Asensus Surgical Announces Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital in Japan to Initiate Senhance Surgery Program

Rhea-AI Summary

Asensus Surgical, Inc. announced a partnership with Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital in Japan to lease the Senhance® Surgical System. This collaboration marks a significant milestone as the hospital is part of Japan's second largest private hospital system, enhancing the company's presence in a fast-growing market. Asensus aims to accelerate the adoption of Digital Laparoscopy in Japan, a region identified as a key focus for expansion. The Senhance System is unique for its haptic feedback capabilities, enhancing surgical precision. The CEO of Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital emphasized the system's role in improving patient outcomes through advanced robotic surgery capabilities. This agreement reflects Asensus Surgical's commitment to pioneering Performance-Guided Surgery™ and signifies an important step in their global strategy.

Positive

• Partnership with Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital, increasing market presence in Japan.
• Senhance System's unique haptic feedback feature enhances surgical precision.
• Opportunity for expanding robotic surgery capabilities and improving patient outcomes.

Negative

• None.

System to be Utilized by the Second Largest Private Hospital System in Japan

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asensus Surgical, Inc., (NYSE American: ASXC), a medical device company that is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and the patient to pioneer a new era of Performance-Guided Surgery™(PGS), today announced that Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital in Kasuga City, Japan has entered into an agreement to lease and utilize a Senhance® Surgical System.

“Japan remains one of our fastest-growing regions, and we are delighted to bring another outstanding institution on board. Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital, which is part of Japan’s second largest hospital system, is highly focused on delivering cutting-edge care, and we are excited to partner with them to help enable better outcomes for their patients,” said Anthony Fernando, Asensus Surgical President and CEO. “Surgeons have continued to recognize the benefits of Digital Laparoscopy coupled with Senhance's clinical intelligence and digital tools as well as its broad applicability. We look forward to accelerating the adoption of Digital Laparoscopy throughout Japan and other key geographies around the world.”

“Senhance is the only commercially available robotic surgery system with haptic feedback, which provides doctors the ability to feel the tissue response of the body during a procedure,” said Dr. Noritomi Tomoaki, M.D., Ph.D., a gastrointestinal surgeon with a specialty in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery and is also the CEO of Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital. “We are committed to giving our patients the best care possible, and the Senhance System will enable us to grow our robotic surgery department and improve patient outcomes.”

The Senhance Surgical System is the only commercially available robotic surgery system with haptic feedback, a differentiating feature for surgeons.

About Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital

Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital is located in Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyushu, the southwestern- most of Japan’s main islands. Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital has 602 beds. The Hospital opened in 1979 and is a part of the Tokushukai Medical Group, the second largest private hospital system in Japan operating 400 facilities, including clinics and nursing care facilities and approximately 75 hospitals. The Tokushukai Medical Group accounts for nearly 3% of all emergency medical care in Japan and has adopted a North American style ER (Emergency Room) system. Tokushukai Medical Group philosophy is “All living beings are created equal”.
Under this philosophy, aiming to realize the society where at any time, in anywhere and to anybody are to receive cutting-edge medical care, Tokushukai Medical Group practices emergency medical care, preventive medical care, chronic and advanced medical care.

About Asensus Surgical, Inc.

Asensus Surgical, Inc. is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and patient to pioneer a new era of Performance-Guided Surgery™ by unlocking clinical intelligence for surgeons to enable consistently superior outcomes and a new standard of surgery. Based upon the foundations of Digital Laparoscopy and the Senhance® Surgical System, the Company is developing the LUNA™ Surgical System, a next generation robotic and instrument system as a foundation of its Digital Surgery solution. These systems will be powered by the Intelligent Surgical Unit to increase surgeon control and reduce surgical variability. With the addition of machine vision, Augmented Intelligence, and deep learning capabilities throughout the surgical experience, we intend to holistically address the current clinical, cognitive and economic shortcomings that drive surgical outcomes and value-based healthcare. The Senhance Surgical System is now available for sale in the US, EU, Japan, Russia, and select other countries. For a complete list of indications for use, visit: www.senhance.com/indications. To learn more about Performance-Guided Surgery, Digital Laparoscopy with the Senhance Surgical System and the new LUNA System visit www.asensus.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements relating to the Senhance Surgical System and Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital in Kasuga City, Japan initiating a program with the Senhance System. These statements and other statements regarding our future plans and goals constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations and include whether Asensus Surgical can accelerate the adoption of the Senhance Surgical System throughout Japan and other key geographies around the world and whether the Senhance Surgical System will enable Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital to grow its robotic surgery department and improve patient outcomes. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 2, 2023 and our other filings we make with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the origination date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Mark Klausner or Mike Vallie
ICR Westwicke
invest@asensus.com
443-213-0499

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Ventresca
Matter Communications
AsensusPR@matternow.com
617-874-5488

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5bfac32-2f7f-4040-8ece-4a67adec3fab

FAQ

What is the significance of Asensus Surgical's new agreement with Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital?

The agreement allows Asensus Surgical to lease its Senhance Surgical System to one of Japan's largest private hospital systems, enhancing its presence in a fast-growing market.

How does the Senhance Surgical System differ from other robotic surgery systems?

The Senhance System is the only commercially available robotic surgery system that offers haptic feedback, allowing surgeons to feel tissue response during procedures.

What are the benefits of Digital Laparoscopy in surgery?

Digital Laparoscopy, combined with the Senhance System's clinical intelligence, aims to improve surgical outcomes and reduce variability in procedures.

What does Performance-Guided Surgery™ mean for Asensus Surgical?

Performance-Guided Surgery™ represents Asensus Surgical's initiative to integrate digital tools and clinical intelligence into surgical practices, enhancing overall patient care.

When was the agreement with Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital announced?

The agreement was announced on April 25, 2023.