Creo Medical Group plc (AIM: CREO) (“Creo” or the “Company”), a medical device company focused on the emerging field of surgical endoscopy, today announces that it has entered into a framework distribution agreement with First Medical Company (“First Medical”).

Under the terms of the agreement, First Medical in conjunction with Creo will seed the South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique markets with Creo’s CROMA advance energy platform and Speedboat products over an 18 month period. First Medical will purchase a minimum quantity of CROMA advance energy platforms and Speedboat instruments during the first 18 months. In line with Creo’s education led commercial strategy, First Medical will also advance the roll out of Creo’s Clinical Education Program in its jurisdictions, to ensure quality control and best patient outcomes through the education of key clinicians in the use of Speedboat and the CROMA platform. On completion of the seeding phase, it is anticipated that a further agreement will place First Medical as Creo’s exclusive distributor for Creo’s CROMA advanced energy electrosurgery platform and Creo’s suite of GI devices in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique.

The first CROMA advance energy platforms and Speedboat products for clinical use in South Africa, Creo’s first export market in the EMEA region, have been shipped to First Medical, and market seeding is expected imminently.

Founded 20 years ago, First Medical imports and distributes medical products and devices into Southern Africa. It has developed strong and long-term relationships with key clinicians in the region, which will assist in establishing Creo’s Clinical Education Program in Southern Africa. First Medical has more than 300 clients ranging from medical professionals to both private and government hospitals. They are a leading company in the field of endoscopy.

Creo’s CROMA’s electrosurgical platform combines bipolar radiofrequency for precise localised cutting and microwave energy for controlled coagulation. Speedboat RS2 is the first product approved in a suite of tools under development to aid the endoscopist in minimally invasive surgery. The Speedboat device helps reduce the risks associated with alternative open and laparoscopic procedures, reducing the length of hospital stays, cost of treatment and transferring therapy from the operating theatre to the endoscopy room.