Quantum Surgical, Ally Bridge and LifeTech Scientific announce Three-Way China Joint Venture to develop innovative surgical robot for the treatment of liver cancer

HONG KONG, SHENZHEN, China, and Montpellier, France, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Ally Bridge Group (“ABG”), a leading cross-border life science investment group, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with LifeTech Scientific Corporation (SEHK: 1302) (“LifeTech”), a leading medical device company in China, and Quantum Surgical, an innovative surgical robotics company in France, to establish a three-way China joint venture (“JV”). The JV will focus on the R&D and commercialization of Quantum Surgical’s integrated surgical robot platform in China for interventional oncology with the first target indication being liver cancer. China represents more than 50% of the world’s incidence of liver cancer.

The formation of this JV follows ABG’s Series A investment in Quantum Surgical (May 2018), in which LifeTech also participated in the investment through its existing partnership with ABG. ABG initiated and led the design and formation of the JV, where LifeTech is the majority shareholder and responsible for the setup and operation of the China JV, including contributing market know-how to expedite product approval and commercialization in China.

“ABG is excited to form this new China JV with LifeTech and Quantum Surgical, both of which are our portfolio companies. This JV showcases a new model for Sino-foreign collaboration in medical technologies. The ABG team has been working closely with Quantum Surgical, led by Bertin Nahum, following our successful investment in — and exit from – its predecessor company Medtech SA. Quantum Surgical is a natural extension of the 2018 ABG-led US$300 million investment in GRAIL, a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. Early cancer detection must be accompanied by more effective early treatment, which Quantum is developing,” said Frank Yu, ABG’s Founder, CEO and CIO. “LifeTech has been a very close partner since the ABG team invested in the company’s IPO in 2011. LifeTech has a proven track record in obtaining “green channel” fast-track approval and commercializing in China for some of the world’s most innovative medical technologies. This includes collaborations with global medtech companies in localizing best-in-class products,

as proven by its China partnership with Medtronic, a critical strategy for foreign technologies entering the China market. This JV highlights ABG’s unique strategic and operational value-add for our portfolio companies in China, the U.S. and Europe, and how we invest in and bring cutting-edge technologies to solve large, poorly met medical needs in China,” Frank Yu added.

“This is a win-win partnership, where LifeTech Scientific is introduced and advised by our strategic partner ABG to join forces with Quantum Surgical, a leading innovative surgical robot developer with a proven track record,” said Yue-Hui Xie, Chairman and CEO of LifeTech Scientific. “This marks another ground-breaking achievement for LifeTech, investing in and partnering with world-leading healthcare technology following our strategic cooperation with ABG, including our participation in the 2018 financing for GRAIL. Both investments underpin LifeTech’s new strategic focus in cancer prevention and treatment,” Yue-Hui Xie added, “Following our successful partnership with U.S.-based global medtech giant Medtronic, our China JV with Quantum Surgical of France represents a new milestone for strategic and operational partnership with European companies in China.”

“Quantum will set new standards for minimally invasive cancer treatment procedures with the first target indication being liver cancer. We believe that LifeTech’s regulatory expertise and established commercialization infrastructure in China, coupled with ABG’s truly global industry network and strong capital markets and deal-making capabilities, will enable Quantum Surgical to accelerate its market entry into China and benefit millions of cancer patients there,” said Bertin Nahum, Founder and CEO of Quantum Surgical.