disposable endoscopes. As one of the few companies worldwide with the capability to develop both flexible and rigid endoscopes, it possesses profound technological expertise. Vathin Medical has applied for 434 domestic and international patents and has been granted 50 effective invention patents. The company's product pipeline covers multiple departments such as respiratory, digestive, urology, and otolaryngology. Disposable bronchoscopes, ureterorenoscopes, cystoscopes, and others have obtained domestic registration certificates. Among them, the disposable bronchoscope has also obtained FDA, CE, and other overseas certifications, allowing entry into developed area or countries such as Europe, the United States, and Japan, and achieving rapid market promotion. Currently, Vathin Medical's business has covered over 160 countries and regions worldwide.
Ezisurg Medical possesses a strong brand, channel resources, and platform-based business development capabilities, while Vathin Medcial has profound technological innovation and mass production capabilities in the field of disposable endoscopes. The collaboration between the two is a "win-win" situation. They will work together to accelerate the promotion and popularization of a series of remarkable innovative technologies in the domestic market for disposable endoscope products. This will help eliminate the risk of instrument contamination, assist doctors in improving diagnostic and treatment efficiency, enhance patient experience, and leverage Ezisurg Medical's mature global marketing network to expedite the global market coverage of the series of disposable endoscope products.
The trend towards consumables in endoscopy is inevitable, and single-use endoscopes have become a breakthrough point for domestic production leadership.
Minimally invasive surgery has rapidly developed in China due to its advantages such as minimal trauma, shorter operation time, and faster recovery. According to Frost & Sullivan, the volume of minimally invasive surgeries in China reached 15.7 million procedures in 2021. The enormous clinical demand has driven the expansion of the minimally invasive surgical instrument market, which reached a market size of 22.893 billion yuan in 2021 (excluding endoscopes). Currently, China's minimally invasive surgical instrument sector is still dominated by imports, especially in the two major billion-dollar markets of endoscopes and ultrasonic scalpels, where the rate of domestic production needs to be improved.
However, at the same time, the trend of import substitution is also accelerating. National policies are vigorously promoting the localization of high-end medical devices. With the support of innovative products and comprehensive solution strategies, domestic companies are rapidly seizing market share and achieving innovation-driven expansion into international markets. For example, Ezisurg Medical's laparoscopic stapler became the first in the world to increase the bending angle from 45° to 60°, surpassing similar products from international giants and achieving rapid market promotion. Meanwhile, Vathin Medical's single-use bronchoscope achieved a smaller bending radius and a larger bending angle, resulting in explosive orders overseas.
In the field of minimally invasive surgical instruments, where domestic and foreign giants are competing, disposable endoscopes have become a breakthrough for domestic innovative companies to take the lead. China's endoscope market started relatively late, and the import monopoly of reusable endoscopes is high, with significant patent barriers. Domestic companies still have a long way to go in terms of technological accumulation and market promotion. At the same time, reusable endoscopes carry a certain risk of infection, and they have high unit prices and costly disinfection and maintenance expenses, making them less accessible for primary healthcare settings. In comparison, single-use endoscopes are convenient to use, pose no infection risk, and have lower maintenance costs. Consequently, they have experienced rapid development in China in recent years.
The trend of single-use endoscopy consumables is on the rise, and industry giants such as Olympus and Boston Scientific are also expanding into the field of disposable endoscopes. According to Boston Scientific's projections, the global market size for disposable endoscopes is expected to reach 2 billion USD by 2024. The global market for single-use endoscopes is highly concentrated, with Ambu and Boston Scientific accounting for over three-quarters of the market (based on 2020 sales revenue). On the other hand, the competitive landscape for disposable endoscopes in China is yet to be determined, which provides greater development opportunities for domestic innovative companies.
2022 was the "explosive period" for the approval of domestic disposable endoscopes in China, with over 40 types of domestically produced single-use endoscopes receiving approval from the National Medical Products Administration. These approvals were primarily concentrated in urology endoscopes. Due to variations in technical and design requirements across different departments, domestic companies are gradually expanding their focus from urology to other departments such as respiratory, digestive, and gynecology. Companies that take the lead in establishing a presence in multiple departments will establish a competitive advantage in terms of time and technology.
Meanwhile, disposable endoscopes are pursuing high integration and cost-effectiveness to meet the needs of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, as disposable endoscopes gain traction in primary healthcare applications, the demand for mass production increases, and market promotion relies on companies' channel resources. With the successive approval of disposable endoscope products in China, competition in the industry is gradually intensifying, putting more pressure on domestic companies in terms of technological innovation, mass production, market channels, and overall capabilities.
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In addition, with the development of endoscopic surgery, both clinicians and the market tend to favor companies that offer disposable endoscope products and associated surgical instruments. From a clinical perspective, using compatible surgical instruments can reduce operational difficulties and risks, facilitating the widespread adoption of endoscopic surgery. From a market perspective, under centralized procurement and Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) payment systems, a more diverse product line can lower the development risks for companies and generate synergistic effects in terms of market promotion, thereby expanding the target market.
