RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TransEnterix, Inc. (NYSE American:TRXC), a medical device company that is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and the patient to improve minimally invasive surgery, today announced that Eric Smith has been named Chief Commercial Officer, effective August 31, 2018.

In this newly created role, which will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Smith will lead the company’s global commercialization efforts, with a focus on both strategic and tactical execution efforts in sales, upstream and downstream marketing, field clinical support and training with a focus on adoption and clinical excellence.

“We are very excited to have Eric join the TransEnterix team. He brings a wealth of experience commercializing innovative technologies on a global scale,” said Todd M. Pope, Chief Executive Officer of TransEnterix. “As we look to drive widespread adoption of Senhance, we believe that the addition of Eric’s expertise in developing and driving sales and marketing strategies will complement our existing team as we continue to grow and increase our presence in the United States and around the world.”

Mr. Smith brings over two decades of medical technology experience to TransEnterix, with over a decade of that focused on commercial leadership and marketing strategy. Most recently, he was a Vice President, Franchise Leader Acute Care at KCI Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of wound healing products. While at KCI, he was responsible for the development and commercialization of innovative wound-care technologies on a global scale. Prior to joining KCI, Mr. Smith served as Vice President of Global Strategic Marketing at Cordis Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of medical devices for the treatment of coronary and peripheral vascular diseases. He has also held senior positions at Boston Scientific, C.R. Bard and Ernst & Young. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and his MBA from Babson College.

“I am extremely pleased to be joining TransEnterix during such an exciting time in the company’s history,” said Smith. “Senhance is a transformative technology with a large market opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to the company’s success and improving clinical outcomes and patient care through the use of digital laparoscopy.”

About TransEnterix

TransEnterix is a medical device company that is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and the patient to improve minimally invasive surgery by addressing the clinical and economic challenges associated with current laparoscopic and robotic options in today’s value-based healthcare environment. The Company is focused on the commercialization of the Senhance™ Surgical System, which digitizes laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery. The system allows for robotic precision, haptic feedback, surgeon camera control via eye sensing and improved ergonomics while offering responsible economics. The Senhance Surgical System is available for sale in the US, the EU and select other countries. For more information, visit www.transenterix.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements relating to the Senhance Surgical System and our current commercialization plans for this product. These statements and other statements regarding our future plans and goals constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations and include whether Mr. Smith’s expertise in developing and driving sales and marketing strategies will complement TransEnterix’s existing team as TransEnterix continues to group and increase its presence in the United States and around the world and whether Mr. Smith can contribute to TransEnterix’s success and improving clinical outcomes and patient care through the use of digital laparoscopy. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with TransEnterix’s business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2018 and our other filings we make with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the origination date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Digital Surgery, a health tech company shaping the future of surgery through the convergence of surgical expertise and technology, today announced it has developed and successfully demonstrated the world’s first real-time, dynamic artificial intelligence (AI) system designed for the operating room (OR). The company is building the data to power the future of surgery through its world-class and proprietary surgical procedure road maps, which aim to aid the surgical team in the OR, reducing risk and making surgery safer. Digital Surgery is the first patented AI platform bringing this scale of knowledge to the surgical community.

“This is a huge milestone for the future of surgery because it lays the foundation for how AI and computer vision will support surgical teams to deliver safer surgeries. It also enables the next generation of robotic surgery, giving these future systems the capability to function more intelligently and safely,” said Dr. Jean Nehme MD, co-founder and CEO of Digital Surgery. “We have already developed AI algorithms for multiple procedures across bariatrics and other surgical specialties like orthopedics, and our library will continue to grow. With AI, we have the unique ability to scale global surgical best practices.”

More than 5 billion people do not have access to safe surgical care, with surgical knowledge being one of the critical factors that hasn’t been able to scale globally. Addressing this problem will require emerging technologies, including AI, particularly given other technological alternatives, like robotics and telemedicine platforms, require expensive equipment or resources that limit their scalability.

Digital Surgery’s AI platform can provide road maps and act as a navigational system for every OR and surgery center, addressing the countless variables that surgical teams face — from staff turnover, language, culture, tools, resources, to the training and skill level of the surgical team. The AI recognizes what is happening during surgery through a camera view, and cross-checks and correlates the anatomy and actions against the largest library of surgical road maps. The OR team can then see in real time the platform analyzing and predicting next steps.

