EndoSound® Appoints First Chief Commercial Officer And Completes Initial Seed Round Financing
PORTLAND—July 20, 2021—
Oregon-based medical device innovator, EndoSound®, Inc., announced today the addition of Josh Cohn to its executive leadership team as the company’s first Chief Commercial Officer. Additionally, the company announced it successfully raised Initial Seed Round funding as it oversubscribed its intended goal. The new funding will be used to commercialize the EndoSound Vision SystemTM.
In this role, Josh Cohn reports to Stephen Steinberg, Founder and President, and is responsible for the pre- and post-commercialization Sales and Marketing strategies. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Josh will collaborate with world-renowned endoscopists and prioritize bringing the novel EndoSound endoscopic ultrasound platform to market.
Josh comes with extensive experience in the gastrointestinal endoscopy device market, most recently acting as a Market Development Manager at Ambu A/S. Previously, he spent 13 years at PENTAX Medical, where he held several roles including National Sales Director and Regional Sales Director. While at Ambu A/S and PENTAX Medical, Josh was responsible for the creation of new sales and marketing programs, including customer retention and conversion initiatives.
“I’m ecstatic to join EndoSound as it approaches a critical milestone in its growth. Expanding healthcare access and diminishing infection risk while reducing costs for patients fills me with pride,” stated Josh. “The EndoSound Vision System is truly revolutionary and presents a safer, more affordable alternative to conventional EUS platforms.”
In recent years, reusable duodenoscopes, which feature a similar elevator mechanism as ultrasound endoscopes, have faced scrutiny due to their link to patient infection risk. In a July 2020 Safety Communication published by the FDA, it was stated, “FDA recommends health care facilities and manufacturers begin transitioning to duodenoscopes with disposable components,”(1) to address the challenges presented by these endoscopes’ elevator mechanism. Though major device manufacturers have responded with new disposable models, the similarly designed ultrasound endoscopes have been overlooked. The innovative EndoSound Vision System addresses this issue by eliminating the need for the elevator mechanism and transforming any flexible upper gastrointestinal video endoscope into a fully functional ultrasound endoscope.
“Josh is a formidable talent that will undeniably strengthen our executive team. His extensive industry knowledge and genuine relationships enable us to realize our mission to remove risk and expand EUS access into smaller hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers,” stated Stephen Steinberg, EndoSound founder and President. The EndoSound Vision System will transform how endoscopic ultrasound procedures are performed and we are thrilled that Josh will drive the company’s commercialization efforts into its next chapter.”
1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020). The FDA is Recommending Transition to Duodenoscopes with Innovative Designs to Enhance Safety: FDA Safety Communication [online] Available at: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/fda-recommending-transition-duodenoscopes-innovative-designs-enhance-safety-fda-safety-communication [Accessed 11 Jul.2021].
