Innovation in Urology: What to Watch Ahead of AUA 2026
With the AUA Annual Meeting in Washington coming up, it feels like urology is at a real inflection point. There’s a noticeable shift toward precision, less invasive treatment, and smarter use of technology across the board.
A few areas that stand out right now:
Prostate treatment is clearly moving toward focal therapy
EDAP TMS is doing some really interesting work here with HIFU in localised prostate cancer. The focus on preserving quality of life, rather than defaulting to radical surgery, is a big change in mindset. Profound Medical is also pushing things forward with MRI-guided TULSA.
Robotics is no longer a one-player market
Intuitive Surgical still leads, but companies like CMR Surgical and Medtronic with Hugo are bringing real competition. That usually means faster innovation and, importantly, better access over time.
AI is becoming part of the clinical workflow
It’s not just hype anymore. You’re seeing it embedded in imaging with Siemens Healthineers and GE HealthCare, and in data-driven oncology approaches from companies like Tempus.
Oncology is getting more targeted
There’s continued progress in bladder cancer from companies like Photocure and Ferring Pharmaceuticals, alongside diagnostics players like Exact Sciences expanding further into urology.
Care is starting to extend beyond the hospital
Digital health companies like Sidekick Health and Renalytix are pushing more continuous, data-led patient management, which feels like a natural next step for the specialty.
Stepping back, the direction is pretty clear. Less invasive treatment, more personalised care, and better use of data.
It’ll be interesting to see at AUA which of these approaches really gains traction and which companies start to separate themselves.