Penumbra (medical company)

Last updated
Penumbra, Inc.
Company type Public
Industry Medical supplies
Founded2004;22 years ago (2004)
Founders
  • Arani Bose
  • Adam Elsesser
Headquarters Alameda, California, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Adam Elsesser (CEO)
Products Medical devices
Number of employees
4,200 (2024)
Website www.penumbrainc.com

Penumbra, Inc. is an American medical device company headquartered in Alameda, California. [1] [2] [3] [4] The company was founded by Arani Bose and Adam Elsesser in 2004. [5] It manufactures devices for interventional therapies to treat vascular conditions such as stroke and aneurysm. [6]

Contents

In January 2026, Boston Scientific announced it would acquire Penumbra in a ~$15 billion cash and stock deal. The deal was expected to close by yearend. [7]

History

Penumbra was founded in 2004 and manufactures several medical devices but specializes in the neuro/vascular market and creates devices that help treat aneurysms and ischemic stroke. [8] [9]

In 2014, Penumbra launched its Apollo system, a device that “enables minimally invasive removal of deeply seated tissue and fluids in the brain,” allowing for otherwise inoperable blood clots to be removed. [10] [11]

In 2015 the company issued an IPO on the NYSE. [12] In 2018 the company acquired 40% of the outstanding shares of virtual reality joint venture MVI Health. [13] In 2017 the company acquired the Italian distributor Crossmed. [14]

Criticism

Criticism of Penumbra has followed various aspects of its products and business practices. In 2016 a lawsuit claimed the Penumbra Coil 400 caused brain damage after surgery. [15] The company's specialized catheter has been linked to the deaths of stroke patients, and it was a target of stock short sellers in 2020. [16] [17] [18] [ excessive citations ] According to the Foundation for Financial Journalism, this is a significant dilemma. [19]

A request has been sent to The SEC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration to launch an investigation. [20] A scientist who has published research articles showing the reliability of Penumbra's medical products is (allegedly) an internet fabrication. [21]

Recalls

In 2011 the company recalled its Penumbra Coil 400. [22] In 2017 the company recalled a 3D revascularization device. [23] In 2020 the company recalled one of its catheter used during heart surgery due to increased risk of mortality and serious injury. [24] [25] [26] [ excessive citations ]

References

  1. ↑ "Penumbra Company Profile". Bloomberg.
  2. ↑ "Penumbra Company Profile". Reuters.
  3. ↑ "Big Penumbra expansion in Alameda". East Bay Times. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  4. ↑ AVALOS, GEORGE (February 3, 2020). "Penumbra picks new site for East Bay headquarters". East Bay Times. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  5. ↑ "Penumbra Inc (NYSE:PEN)". CNN.
  6. ↑ "Penumbra Company Profile". Reuters.
  7. ↑ Kellaher, Colin (2026-01-15). "Boston Scientific to Buy Penumbra for $15 Billion in Cash, Stock". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  8. ↑ Fink, Victoria. "This Innovative Startup Is Transforming the Way Doctors Treat Stroke PatientsThis medical-device startup wants to transform health care". Inc. FROM THE APRIL 2016 ISSUE OF INC. MAGAZINE. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "Penumbra - A Cheap Medical Device Company With Growth Potential (NYSE:PEN) | Seeking Alpha". seekingalpha.com. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  10. ↑ "Penumbra announces launch of Apollo system". NS Medical Devices. 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  11. ↑ Admin. "The Apollo™ System". Altair Health. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  12. ↑ Primack, Dan. "Penumbra goes public tomorrow. Hear from its CEO today". Fortune. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  13. ↑ DENSFORD, FINK (2018). "Penumbra acquires 90% interest in MVI Health JV, launches thrombectomy devices". Mass Device.
  14. ↑ "Penumbra picks up Italian distributor Crossmed for $9m". Mass Device. July 2017.
  15. ↑ Bellisle, Martha (March 26, 2016). "Lawsuit claims medical device caused brain damage after Bellevue surgery". The Associated Press.
  16. ↑ Farrell, Greg; Fineman, Joshua (December 9, 2020). "Catheter-Linked Death Jolts Penumbra, a Target of Short Sellers". Bloomberg (via Yahoo Finance).
  17. ↑ "Fake Author Allegation Spurs Drop in Catheter Maker Penumbra". Bloomberg. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  18. ↑ Baker, Nathaniel (Nov 18, 2020). "Short-Sellers Grego, Cohodes Take Aim At Penumbra". Forbes.
  19. ↑ Boyd, Roddy. "Penumbra Inc.'s Catheter Fail: Broken Tips and Lost Lives". Foundation for Financial Journalism. Institute for Nonprofit News. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  20. ↑ Stankiewicz, Kevin (Dec 8, 2020). "Shares of medical device maker Penumbra tank after short seller releases critical report". CNBC. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  21. ↑ Farrell, Greg; Fineman, Joshua (December 9, 2020). "'Fake' Author Rap Sinks Shares of Catheter-Maker Penumbra". Bloomberg (via Yahoo Finance). Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  22. ↑ Pedersen, Amanda (July 24, 2017). "Risk of Wire Breakage Prompts Penumbra Recall". Medical Device + Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI). Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  23. ↑ "Penumbra Inc. Recalls 3D Revascularization Device Due to Wire Material That May Break or Separate During Use". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  24. ↑ "Penumbra recalls JET 7 catheters with Xtra Flex technology". Neuro News. December 18, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Penumbra's Urgent Voluntary Recall of JET 7 Catheters with Xtra Flex Technology Due to Increased Risk of Mortality and Serious Injury – Urgent Letter to Health Care Providers". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  26. ↑ Wood, Shelley (December 16, 2020). "FDA: Penumbra JET 7 Clot Retrievers Recalled Following Deaths, Injuries". Cardiovascular Research Foundation.
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