Four things to know about our acquisition of Valencia Technologies

For millions of people living with overactive bladder (OAB), daily life can revolve around one constant question: Where’s the nearest bathroom? 

OAB can create sudden, frequent urges to urinate that significantly disrupt daily routines and quality of life. Many patients avoid travel, social events and even meals before work because of their symptoms. Others spend years searching for answers before finding a physician who can help. 

Despite affecting nearly 30 million adults ages 40 and older in the United States, only a small percentage of patients with OAB symptoms ultimately receive treatment. 

Boston Scientific recently acquired Valencia Technologies, developer of the eCoin® System, a minimally invasive tibial neurostimulation therapy designed to treat urge urinary incontinence, a common symptom of overactive bladder. Kristin LaRocca, general manager, Prosthetic Urology and Pelvic Health at Boston Scientific, shared more about the acquisition and what it means for patients and physicians. 

What’s the difference between overactive bladder and urge urinary incontinence? 

Overactive bladder is a condition characterized by a sudden urge to urinate that is difficult to control, often resulting in frequent trips to the bathroom throughout the day and night. Urge urinary incontinence is a common symptom of overactive bladder and occurs when that overwhelming urge results in involuntary leakage, ranging from occasional accidents to more frequent episodes throughout the day. 

Patients of all ages — both men and women — suffer from urge urinary incontinence and overactive bladder. They’re often unsure about what they’re experiencing or believe it’s a normal part of aging. In fact, the onset of symptoms often has nothing to do with age and may have no specific trigger. 

How does the eCoin System expand Boston Scientific’s Urology portfolio and treatment options for patients and physicians? 

One of our primary goals in Urology is increase patient therapy awareness and access to care. The way to do that and be a category leader is to offer more treatment options so that people and their healthcare providers can decide which one is best for them. 

The acquisition of Valencia Technologies helps us provide those options. By adding the eCoin System to our portfolio alongside therapies like Axonics Sacral Neuromodulation, we’re able to offer physicians and patients choices when determining the appropriate treatment path for each patient. Depending on factors such as personal preference, life stage and symptom severity, one treatment option may be a better fit than another. The eCoin System also provides a potential option for patients who may not want or qualify for other therapies. 

How is the eCoin technology different from other overactive bladder treatments like SNM and Botox? 

The eCoin System is an implantable tibial nerve stimulation (ITNS) therapy. Unlike sacral neuromodulation (SNM), which stimulates the sacral nerves near the lower back, the eCoin System stimulates the tibial nerve near the ankle to help address symptoms of urge urinary incontinence. 

The eCoin System is designed to be a “set it and forget it” kind of therapy. The device is implanted near the ankle during a minimally invasive procedure that can typically be completed in about 20 minutes. Compare that with an OAB therapy like Botox, which may require patients to receive injections every six to 12 months. 

After three decades at Boston Scientific, what excites you most about this acquisition and the future of our Urology business? 

Boston Scientific has been incredibly intentional about our growth in the incontinence space. Through a mix of internal research and development and strategic acquisitions like Axonics and Valencia Technologies, we now have one of the broadest incontinence portfolios. As we look to the future, I’m excited about our ability to expand access to treatment options for this underserved patient population and to truly meet people where they are in their treatment journey. 

To learn more about treatment options for urge urinary incontinence and overactive bladder, visit go to FixIncontinence.com.