US-based Galvanize Therapeutics Inc. has revealed a licensing deal with Shanghai-based Energenx Medical Ltd, which will see Energenx develop and commercialize Galvanize’s products in Greater China, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. Financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed. Energenx was established by Galvanize in collaboration with founding investor Apple Tree Partners in 2021.
Focus on Pulsed Electric Field Therapies for Chronic Conditions
Galvanize is a developer of pulsed electric field therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), solid tumors, and cardiac arrhythmias. The deal specifically focuses on Galvanize’s RheOx and Aliya systems, which are designed to address these conditions through non-invasive procedures.
RheOx System: A Minimally Invasive Procedure for Chronic Bronchitis
RheOx is designed to reduce mucus-producing cells in patients with chronic bronchitis through a minimally invasive bronchoscopic procedure called bronchial rheoplasty. The product includes an electrosurgical generator and a single-use catheter that deliver non-thermal energy to the airways, reducing the number of abnormal mucus-producing cells and allowing for the regrowth of normal cells. Approved in the US and Europe in 2019, RheOx is restricted to investigative use in the US. Energenx has secured approval from China’s Medical Device Technical Evaluation Center (CMDE) to include RheOx in the “Green Channel Special Review Process” in January this year.
Aliya System: High-Voltage Electrical Currents for Soft Tissue Ablation
Aliya delivers high-voltage, high-frequency electrical currents through a single monopolar electrode placed in the target tissue. The pulsed electric field (PEF) energy destabilizes cells, leading to non-thermal cell death. Currently approved in the US for the surgical ablation of soft tissue, Aliya represents Galvanize’s commitment to innovative treatment options.
Energenx’s Role in China’s Growing Medical Field
Energenx is part of a growing field in China, where companies like Zai Labs have in-licensed technologies for treating tumors. Domestic firm Tianjin Intelligent Health Medical Technology Co., Ltd, has also won approval for a steep pulse electric device applied via a single needle, indicating a burgeoning market for such therapies.-Fineline Info & Tech
