Israel-based Eitan Group, a provider of infusion therapy products designed to treat pain management using IVs and other methods, has opened a new U.S. headquarters office in Aliso Viejo.
The Eitan Group North America office, located at 65 Enterprise in the TechSpace building in the city, is headed by Chief Executive Roger Massengale, who has more than 100 U.S. and foreign patents in pain management and drug delivery, and “co-wrote the ISO standard for disposable infusion pumps,” the company said.
“I have a passion for innovation and solving problems,” Massengale, speaking of his lengthy patent list, told the Business Journal.
He was appointed to the executive role in March.
Eitan, which oversees Q Core Medical, Sorrel Medical, and Avoset Medical, is looking to treat pain management using an approach that doesn’t use oral opioids.
By injecting anesthetic directly into a surgical or injury site, patients can feel instant relief by means of a “nerve block.” The company’s device is affixed to their body and they are free to move around at will rather than sitting and waiting.
“Ambulatory infusion therapy is a niche, and the company continues to develop innovation in this space [of the market]” Massengale said.
Eitan’s ambulatory infusion devices are better than the open market competition due to their minimalist construction and simple user experience interface, he said.
A Novel Approach
The company’s flagship device was actually not created by Eitan—it was a purchase from another unaffiliated Israeli-based medical device company that was having difficulty bringing their infusion device to market; Massengale saw an opportunity.
“They approached me and said, ‘[we’d] like you to set up sales and marketing in the U.S.,’” Massengale told the Business Journal.
“I did something similar at [Avanos Medical] so I know what it takes to jump through the hospital and healthcare agencies to get approval,” he said.
The slim profile of Eitan’s infusion devices, which are a little less than half the size of traditional infusion devices commonly seen in most hospitals, are designed with patient care as a priority—they were made to be mobile and discrete.
“The FDA is incredibly concerned, observant, and cautious about new infusion therapies, rightfully so,” Massengale said.
Other companies over the past few years have seen their devices recalled due to safety.
One device that faced safety concerns came from Hospiria Infusion Systems; it was recalled in 2015. The company was acquired shortly after by Pfizer for $1.4 billion.
Pfizer then sold Hospiria to ICU Medical Inc., a San Clemente-based medical device company that also manufactures infusion systems, for $900 million. ICU medical has a nearly $5 billion market cap.
