RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – TransEnterix, an emerging medical device company in North Carolina, was awarded the “SE Deal of the Year: Venture Capital Transaction” from Southeast BIO on December 4. The company recently secured $55 million in Series B financing for their new laparoscopic surgical platform.

TransEnterix was recognized at the Third Annual Southeast BIO awards ceremony, held during the 2009 Southeastern BIO Investor Forum in Charleston, SC. The award is given to individuals and businesses that help grow the life sciences industry in the Southeastern United States.

In October 2009, TransEnterix secured $55 million in Series B financing, which will allow the company to manufacture and market its revolutionary laparoscopic surgical platform, the SPIDER® Surgical System. The multi-channel advanced laparoscopic platform that offers surgeons true triangulation and 360-degree articulation will launch in early 2010.

“It is a great honor to be recognized for our efforts to develop our company here in North Carolina,” said Todd M. Pope, president and CEO. “The Triangle boasts some of the best hospitals, universities and forward –thinking minds in the medical-device industry. Through collaboration with these surgeons and educators, TransEnterix is able to develop technologies that will transform laparoscopic surgery.”

Southeast BIO’s mission is to, “foster the growth of the life sciences industry in the Southeastern United States through efforts that promote entrepreneurship and bring together companies, investors, universities and support organizations active in the development of the industry.”

TransEnterix is an emerging North Carolina-based medical-device company that partners with the world’s leading surgeons to develop pioneering technologies that revolutionize minimally invasive surgery. It relies on rapid prototyping, intense pre-clinical labs and hands-on collaboration with world-renowned surgeons to accelerate learning and bring a device to market more quickly.