Vygon Group acquires 20 per cent of Canadian OxyNov

Ecouen, France, September 17, 2018 – Vygon, a group specializing in single-use medical devices, today announces that it has acquired a 20% stake in OxyNov, a young Canadian company specializing in innovative oxygen therapy and respiratory assistance medical devices. The financial terms of the transaction, in which Desjardins-Innovatech and other private investors in Quebec also participated, were not disclosed.

The French group decided to invest in this promising company due to the rapid growth of the oxygen therapy sector. Oxygen therapy products have hardly evolved since their first appearance 100 years ago. The lack of automatization makes it difficult to keep to a recommended daily O2 allowance and carries risks related to complications such as hyperoxia (excess oxygen supply) and hypoxemia (decrease in the amount of O2 in the blood).

Founded in 2009, Oxynov launched FreeO2, a medical device CE marked in May 2017. It allows automated oxygen titration and weaning. FreeO2 automatically and continuously adjusts the flow of oxygen delivered to the patient based on a clinician-defined target for oxygen saturation (SpO2) and patient needs.

In addition to the investment, Vygon and OxyNov also signed a distribution agreement for FreeO2. The Canadian company’s flagship product will complement Vygon’s respiratory range, in particular the CPAP device. FreeO2 will be distributed under OxyNov’s brand name in a number of European countries (Scandinavia, Benelux, Italy, …), selected Asian countries and Africa.

“We are delighted with this investment in OxyNov, which is part of our international development strategy,” said Stéphane Regnault, chairman of the executive board of Vygon. “The FreeO2 solution complements Vygon’s offering in the respiratory range and will enable us to remain at the forefront of technological developments in this field.”

“We are very proud to have entered into this strategic partnership with Vygon,” said Jean- Luc Balzer, chief executive officer of OxyNov. “It gives OxyNov the means to open new markets for FreeO2, including the US in 2019, and to continue the development of a range of other very innovative products which complement it.”

About Oxynov

OxyNov is a young Canadian company focused on clinical innovation and specialized in the design and commercialization of innovative medical devices in the field of oxygen therapy and respiratory support.
OxyNov was founded in 2009 by two medical researchers, Pr. Erwan L’Her (head of the medical resuscitation department and INSERM researcher at the University Hospital in Brest) and François Lellouche (resuscitator and researcher at IUCPQ), based on a clinical research project aimed at the development of a device to automate the administration of oxygen therapy (FreeO2) and to improve the implementation of this treatment on a daily basis.

OxyNov was initially established at the University Institute of Cardiology and Pneumology of Quebec with the support of all the pulmonologists.

www.oxynov.com

About Vygon Group

Vygon designs, manufactures and markets high-tech single-use medical devices for healthcare professionals in hospital and for private and independent practitioners. Vygon is a world leader within this industry, offering a wide range of products in a number of clinical specialties. Organized in five business units (Intensive Care – Neonatology, Enteral & Obstetrics – Intravascular Therapies – Cardiovascular & Surgery – Anesthesia & Emergency), Vygon combines local and international in-depth expertise and know-how in each individual field. With expertise right along the value chain, from product design to the delivery of training for medical personnel, Vygon provides health care professionals with effective and innovative products tailored to their needs and those of their patients, for optimum use and safety. The company distributes over 205 million products a year in more than 120 countries through its network of 27 subsidiaries and 331 distributors. Vygon products display the CE and/or FDA mark and are manufactured in the group’s eight factories in Europe, the USA and Colombia. A family company founded in 1962, Vygon is based in Ecouen, in France’s Greater Paris region. It is a mid-sized business employing 2,350 staff worldwide. The turnover in 2017 was €310 million ($362M), with 81% of this derived from Vygon’s international business.

www.vygon.com