Valencia Technologies Secures Strategic Investment of $35 Million from Brooks Advisory Group, Appoints James D. Surek as CEO
Valencia will seek to leverage the investment as well as Surek’s leadership experience to drive commercialization of its flagship eCoin system to develop minimally invasive treatments for urinary incontinence.
Image Credit: Adobe Stock Images/Tom
Valencia Technologies, a neuromodulation company specializing in minimally invasive treatments for urinary incontinence, has secured a strategic investment of up to $35 million from Brooks Advisory Group. Additionally, the company announced the appointment of James D. Surek as its new CEO. Moving forward, Valencia said that it will take advantage of the investment and Surek’s experience in commercial leadership to drive commercialization of its flagship eCoin system.1
"We are excited to help Valencia Technologies accelerate and scale commercialization of eCoin and continue to carry forward the vision of Jeff Greiner to transform the standard of care for bladder dysfunction," said Dain Black, managing partner, BMG, in a press release.
Prior to joining Valencia, Surek played a key role in Advanced Bionics’ $3 billion acquisition by Boston Scientific and leading Entellus Medical’s revenue growth from under $1 million to over $70 million.1
"I am excited to return to the neuromodulation space," said Surek, in the press release. “"Many physicians and patients have already experienced the benefits of Valencia's game-changing technology. We are looking forward to expanding our footprint in the market to bring our solution to those who want or require another option.”
According to Valencia, the eCoin system is a coin-sized neurostimulator implanted near the ankle to treat urgent urinary incontinence (UUI). The device provides stimulation to the tibial nerve twice a week and is implanted under skin near the ankle in a minimally invasive procedure.
eCoin was evaluated in a prospective, multicenter, single-arm trial that consisted of 137 patients with refractory UUI. The dual primary endpoints of the study were the proportion of subjects who achieved at least 50% reduction from baseline and safety measures associated with device-related adverse events (AEs). During the study, investigators collected a questionnaire centered around overactive bladder, Patient Global Impression of Improvement, custom Likert scale on subject satisfaction, and a 3-day voiding diary.2
The results from the study show that eCoin reduced UUI episodes by at least 50% in 78% of patients. Additionally, 48% experienced at least a 75% reduction, with 22% on a three-day diary. No major AEs were reported.1,2
"Many patients suffering from the embarrassment and anxiety of living with overactive bladder want an alternative to costly medications and other more involved treatments. With the eCoin system, I can offer urge urinary incontinence patients an effective alternative with a single procedure, few office visits, and 'set it and forget it' convenience,” said Jason Kim, MD, Stony Brook Medicine, in the press release.
According to a study published in Climacteric, prior research indicates that the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) ranges from approximately 5% to 70%, with a majority reporting a prevalence between 25% and 45%, which increases with aging. Data shows that in women over 70 years of age, 40% of the global population are living with some form of UI. In nursing homes, these rates have been found to be considerably higher. Prevalence has ranged from 1.8% to 30.5% in European populations, from 1.5% to 15.2% in Asian populations, and from 1.7% to 36.4% in US populations. The EPIC study estimated that the global prevalence of UI was 8.7%.
Despite the high prevalence, life expectancy has increased in recent years. However, prevalence is expected to increase moving forward, meaning that there will be an increased need for UI treatments.3
References
1. Valencia Technologies Announces Strategic Investment of up to $35 Million and Appointment of James D. Surek as Chief Executive Officer. PR Newswire. February 20, 2025. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/valencia-technologies-announces-strategic-investment-of-up-to-35-million-and-appointment-of-james-d-surek-as-chief-executive-officer-302380890.html
2. Two-year Pivotal Study Analysis of the Safety and Efficacy of Implantable Tibial Nerve Stimulation With eCoin® for Urgency Urinary Incontinence. ScienceDirect. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0090429524006307
3. The prevalence of urinary incontinence. Taylor & Francis. December 21, 2018. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2018.1543263#abstract
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