Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States, while gastric cancer is the most common malignancy in the world. Each year, over 26 million individuals undergo screening colonoscopies to identify early stage colorectal cancer. However, once a suspicious lesion is found, physicians are limited in their ability to treat, and cancer surgery anywhere in the GI tract will leave a patient with a lifetime of digestive complications.

Apollo has developed a set of flexible surgical devices, compatible with existing flexible endoscopes, which enable a revolutionary new procedure to remove early stage lesions from t...

Read More

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States, while gastric cancer is the most common malignancy in the world. Each year, over 26 million individuals undergo screening colonoscopies to identify early stage colorectal cancer. However, once a suspicious lesion is found, physicians are limited in their ability to treat, and cancer surgery anywhere in the GI tract will leave a patient with a lifetime of digestive complications.

Apollo has developed a set of flexible surgical devices, compatible with existing flexible endoscopes, which enable a revolutionary new procedure to remove early stage lesions from the colon, esophagus, and stomach. These tools were developed in a unique collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, University of Texas Medical Branch, MUSC, and Johns Hopkins University. These technologies and their patents were licensed from these prestigious Universities and brought to Texas.

Apollo’s device approach, named SuMO for Submucosal Operation, is a conceptual leap that takes advantage of the layered structure of the GI tract tissue. Unique devices create a space inside the GI tract wall, providing access to additional flexible surgical tools to safely and quickly remove the suspicious tissue. This allows multiple stages and sizes of lesions to be treated endoscopically, allowing patients to avoid debilitating surgery.

Read Less