Philips Acquires Respiratory Technologies to Expand Product Portfolio

By HospiMedica International staff writers

[29 May 2017]
Image: Royal Philips has signed an agreement to acquire Respiratory Technologies, which will serve to expand the product portfolio of Philips (Photo courtesy of iStock).
Royal Philips has signed an agreement to acquire Respiratory Technologies, Inc., which provides airway clearance solution for patients with chronic respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. The addition of RespirTech’s vest therapy solution and capabilities to Philips’ respiratory care portfolio will further strengthen Philips’ solutions to manage care in the hospital and at home.

Philips’ solutions for managing COPD, asthma and other respiratory conditions at home or in the hospital range from air purification to therapies - including airway clearance devices, oxygen, ventilation and respiratory drug delivery systems - and monitoring. RespirTech’s offerings will allow Philips to accelerate its growth in respiratory care, especially for COPD patients with bronchiectasis, an often under-diagnosed and undertreated co-morbidity.

RespirTech’s inCourage System technology, a proprietary design that pulsates a vest worn by the patient at home, complements Philips’ solutions. Additionally, RespirTech has established a proprietary COPD/bronchiectasis registry involving more than 5,000 patients who are using its vest therapy. The collected data includes patient-reported changes in lung function, hospitalizations, antibiotic use and quality of life after initiating vest therapy. RespirTech’s clinical support program for managing respiratory patients in the home will support Philips’ aim to deliver cost-effective, clinically focused service programs, such as its sleep-focused Patient Adherence Management Service (PAMS).

“With this transaction, we will broaden our portfolio with a proven therapy to enable patients with chronic respiratory disorders manage their condition and receive the care they need in the home,” said John Frank, Philips’ Business Leader, Sleep & Respiratory Care. “RespirTech’s vest therapy can be applied to a range of respiratory conditions and various neuromuscular diseases, where patients’ compromised abilities to cough often leads to serious respiratory complications and associated higher care costs. By helping these patients help themselves, we aim to enhance the patient’s quality of life and reduce the overall cost of care.”