The gastrointestinal space offers companies from every spectrum of the industry an opportunity to define their space and develop and sell a superior product.
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Here are 20 GI companies to know. For questions or comments on this list, contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com.
Allergan Pharmaceuticals (Dublin, Ireland). Allergan is a global pharmaceutical company and leader in the growth pharma industry approach led by Chairman, President and CEO Brent Saunders. With an open science research and development model, Allergan has partnered with biotech companies, academia and other pharmaceutical companies to establish a broad development pipeline. The company provides products for specialties including the central nervous system, eye care, GI, women's health and urology.
Boston Scientific (Marlborough, Mass.). Boston Scientific's endoscopy segment is the most profitable of its rhythm management branch. With revenues of $1.62 billion in fiscal year 2017, Boston Scientific's endoscopy offerings continue to be a key part of the company's portfolio. The company has a plethora of endoscopic devices designed to treat multiple conditions, touting more than 1,500 technologies to treat GI and pulmonary diseases. Boston Scientific recently acquired EMcision, a London and Montreal, Canada-based endoscopy firm, in early March.
Cogentix Medical (Minnetonka, Minn.). Targeting several specialty markets including urology, GI, otolaryngology and pulmonology, Cogentix was formed in 2015 after Uroplasty and Vision-Sciences merged. The company's flagship GI product is its PrimeSight transnasal esophagoscopy system. The system allows for the immediate and efficient diagnosis of esophageal anatomy. The single-use system decreases disinfection downtime and instrument disinfection.
EndoChoice (Alpharetta, Ga.). EndoChoice develops infection control products, pathology services and single-use devices for a wide range of GI conditions. The company was acquired by Marlborough, Mass.-based Boston Scientific in November 2016. Art Butcher serves as senior vice president and president of endoscopy for Boston Scientific.
EndoGastric Solutions (Redmond, Wash.). A medical device company, EndoGastric Solutions focuses on developing and marketing surgical technology for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Its proprietary platform, the EsophyX fastener delivery system, is used to perform the incisionless transoral fundoplication procedure. Skip Baldino has served as the company's president and CEO since 2014.
Evoke Pharma (Solana Beach, Calif.). Establishing its company after identifying a significant unmet need in the field, Evoke Pharmas is focused on developing drugs to treat GI diseases. The company's lead product is Gimoti, a nasal spray used to relieve symptoms associated with gastroparesis. Evoke was founded by David Gonyer, RPh, and Matthew D'Onofrio, who still oversee the company today.
Exact Sciences Corp. (Madison, Wis.). Founded in 1995, Exact Sciences is committed to eradicating colorectal cancer. The company's flagship product, Cologuard, is the first noninvasive screening test for colorectal cancer. Cologuard analyzes both stool DNA and blood biomarkers at a 92 percent success rate. Led by Kevin Conroy, Exact Sciences has expanded rapidly since Cologuard's debut. The biopharmaceutical company is currently building a second headquarters in Madison, Wis., and is in the midst of developing other cancer-detecting tests, including a liquid biopsy-based test.
Fujifilm Medical Systems USA (Stamford, Conn.). The company is the U.S.-based branch of international technology conglomerate Fujifilm. The U.S. division leads the company's endoscopy efforts. Fujifilm touts one of the largest-scope portfolios of the major GI companies, meeting a need in two key areas: GI endoscopes and double balloon endoscopy. Fujifilm debuted its new video endoscopy system Eluxeo in October 2017. The company has also been active in the awareness space, partnering with Fight Colorectal Cancer in recognition of Colon Cancer Awareness Month.
gMed, a Modernizing Medicine Co. (Weston, Fla.) Founded in 1997 and acquired by Modernizing Medicine in 2015, gMed provides the GI industry with a fully integrated platform consisting of an EHR system, Endoscopy Report Writer, practice management solution, patient portal, data analytics and revenue cycle management services. Modernizing Medicine recently hired Dr. Arnold G. Levy, a renowned gastroenterologist with over 40 years of clinical experience, as a strategic advisor and announced its decision to substantially increase the company’s investment in the gGastro platform.
