As always, last week's AAOS conference brought a flurry of press releases. To recap:
Acquisitions
Wright Medical Group announced plans to acquire INBONE Technologies for an initial $24.0 million payment plus additional milestone payments.
Product Launches
Biologics
ETEX launched Beta-bsm Injectable Paste and Gamma-bsm Moldable Putty.
Integra LifeSciences launched the Integra OS Osteoconductive Scaffold, a synthetic bone void filler manufactured from beta tri-calcium phosphate and type I bovine collagen, Trel-X demineralized bone matrix and Trel-XC, demineralized bone matrix premixed with cancellous bone.
In partnership with DePuy Spine, LifeNet Health launched the VertiGraft VG1 Cervical Bio-
implant for use in anterior cervical fusion procedures.
Orthovita Inc. launched VITOSS Bioactive Foam as part of a controlled rollout.
Smith & Nephew announced the U.S. launch of the Caption Disposable Platelet Concentration System.
Recon
DePuy Orthopaedics launched the Sigma High Performance instruments for knee replacements, which adapt to a surgeon's technique and a new hip replacement product portfolio that includes the Pinnacle Hip Solutions line and TrueGlide technology.
Smith & Nephew has introduced its VERILAST Technology, a combination of the Oxinium material and a highly cross-linked polyethylene, for knee arthroplasty devices.
Stryker launched the Triathlon PKR, a partial knee resurfacing device utilizing the company's X3 advanced bearing technology.
Spine
K2M launched the ALEUTIAN AN (Anatomically Narrow) and the ALEUTIAN Anterior - Lumbar Spacer Systems, which are made from PEEK.
Sports Medicine
Smith & Nephew's Endoscopy Division launched the BIORAPTOR 2.3 PK Suture Anchor for repair of instability in the hip or shoulder joint.
CONMED announced the launch of 11 new products in the Sports Medicine - Arthroscopy, Powered Surgical Instruments and Endoscopy product lines. Among them is the Spectrum Shoulder Suture Passer, the Shutt instruments for hip arthroscopy and the SmartScrew II line of bioabsorbable bone fixation implants.
DePuy Mitek launched the HEALIXTM PEEK Suture Anchor System for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and the Femoral INTRAFIX ACL Fixation System for ACL repair using the anteromedial approach.
Trauma
Biomet launched the Phoenix Tibial Nail.
DePuy launcehd the Small Fragment, Large Fragment and Distal Tibia Anatomic Locked Plating Systems.
Regulatory Clearances
FzioMed, Inc. received Canadian regulatory clearance for its Oxiplex gel.
Osteotech received 510(k) clearance for its Plexur M biomaterial, which consists of mineralized cortical fibers bound in a resorbable polymer. When heated, the product becomes moldable and pliable for use in filling bony voids.
Smith & Nephew received Japanese regulatory clearance for its Oxinium oxidized zirconium technology. The Genesis II knee system will be the first implant system available in Japan with Oxinium, and it is also the first time Smith & Nephew's technology will be available in Japan.
Clinical Updates
New clinical data from a multi-center U.S. study on Genzyme's Carticel showed that almost 90% of patients treated with Carticel who experienced improvement in knee function at an early follow-up sustained their improvement for up to 10 years.
BioMimetic Therapeutics intends to file its Device License Application (DLA) in Canada for GEM OS1 for use in the treatment of foot and ankle fusions in 2H:08. Additionally, the company's U.S. trial evaluating GEM OS1 versus autograft has 125 of 396 patients enrolled; BioMimetic expects to complete enrollment in the fall of 2008. The company also expects its open-label E.U. study to be fully enrolled in the fall of 2008.