Quotes from leading surgeons

• “What Digital Surgery has done with this technology feels like a comparison with the advent of laparoscopy, which was a truly disruptive and groundbreaking revolution and paradigm shift in surgery. This resulted in a huge change in approach from maximally invasive to minimally invasive surgery. In the next five years, I expect there to be a transformation from non-AI to AI supported surgery as common practice, benefiting training, patient safety, data collection and outcomes analysis. This is something my OR teams, clinical teams and I would look forward to and will truly impact patient care.” — Dr. Sanjay Purkayastha, Consultant Laparoscopic, Bariatric & Robotic Surgeon, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London
• “The impact of a technology leap like this is astounding. Digital Surgery is creating the technologies that will drive the ‘integrated ORs’ and robotic systems of the future.” — Dr. Daniel Buchbinder, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

The team at Digital Surgery is best known for its leading mobile surgical training app, Touch Surgery, which is embedded in more than 160 residency programs and used by more than 2 million surgeons, healthcare professionals and others globally. Touch Surgery has more than 200 surgical simulations across 14 specialties, and it has been validated by 15 peer-reviewed publications for its approach to virtual surgical training.

About Digital Surgery

Digital Surgery, founded by surgeons for surgeons and healthcare professionals, believes safe surgical care should be accessible for all. Co-founders Dr. Jean Nehme and Dr. Andre Chow set out to shape the future of surgery by building a digital ecosystem that sits at the intersection of surgical expertise and technology. Digital Surgery is comprised of two products, Touch Surgery, the award-winning interactive training platform downloaded more than 2 million times, and GoSurgery, an operating room efficiency platform launching later this year. The company is based in London with teams around the world. For more information, please visit: http://www.digitalsurgery.com.

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Intuitive Surgical has named Phil Bradshaw as its first General Manager in the United Kingdom and Ireland (UK&I). Mr. Bradshaw will direct business strategy and operations for the company in these countries.

Intuitive pioneered the field of robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery with the creation of its da Vinci Surgical System. Now on its fourth-generation system, the Silicon Valley, California-based company has seen more than five million robotic-assisted surgical procedures performed worldwide, and the da Vinci Surgical Systems’ benefits explored in more than 15,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications to-date.

“Our commitment to the UK & Ireland has been increasing since we entered these markets ten years ago. Phil’s deep knowledge of the medical device industry and his enthusiasm for continued innovation in the UK and Irish markets, expands that commitment,” said Dr. Gary Guthart, CEO of Intuitive. “British surgeons have been at the forefront of driving innovation and improvements in patient care and economic value to the NHS using da Vinci robotic systems, where patients can recover and return home more quickly, saving the healthcare system money,” he added.

Mr. Bradshaw brings nearly three decades of experience in the medical device field working for market-leading companies, and more than eight years of general management experience in the UK and European markets. “Intuitive’s impressive experience and track record of working with surgeons to provide continuous developments in robotic-assisted surgery in the UK and Ireland was very important to me,” said Bradshaw. “The company’s commitment to ensuring that robotic-assisted surgery becomes a standardised option for surgeons in an increasing number of indications, will allow me to serve as a champion for increased patient access here in the UK and Ireland,” he continued.

Before joining Intuitive Surgical, Mr. Bradshaw worked at Medtronic as Strategic Alliance Director for EMEA within the Integrated Health Solutions Division. Prior to Medtronic, he established the Head & Neck Division at Stryker UK, working in the Neurosurgical and Cranio-maxillio facial market. Additionally, Mr. Bradshaw spent 18 years with Synthes, a medical device company specialising in orthopaedics, where he fulfilled a variety of graduated sales and marketing positions, including GM roles in both the UK and Portugal.

About Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (Nasdaq:ISRG), headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, is the pioneer in robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery. Intuitive Surgical develops, manufactures and markets the da Vinci Surgical System. The Company’s mission is to make surgery more effective, less invasive and easier on surgeons, patients and their families.

About the da Vinci Surgical System

There are several models of the da Vinci Surgical System. The da Vinci Surgical Systems are designed to help surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery. da Vinci Systems offer surgeons high-definition 3D vision, a magnified view, and robotic and computer assistance. They use specialized instrumentation, including a miniaturized surgical camera and wristed instruments (i.e., scissors, scalpels and forceps) that are designed to help with precise dissection and reconstruction deep inside the body.

© 2018 Intuitive Surgical, Inc. All rights reserved. Intuitive Surgical^®, da Vinci^®, da Vinci S^®, da Vinci^® Si^™, da Vinci Xi^®, da Vinci X^®, OnSite^® and EndoWrist^® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.intuitivesurgical.com.

Important Safety Information

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including da Vinci^® Surgery, up to and including death. Risks include, but are not limited to, injury to tissues and organs and conversion to other surgical techniques. If your doctor needs to convert the surgery to another surgical technique, this could result in a longer operative time, additional time under anesthesia, additional or larger incisions and/or increased complications. Individual surgical results may vary. Patients who are not candidates for non-robotic minimally invasive surgery are also not candidates for da Vinci^® Surgery. Patients should talk to their doctors to decide if da Vinci^®Surgery is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on non-surgical and surgical options in order to make an informed decision. Please also refer to www.daVinciSurgery.com/Safety for Important Safety Information.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TransEnterix, Inc. (NYSE American:TRXC), a medical device company that is pioneering the use of robotics to improve minimally invasive surgery, today provided a year-end corporate update.

