Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Boston Scientific Corporation / Advanced Bionics Corporation

2004 · Acquisition/Merger · $740M · Complete

CALLED IT — OFF BY 16

A $740M bet on neuromodulation/cochlear implants that ended in litigation, a $352M writedown, and a forced unwind — Boston Scientific kept only the spinal-cord-stimulation sliver, while the auditory business it paid for ended up at Sonova.

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The coverage arc

Jun 01, 2004 Boston Scientific Bullish

Boston Scientific acquired Advanced Bionics for ~$740M cash plus earn-outs tied to performance milestones; the acquired franchise included implantable…

Jan 08, 2008 BioWorld Bearish

Boston Scientific moved to end its 'rocky' Advanced Bionics relationship, paying $1.15B over two years to former shareholders, retaining pain management, and…

Jan 12, 2009 MassDevice Neutral

A Swiss company moved to buy the former Boston Scientific unit Advanced Bionics, recapping how the cochlear-implant business ultimately separated from Boston…

Source summaries from our enrichment pipeline; follow links for originals.

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$740M cash + earnouts; neuromodulation/cochlear/drug pumps; deal later partially unwound 2008

Did it work? Outcome assessment

A $740M bet on neuromodulation/cochlear implants that ended in litigation, a $352M writedown, and a forced unwind — Boston Scientific kept only the spinal-cord-stimulation sliver, while the auditory business it paid for ended up at Sonova.

Strategic verdict
Failed to Achieve

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
Boston Scientific Corporation / Advanced Bionics Corporation (this deal)2004$740M26
Boston Scientific Corporation / Endo International plc (American Medical Systems Men's Health and Prostate Health)2015$1.6B82
Boston Scientific Corporation / BTG plc2018$4.2B78
Boston Scientific Corporation / Vertiflex, Inc.2019$465M
UCB SA / Celltech Group plc2004$2.7B92
Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical / Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.2004$7.6B84
Abbott Laboratories / TheraSense Inc.2004$1.2B81

Compare all 7 side-by-side →

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