Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. announced that its OverStitch(TM) Endoscopic Suturing System has received the European Union's CE Mark. The company plans to immediately launch the system to select centers in several European countries. Apollo Endosurgery's OverStitch platform combines the flexibility of endoscopy with the precision of surgical suturing, allowing physicians to access, manipulate and suture internal tissue without making incisions through the skin. The platform therefore allows physicians to offer less invasive options for the patient and perform a broad range of endoscopic surgical procedures in the treatment of defects in the digestive tract, gastrointestinal cancer and bariatrics. The company is working with distributors in several European countries to identify top interventional gastroenterologists and surgeons to participate in the initial phase of the European launch.

Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. announced that Richard J. Meelia, former CEO and Chairman of Covidien plc, will be joining the company's Board of Directors. Meelia will fill a newly-created seat on the Apollo Endosurgery board. Meelia's appointment will be effective July 1, 2012. Meelia recently retired from his position as Chairman and CEO of Covidien. Mr. Meelia is also a member of the Board of Directors of Triangle, Inc. He also serves on the Board of Governors of the Tufts-New England Medical Center and the Board of Trustees of St. Anselm College.

Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for its SuMO(TM) endoscopic tissue access and resection system. Apollo Endosurgery designed the scarless surgery system to help surgeons remove large, flat precancerous gastrointestinal lesions and polyps during endoscopy procedures. Early detection and removal of flat, precancerous lesions may help prevent development of invasive esophageal or colon cancer, however, until recently, most patients with these lesions had to undergo significant surgeries, often involving resection of large segments of non-diseased esophagus or the colon. Endoscopic submucosal dissection, or ESD, is an established technique that allows for effective resection of the pre-cancerous tissue without the need for an esophagectomy or colectomy. However, even with newer advanced endoscopic tools, the procedure is very challenging, particularly for larger areas of tissue. With the SuMO technology, large submucosal dissections of pre-cancerous tissue can be done quickly and efficiently. The SuMO procedure represents a novel and significant advance in therapeutic endoscopy that may allow increasing numbers of patients to avoid or delay major surgery.