Why TransEnterix Shares Are in Free Fall

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By Chris Lange Updated Published
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Why TransEnterix Shares Are in Free Fall

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TransEnterix Inc. (NYSEMKT: TRXC) watched its shares in free fall on Thursday morning following a devastating judgment by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company announced after the markets closed on Wednesday that the FDA notified TransEnterix that it has determined that the SurgiBot System does not meet the criteria for substantial equivalence based on the data and information submitted.

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.

The company is focused on the development and commercialization of the SurgiBot System, a single-port, robotically enhanced laparoscopic surgical platform, and the ALF-X 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 tracking camera control. The SurgiBot System is not yet available for sale in any market.
[nativounit]
Todd M. Pope, president and CEO of TransEnterix, commented:

The FDA’s decision is extremely disappointing. We are in the process of reviewing all aspects of the FDA’s communication. We will work to complete this review, and will provide an update on the regulatory strategy for the SurgiBot System together with our first quarter 2016 financial and operating results during our quarterly conference call on May 10, 2016.

Shares of TransEnterix were traded down over 60% at $1.82 early Thursday morning, with a consensus analyst price target of $6.29 and a 52-week trading range of $1.54 to $6.10.

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About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.

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