Nanox, a medical imaging company, announced entry into two agreements intended to create a globally connected, end-to-end radiology solution. The Company announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a leading medical artificial intelligence (AI) developer Zebra Medical Vision for a total of $100 million upfront, and up to another $100 million tied to achievement of specific milestones, all to be paid in Nanox shares. Nanox also announced today that it has entered into a binding letter of intent to acquire USARAD and its related company, Medical Diagnostics Web, or MDW. USARAD operates a global network of 300 radiologists. Total consideration for USARAD and MDW is $30 million, comprising $21 million of Nanox shares and $9 million in cash.
The acquisition of Zebra Medical Vision is anticipated to fuel both companies’ shared goal of forming the next generation of AI-enabled hardware and software devices, which is expected to set a new standard in the medical devices sector. If these proposed strategic acquisitions are consummated, Nanox will be in the position to gear up towards addressing three major international shortages on a global scale: the shortage of medical imaging devices, radiologists, and connectivity between countries and societies in analyzing medical data.
Founded in 2014, Zebra Medical Vision (“Zebra-Med”) is a pioneer in the AI medical imaging space, setting the standard for the future of AI in radiology. The company has 7 FDA-cleared and 10 CE-marked AI solutions for medical imaging, with a recently introduced 3D modeling solution for x-ray images used for orthopedic surgery pre-operative planning. Using patient imaging data already available to the healthcare system, Zebra-Med’s algorithms highlight early, previously undetected signs of common chronic diseases. The newly discovered findings can then initiate further medical assessment to establish individual preventative care pathways for patients.
“Zebra Medical Vision has always operated with the goal of expanding the use of AI in medical imaging to improve health outcomes for patients worldwide,” says Zohar Elhanani, CEO of Zebra Medical Vision. “At this time, we understand that that vision is best served by joining forces with a trusted partner with the means to boost our capabilities and propel population health, powered by AI, to the next level. Screening populations to detect and treat chronic disease early has proven to improve outcomes, and we’re thrilled to be taking the helm of the population health transformation in healthcare.”
With this industry-leading focus, Zebra-Med has set its own path in enabling financial incentives for wide adoption of AI in radiology, recently receiving the first CPT reimbursement code for its solution involving the early detection of Osteoporosis. Together with Nanox, the company will continue to advance value-based population healthcare management on a large scale, pioneering tomorrow’s medical imaging AI and to detect chronic diseases by offering AI applications as part of a modality solution, targeting both payers and providers.
Under the terms of the agreement, is expected acquire Zebra Medical Vision for upfront and milestone payments to be paid in Nanox shares, including $100 million expected to be issued at closing, $16 million of deferred consideration payable upon signing of three new business contracts within six months of closing, and $84 million payable upon achievement of certain other milestones for total consideration. Zebra-Med is expected to be run as a wholly owned subsidiary under the Nanox brand.
Nanox also expects to acquire USARAD, a U.S. based radiologist-run and operated full-service subspecialty radiology and teleradiology company with over 300 U.S. certified radiologists in its organization. USARAD will provide Nanox with immediate access to trained radiologists, lowering the barrier to US market entry and other countries around the globe. Through the USARAD network, Nanox will have direct access to the company’s relationships with hundreds of medical practices across multiple specialties, as well as urgent care centers, and other healthcare providers. Moreover, USARAD, in which Siemens holds a meaningful equity stake, will enhance Nanox’s go-to-market strategy, potentially allowing the Company to place Nanox.ARCs with USARAD’s customers.
If this potential strategic acquisition is consummated, Nanox will be in the position to offer a new model of Management of Medical Service Organizations (MSO), in which Nanox is expected to manage various new critical functions and capabilities, including medical billing with a meaningful revenue potential, Quality Assurance, compliance and eliminate reliance on third parties for these services.
Under the terms of the binding letter of intent, Nanox anticipates purchasing all of the shares of USARAD and all of the assets of its related company Medical Diagnostics Web, or MDW, for a total consideration of $30 million in stock and cash for both companies. We expect to acquire USARAD for total consideration of $27 million, comprised of $18 million of Nanox shares and $9 million in cash. Of the total, $18.5 million of consideration is expected to be paid upon closing, and the remaining $8.5 million is expected to be paid based on the achievement of certain milestones. The remaining $3 million of consideration for MDW will be paid by Nanox shares.
“Expanding access to medical imaging via widespread deployment of the Nanox.ARC solves one of the obstacles to achieving true population health management,” stated Ran Poliakine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nanox. “Yet, the global shortage of trained radiologists represents a significant bottleneck in the imaging process. The Nanox.ARC, together with the acquisitions of Zebra Medical Vision and USARAD, if consummated, would move us toward our vision of deploying our Systems and have the support of a large network of radiologists empowered with highly advanced AI algorithms that will allow for the rapid interpretation of medical images into actionable medical interventions, which would represent an end-to-end, globally connected medical imaging solution. Furthermore, we are working to offer a solution even greater than that: population preventive health care through application of Zebra’s AI technology, if the acquisition is consummated.
Michael Yuz, M.D, CEO of USARAD: “USARAD has been a partner of Nanox in the past two years, and today we are thrilled to officially join the vision as part of the team. Working closely with Nanox and seeing the progress the team has made toward the production ramp up, together with the world renowned capabilities of Zebra Medical Vision’s AI, creates a medical device powerhouse, in which our radiologists are proud to take part.”
Completion of the proposed Zebra-Med acquisition is subject to, among others, approval of the transaction by the equity holders of Zebra-Med. The acquisition of USARAD is subject to the completion of due diligence and to the negotiation of a definitive agreement. The definitive agreement with USARAD may not be entered into the terms or in the timeframe currently contemplated. Both acquisitions are subject to satisfaction of the conditions to closing in the definitive agreements, regulatory approvals, and other customary conditions. Therefore, neither of the proposed transactions may be consummated on a timely basis or at all.
The Nanox shares expected to be issued to the Zebra-Med, USARAD and MDW shareholders are not expected to be registered and will be subject to restrictions on resale under the U.S. securities laws.