Leading enterprises and innovative pioneers are joining forces to promote the global development of domestic innovation.
In this collaboration, Ezisurg Medical and Vathin Medical are partnering to drive the research and development as well as commercialization of innovative disposable endoscope products, promoting their global development. This partnership not only aligns with the trend of consumable endoscopy materials but also represents an innovative move towards further improving and integrating their respective product lines and resources.
As a leading enterprise in the field of minimally invasive surgical instruments, Ezisurg Medical is committed to providing comprehensive solutions for minimally invasive surgical instruments globally. The company has outstanding research and development capabilities, and its technological innovation strategy focuses on meeting clinical and health economic needs. It has applied for nearly 270 domestic and international patents, including over 50 invention patents in China and more than 130 international patents in Europe, the United States, Japan, and other countries.
For the core product, the laparoscopic anastomosis device, it adopts the technology principle of robot flexure joint combined with double ligaments. It is the first in the world to increase the bending angle of the anastomosis device to 60 degrees, significantly improving the convenience of operation for doctors in confined spaces and expanding the clinical indications for surgery. This product has obtained 7 invention patents domestically and nearly 20 international patents. Two of its core patents have successively won the Shanghai Intellectual Property Innovation First Prize and China Patent Excellence Award. It has also been included in the National Ministry of Science and Technology's Innovative Medical Device Product Catalog.
Moreover, Ezisurg Medical's ultrasonic scalpel product is among the first domestically produced ultrasonic scalpels approved through registered clinical trials for 5mm vessel closure. The waveguide rod of the ultrasonic scalpel head adopts an innovative design and has applied for an invention patent, enabling more coordinated vibration frequency and amplitude of the scalpel head. The company has also pioneered the research and registration of reusable ultrasonic scalpel heads in China, with the potential to significantly reduce surgical costs. Additionally, when venturing into the field of optical imaging, Ezisurg Medical chose to develop safer and more convenient disposable endoscopes. Their self-developed disposable electronic cystoscope system was approved by the end of 2022.
After years of development, Ezisurg Medical has established a relatively complete global distribution network and marketing team. It has gained recognition from numerous global key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the field of surgery and has received a significant number of procurement orders from renowned hospitals worldwide. This has resulted in a certain brand influence for Ezisurg Medical, enabling it to rapidly promote the commercialization of new products.
As a global pioneer in the disposable endoscope market, Vathin Medical provides innovative solutions for various departments including respiratory, digestive, urology, and otolaryngology. The company has strong research and development capabilities, with its founding team having accumulated 16 years of experience in endoscopy technology and 10 years of experience in disposable endoscope research and development. All of their disposable endoscope products are independently developed and dedicated to achieving global innovation, evidenced by over 200 patent applications in 2023. Additionally, the company acquired MGB, a renowned German rigid endoscope manufacturer established for a century, in 2021 to further enhance its capabilities in rigid endoscope development.
Vathin Medical's single-use flexible video bronchoscope products feature a riveted snake-bone design, allowing for a bending angle of up to 210 degrees and a smaller bending radius. After bending, the snake-bone can be locked at any desired angle with a single press, ensuring precise positioning and reducing damage. This product has reached an internationally leading level and has obtained over 60 certifications from organizations such as the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Union's CE certification, as well as certifications from Japan, South Korea, and other countries. Additionally, Vathin Medical has collaborated with the international endoscope giant Olympus, who serves as the general distributor of this product line in the United States.
In addition, Vathin Medical has a production workshop and research building covering an area of 15,600 square meters. The company independently develops production processes and equipment, such as jointly developing the world's first endoscope automated assembly equipment. This ensures high production efficiency, quality, and cost control. The company is capable of producing 1,200 disposable endoscopes per day, with an annual output of up to 400,000 units.
The collaboration between Ezisurg Medical and Vathin Medical will provide strong support for the development of both companies. It will not only broaden Ezisurg Medical's presence in the field of optical imaging but also further enrich the company's minimally invasive surgical instrument solutions. Additionally, it will accelerate the commercialization and international expansion of Vathin Medical's innovative disposable endoscope products. By fully leveraging the resources and advantages of both parties, a mutually beneficial and sustainable development ecosystem will be formed.
Meanwhile, at the clinical application level, the collaborative efforts of both parties in advancing domestic innovative technology for disposable endoscopes will further enhance the instrument solutions for minimally invasive surgical procedures. This will accelerate the penetration and popularization of minimally invasive surgical techniques. At the industry level, the strategic cooperation between a leading domestic enterprise and an innovation pioneer will strengthen their competitive advantages in the field of disposable endoscope technology. It will accelerate the localization process of a series of products and promote the reverse export of domestically developed innovative technology to overseas markets, especially in developed countries.