“2017 was a transformational year for TransEnterix that included the commencement of U.S. Senhance commercialization and progression towards the global commercialization of SurgiBot,” said Todd M. Pope, President and CEO at TransEnterix. “We are very excited about the opportunity that lies ahead in 2018 as we look to build upon our momentum and drive the global adoption of the Senhance.”

Senhance System Revenue

During the quarter ending December 31, 2017, the Company sold two Senhance Systems for total revenue of approximately $3.3 million. Total 2017 revenue is approximately $7.0 million, a 360% increase over 2016, representing a total of five Senhance Systems: Europe (two), Asia (two, including one sale for which the revenue was not recognized in 2017) and the United States (one).

The company currently has received one European Senhance System order that it expects to deliver and recognize revenue for in the quarter ending March 31, 2018.

Product Portfolio

During 2017, the company completed the following product portfolio initiatives:

• Obtained Senhance System FDA 510(k) clearance for use in colorectal and gynecologic laparoscopic surgery
• Obtained CE mark and began commercializing the world’s first robotic micro-laparoscopic (3 millimeter) instruments
• Expanded list of compatible visualization and fluorescence systems to include systems from Stryker, Novadaq (Stryker), Conmed and Richard Wolf
• Filed approximately 40 new US patent applications. The Company’s patent portfolio now includes approximately 93 issued patents, 25 of which are US Patents, as well as approximately 92 pending applications, 54 of which are US applications.

The Company expects to complete the following product portfolio initiatives in 2018:

• Expand the Senhance System US FDA clinical indications to include hernia and gallbladder, doubling the total addressable market
• Launch new ultrasonic energy device
• Launch new five-millimeter articulating instrument platform

SurgiBot Global System Agreement

On December 18, 2017, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement with Great Belief International Limited (GBIL) to advance the SurgiBot System towards global commercialization.

The agreement provides the Company with proceeds of at least $29 million, of which $7.5 million was received in December of 2017. An additional $7.5 million is expected to be received by March 31, 2018, including a $3.0 million equity investment at $2.33 per share. The remaining $14 million, representing minimum royalties, will be paid beginning at the earlier of receipt of Chinese regulatory approval or five years.

This agreement transfers ownership of the SurgiBot System assets, while the Company retains the option to distribute or co-distribute the SurgiBot system outside of China. Upon completion of the transfer of all SurgiBot system assets, GBIL will have the SurgiBot system manufactured in China and obtain Chinese regulatory clearance from the China Food and Drug Administration (“CFDA”), while entering into a nationwide distribution agreement with China National Scientific and Instruments and Materials Company (CSIMC) for the Chinese market.

Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2017, the Company’s cash and restricted cash balance was approximately $97 million. The Company believes that this capital is sufficient to fund operations through the year 2019.

As of December 31, 2017, there were approximately 199 million shares of common stock outstanding.

About TransEnterix, Inc.

TransEnterix is a medical device company that is pioneering the use of robotics to improve minimally invasive surgery by addressing the clinical and economic challenges associated with current laparoscopic and robotic options in today’s value-based healthcare environment. The company is focused on the commercialization of the Senhance™ Surgical Robotic System, a multi-port robotic system that brings the advantages of robotic surgery to patients while enabling surgeons with innovative technology such as haptic feedback and eye sensing camera control. The Senhance Surgical Robotic System is available for sale in the US, the EU and select other countries. For more information, visit the TransEnterix website at www.transenterix.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations, including whether we will be able to build upon our momentum and drive the global adoption of the Senhance in 2018; whether we will deliver and recognize revenue from the sale of a European Senhance System in the 2018 first quarter; whether we will expand the Senhance System US FDA clinical indications to include hernia and gallbladder; whether we will launch a new ultrasonic energy device, whether we will launch a new five-millimeter instrument platform; whether TransEnterix will receive at least $29 million (including minimum royalties) from GBIL; whether GBIL will be able to obtain the necessary clearances to sell the SurgiBot System in China; whether TransEnterix will be able to successfully distribute or co-distribute the SurgiBot System outside of China, and realize revenues beyond the initial consideration and minimum royalties; and whether our cash through December 31, 2017 will be sufficient capital to fund operations through the year 2019. We cannot assure you that our expectations will be realized. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with TransEnterix’s business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 6, 2017 and our other filings we make with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the origination date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.