January 13, 2025—Medtronic announced it has entered into an exclusive United States distribution agreement with Raleigh, North Carolina-based Contego Medical. The company stated that under the agreement, Medtronic will be the sole United States distributor for Contego’s portfolio of commercially available products, which provide revascularization treatment for carotid and peripheral vascular disease. Medtronic advised it will distribute Contego’s portfolio of products through its Peripheral Vascular and Neurovascular commercial teams beginning in the spring 2025. The agreement also includes an increased investment in Contego and an option to acquire the company. Medtronic has held a minority investment in Contego since 2020, noted the press release. According to Medtronic, Contego Medical’s portfolio includes the Neuroguard IEP system and the Excipio peripheral thrombectomy devices. The Neuroguard IEP system, which received FDA approval in October 2024, is a three-in-one carotid stenting system that combines a high-performance stent, post-dilation balloon, and an integrated embolic protection filter. As noted in the press release, the Neurogard IEP system is back by clinical data demonstrating its safety and effectiveness. Contego has reported consistently low event rates—zero major strokes, zero neurologic deaths, and zero stent thromboses up to 2-year follow-up—in the PERFORMANCE I trial and PERFORMANCE II investigational device exemption trial, stated Medtronic. Additionally, Contego Medical is currently evaluating the Neuroguard IEP system with a next-generation direct transcarotid access and protection system—TCAR-IEP—to demonstrate advanced stroke protection regardless of vascular approach in the PERFORMANCE III trial. The Neuroguard IEP Direct system is currently limited by Federal law to investigational use only and is not commercially available in the United States, advised the Medtronic press release.