Johnson & Johnson, through its venture capital arm (Johnson & Johnson Innovation), led a funding round for Francis Medical, a company specializing in the development of minimally invasive treatments for urological tumors. These investments aim to support the company in submitting the Premarket Approval (PMA) application for its innovative device, with the goal of using it to manage localized prostate cancer cases.
How Vanquish Technology Works
The Vanquish system relies on water vapor technology to deliver thermal energy to prostate tissue for the purpose of ablation. This technology is characterized by its ability to minimize the impact on surrounding structures, thereby reducing the risks associated with patients' urinary and sexual functions, which are among the most prominent challenges in traditional treatments.
Although Boston Scientific uses water vapor technology via the "Rezūm" system to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, Francis Medical seeks to expand the scope of this approach to include cancer treatment. This expansion is supported by the development of a variable-throw needle and an advanced real-time ultrasound monitoring system to ensure precise targeting.
Regulatory Status and Clinical Results
The system previously received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the ablation of prostate tissue, but it still requires PMA approval to be officially authorized for cancer treatment. The company is currently conducting a clinical trial involving 235 patients in the United States suffering from intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer.
Preliminary data extracted from the first 110 patients showed promising results; biopsies 6 months after treatment revealed only benign tissue in 75% of patients, while results in 91% of patients showed either benign tissue or low-risk prostate cancer. It was also observed that patients' urinary and sexual functions, which may be temporarily affected after treatment, tend to improve and return to normal levels after 12 months.
What Changes Practically?
This development represents a step toward providing less invasive alternatives to traditional surgeries for prostate cancer treatment. The added value lies in attempting to balance tumor ablation efficacy with the preservation of the patient's quality of life by reducing side effects on vital functions, which is a major technical and medical challenge in this type of advanced treatment.