Interscope (Whitinsville, Mass.). The proprietors of the EndoRotor — a single interventional tool for mucosal resection — Interscope is led by Jeffery Ryan Jr., the company's co-founder, president and CEO. He's assisted by Ramon Franco Jr., MD, the company's co-founder and chief scientific officer. Interscope was founded to develop novel interventional endoscopic techniques that promote outpatient surgery.
Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick, N.J.). With Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky at the helm, Johnson & Johnson is a provider of medical devices, pharmaceutical products and consumer healthcare products. Johnson & Johnson encompasses Ethicon's energy, endocutters and biosurgery businesses, as well as the global orthopedics business DePuy Synthes. The company develops pharmaceutical treatments in other areas, including immunology, cardiovascular health, infectious diseases and vaccines, oncology, and pulmonary hypertension.
Motus GI (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Motus GI is a medical technology company focused on improving endoscopy outcomes and experiences. Its flagship product is the Pure-Vu System, an FDA-approved device for cleaning a poorly prepped colon to gain a clear view of the colon mucosa during a colonoscopy procedure. CEO Mark Pomeranz joined Motus GI in 2014.
Olympus Corp. of the Americas (Center Valley, Pa.). Nacho Abia leads Olympus as president and CEO of the whole enterprise. The precision technology company develops and manufactures medical technologies for several surgical specialties, including GI, ENT, anesthesiology and urology. Other core business areas include microscopes and microscope systems, industrial solutions, cameras, and audio products.
Pentax Medical USA (Montvale, N.J.). Pentax Medical is a division of Hoya Group. Pentax was originally established in 1919 in Japan and has since opened innovation and manufacturing centers in Japan, Europe and the U.S. Pentax is a worldwide leader in scope development offering colonoscopes, sigmoidoscopes, gastroscopes, small bowel enteroscopes, duodenoscopes and choledochoscopes.
Physicians Endoscopy (Jamison, Pa.). Formed in July 1998, Physicians Endoscopy is among the largest single-specialty ASC management companies in the U.S. PE has partnered with nearly 56 GI-focused ASCs and more than 560 gastroenterologists performing more than 535,000 annual procedures. The company operated as an ASC in 1998, but found its mission when CEO Barry Tanner and CFO Karen Sablyak joined in 1999. PE launched its first de novo ASC in 2000, finalized its first three-way hospital joint venture in 2006, and began acquiring centers in 2012. Most recently, Frontier Healthcare joined Physicians Endoscopy, bringing with it an additional 15 centers.
Synergy Pharmaceuticals (New York City). The biopharmaceutical company behind plecanatide — a once-daily tablet for chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation — Synergy is focused solely on developing GI therapies. Synergy was founded in New York City and became a publicly traded company in July 2008, listed on the Nasdaq. Synergy is currently developing its second lead product candidate, dolcanatide. Troy Hamilton is the CEO of Synergy, beginning his tenure in December 2017 after serving as the company's chief commercial officer.
Salix Pharmaceuticals (Bridgewater, N.J.). The GI affiliate of embattled drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Salix is the company's second most successful business behind its Bausch + Lomb segment. Salix accounted for 18 percent of the company's total revenue for fiscal year 2017. Acquired by Valeant in 2015, Salix was independently owned and was widely recognized as a market leader in the GI space before the acquisition. Salix continues to develop new GI-facing drug candidates.
Shaili Endoscopy (Gujarat, India.). Shaili Endoscopy exports products for GI, bronchoscopy, urology and gynecology to more than 40 countries. Its portfolio includes gastro-colono products, as well as devices for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram and endoscopic ultrasonography.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA (Deerfield, Ill.). Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA is one of the 25 largest pharmaceutical companies in the nation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., which is led by President and CEO Christophe Weber. The company focuses on three therapeutic areas: oncology, GI and the central nervous system. Takeda's portfolio includes dexlansoprazole, pantoprazole and lansoprazole, which are treatments for gastric acid-related disorders.
US Endoscopy Group (Mentor, Ohio). US Endoscopy Group is an endoscopy device design and manufacturing leader focused on improving patient outcomes. The company's portfolio includes endoscope accessories and enteroscopy products, such as the AdvanCE capsule endoscope delivery device and a line of injection needles. It is a subsidiary of Steris Corp., a healthcare equipment, service and supplies company headed by CEO Walter Rosebrough.