Earnings
Align Technologies reported 1Q:10 sales of $90.1 million, up 29% and beating estimates by $3.2 million.
The company reports a record 63.6 thousand Invisalign case shipments in 1Q:10, up from 61.1 thousand 4Q:09 and 50.1 thousand in 1Q:09. Net profit for the quarter was $14.9 million, or $0.19 per share. Analysts had forecast EPS of $0.03 per share.
Biomet reported F3Q:10 sales of $669.8 million, up 6% over the year-ago period. Dental sales declined by 1% during the quarter, with the company noting, "Dental reconstructive device sales continued to be impacted by pressure on the dental implant market due to the global economic climate, but to a lesser extent than the prior few quarters."
Dentsply reported 1Q:10 revenues of $545.9 million, up 8% over the year-ago period and beating estimates by $12.4 million. The company says that sales were "favorably impacted by strengthening internal growth, the benefit of a weaker U.S. dollar in the period, and acquisitions." Net income for the quarter was $61.8 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, unchanged from 1Q:09 and missing estimates by $0.02.
Nobel Biocare reported 1Q:10 revenues of EUR 136.7 million ($183.9 million), down 7% from the year-ago period and missing estimates by EUR 10.3 million ($13.9 million). CEO Domenico Scala called the quarter "disappointing," noting, "We remain focused on the rollout of our renewed prosthetics offering and maintaining high business quality through pricing and cost discipline while investing in the upgrade of our prosthetics-manufacturing infrastructure." Net profit increased 114% to EUR 38.7 million ($52.1 million), which was partially attributable to a one-time foreign currency gain.
Straumann reported 1Q:10 revenues of CHF 199.2 million ($187.2 million), up 3% over the year-ago period and beating estimates by CHF 4.2 million ($3.9 million). Sales growth was attributed to an increase in the volume of implants sold and new products, including Roxolid, Straumann Allograft and CAD/CAM prosthetics.
Zimmer reported 1Q:10 revenues of $1.1 billion, up 3% over the year-ago period and in line with estimates. Excluding the effects of currency, dental sales increased 6% to $52.0 million. Adjusted EPS was $1.02 for 1Q:10, up 7% over the year-ago period and beating estimates by a penny.
M&A
National Dentex entered into an agreement to be taken private by GDC Holdings, parent company of GeoDigm Corporation. The all-cash transaction is valued at around $99.0 million, or $17.00 per share, which represents a 70% premium on National Dentex's last close of $10.02. The merger agreement includes a go-shop period that closes on May 12.
Product Introduction and Update
Brain-Pad introduced its latest mouthguard, the 3XS, which the company describes as a "dual-arch, bi-molar, mouth guard that repositions the lower jaw while protecting both the upper and lower teeth." The 3XS features GelForm Pads inserted into the molar area of the device.
MicroDental Laboratories has entered into an exclusive agreement with Makkar Athletics Group to be the sole manufacturer of the PPM (Pure Power Mouthguard). Invented by Dr. Anil Makkar, the PPM is an innovative sports appliance that naturally aligns the athlete's jaw for increased balance, range of motion, flexibility and sustained power. The device is custom-designed and manufactured to each individual athlete and can be fitted by any PPM-certified dentist.
RIEMSER, Inc. launched AlloSorb, a "cost-competitive allograft that provides a natural structure and framework to build healthy bone." The allograft is available in mineralized cancellous, demineralized cortical and mineralized cortical formulations.
Clinical
A study published in the April issue of The International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry showed that after three years, patients receiving BioHorizons' Laser-Lok dental implants had a 98% success rate with minimal bone loss (0.46mm). Bone loss associated with dental implants is typically around 2.0mm.
Collaborations
Materialise Dental, the developer of SimPlant software for image-guided implant placement, signed a non-exclusive agreement with Cefla Dental Group and QR srl, which manufacture cone-beam scanners, whereby the latter companies have the option of pre-installing SimPlant Pro on their devices.
Education
Nobel Biocare launched a new website for dental professionals, featuring "a new structure, improved functionality and usability and all-new content, including an industry-leading resource library."
Zimmer opened a new Zimmer Institute training center at its Trabecular Metal Technology facility in Parsippany, New Jersey. The company says the site is its first full-time BioSkills training center outside Warsaw, Indiana.
