US-based Medtronic and Lifetech Scientific, a China-based medical device firm, have expanded their strategic alliance to manufacture pacemakers based for Chinese market based on Medtronic technology.

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Under the deal, Lifetech will produce a portfolio of pacemaker and cardiac lead products and establish pacemaker-manufacturing capabilities at its facility in Shenzhen, China, while Medtronic will provide certain technology, training and support as Lifetech enters the Chinese pacing market.

Medtronic will have the opportunity to partner with Lifetech on commercialization of the Lifetech portfolio of pacemakers and leads once they are approved.

Lifetech chairman Xie Yuehui said: "In the absence of a local viable solution to treat the many patients in need of this therapy, this new agreement provides an unprecedented opportunity to serve the local market with locally produced products while leveraging the quality and expertise of the global leader in medical devices, and simultaneously boosting China’s medtech capabilities."

In 2012, Medtronic and Lifetech Scientific have entered into a strategic alliance to advance patient care in China by bringing together the resources and technologies of Medtronic with the local market expertise, brand recognition and growth potential of Lifetech, to reach patients and clinicians who previously have been unreachable by either company alone.

As per the agreement, Medtronic purchased a 19% equity interest in Lifetech. In addition, Medtronic received the right of first negotiation to distribute current and future Lifetech products as well as the opportunity to acquire additional ownership in Lifetech.


Image: Medtronic world headquarters in Minneapolis, US. Photo: Courtesy of Medtronic, Inc.