Abbott Completes Topera Acquisition

Abbott (Abbott Park, IL, USA) has completed its acquisition of Topera (Menlo Park, CA, USA), developer of innovative electrophysiology technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

The Topera rotor identification system helps physicians identify and target patient-specific rotors that have been shown to be the sustaining mechanism for AF. The ability to locate these rotors enables the physician to individualize patient treatment through a procedure known as Focal Impulse and Rotor Mapping (FIRM) guided ablation. Topera’s rotor identification system, when used with existing catheter ablation therapy, has shown positive long-term success rates, even in difficult-to-treat cases.

While initially the Topera System may supplement current procedures, additional future clinical evidence could turn the systems patient-focused approach into the primary procedure for patients with AF. Under the terms of the acquisition, Abbott will acquire all outstanding equity of Topera for USD 250 million upfront, plus potential future payments tied to performance milestones. The catheter-based electrophysiology market is estimated to be worth approximately USD 3 billion globally and has been growing annually at double-digit rates.

“The Topera acquisition gives Abbott a foundational entry in the large, high-growth electrophysiology market with breakthrough technologies that can transform how physicians treat people with complex heart rhythm disorders,” said John Capek, PhD, executive vice president of medical devices at Abbott. “The ability to more accurately target the areas of the heart perpetuating atrial fibrillation is a significant advancement in the field of electrophysiology and can transform patient care.”

AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting more than 30 million people worldwide, with five million new cases reported annually. Treatment options include medications, which do not address the underlying problem, and minimally invasive, catheter-based ablation procedures, which are designed to disrupt the transmission of abnormal impulses in the heart. However, less than 3% of the approximately 12 million patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in the US, Europe, and Japan are treated with catheter ablation.

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