A University of Oxford spinout company that developed life-saving technology to keep organs alive outside the human body has been sold to a Japanese medical giant in a deal worth £1.5 billion.
OrganOx, founded in 2008 by engineering professor Constantin Coussios and transplant surgeon Professor Peter Friend, has been bought by Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation. The company is best known for its groundbreaking organ preservation devices, which have already helped save more than 6,000 lives.
Professor Coussios explained the technology’s working mechanism. “The machine recreates an environment around the organ that makes it believe it is still inside the body. A blood-like substance flows through it at normal body temperature, the organ breathes and consumes nutrients, and it keeps functioning as if it were still inside a person,” he said.
This technology, first used in 2013, has transformed organ transplants by allowing doctors to “test drive” an organ before it is placed in a patient. It reduces the risk of transplant failure and increases the number of viable organs available. According to Professor Coussios, the devices are currently helping approximately 10 patients per day, and the number is increasing rapidly.
The deal with Terumo Corporation is expected to expand the reach of OrganOx’s machines, making them available to hospitals and patients worldwide. Professor Coussios believes this is only the beginning. “We can now explore other applications for the technology, even beyond transplantation,” he said.
Adam Workman, Head of Investments and Ventures at Oxford University Innovation, described the agreement as a “landmark” for both the university and the medical world. “This was always about creating a sustainable technology for the world. I will continue to work with my cofounder to ensure it finds its home in helping patients everywhere,” he said.
The University of Oxford celebrated the deal as a proud moment. Professor Irene Tracey, the university’s vice-chancellor, said it was “very exciting” for Oxford, for the UK, and most importantly, for patients worldwide. She also noted how such success stories inspire students.
“When students are taught by professors who are also successful entrepreneurs, it sparks new ideas and ambitions. This is exactly the kind of environment we want to create,” she said.
The sale of OrganOx marks a major milestone in medical technology and showcases the power of university research turning into real-world solutions. What started as an idea in Oxford labs has now become a global breakthrough, offering hope to thousands of patients waiting for a new chance at life.
