Edwards Lifesciences has acquired Autus Valve Technologies in a buyout completed in February for $128.9 million. The agreement also includes up to $132.5 million in milestone payments, according to a securities filing. Before the acquisition, Edwards paid $11.5 million for the option to buy Autus.
The acquisition included the Autus valve, a pediatric heart valve that recently received Food and Drug Administration approval. The pulmonary valve is designed to be surgically implanted and can be expanded later using a balloon catheter procedure, potentially reducing the need for repeat open-heart surgeries as a child grows. The FDA stated that the Autus valve is the first approved to use synthetic polymer material for its leaflets in any indication.