Dental News Roundup February 2011
BY LAUREN UZDIENSKI, FEBRUARY 28, 2011
Earnings
Nobel Biocare reported 4Q:10 revenues of EUR 152.3 million ($203.0 million), down 8% over the year-ago period and missing estimates by EUR 4.3 million ($5.7 million). Net income for the quarter declined by 80% to EUR 5.2 million ($7.1 million) when compared to 4Q:09. Analysts had forecast net income of EUR 9.3 million ($12.3 million). While the company called their 2010 performance "disappointing," among the achievements forming the foundation for a "more promising" 2011 were the NobelProcera product rollout and the double-digit sales growth the of the NobelActive portfolio.
Straumann reported 4Q:10 revenues of CHF 183.5 million, up 7% over the year-ago period. The company said that the highlight of the fourth quarter was the education-based introduction of MembraGel, a liquid that sets to become a barrier membrane for use in guided bone regeneration.
M&A
According to a report in Reuters, 20 bidders are making offers on AstraTech, Astra Zeneca's dental implant and urology arm. Astra Tech is ranked third in the dental implant market, behind Straumann and Nobel. The division had 2010 revenues of $535 million, and offers are said to be reaching the $2 billion range.
Product Introduction and Update
3D Systems launched the 2011 ProJet DP 3000 3D printer, a CAD/CAM 3D dental printer for wax-up production that "provides measurable financial returns and a proven ROI for the dental lab." The company says the printer can provide a 60% productivity improvement.
BIOLASE announced that they took 22 sales orders for the Waterlase iPlus laser at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. The Waterlase iPlus, which the company describes as its flagship product, was launched on February 1 and retails at $57,900.
Nobel Biocare introduced the IPS e.max CAD crown to its NobelProcera portfolio. The device is described as a "full-contoured, precision milled, monolithic, all-ceramic restorative solution" that is available in 20 shades. It can be cemented or adhesively bonded.
VITA announced that their Classical Shade Guide has been "improved to include new features for long-term, ideal shade matching." The changes include a new holder that can be autoclaved.
Sales and Marketing
Biomet 3i has launched a social networking campaign. Content targeted at dental professionals will now be available on the company's Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.
Distribution
Vident, a VITA company, announced an exclusive distribution agreement with Patterson Dental whereby Patterson will sell the VITA Easyshade Compact to dentists in North America. The company adds that Patterson will now support the complete line of VITA shade management tools, including VITA Classical Shade Guide, VITA 3D-Master Shade Guide, VITA Bleachedguide 3D-Master and VITA Linearguide 3D-Master.
Collaborations
Astra Tech announced a global strategic alliance with 3Shape A/S, the Danish-based provider of 3D scanners and CAD/CAM software solutions. The companies plan to develop a software interface that will enable the 3Shape dental scanners to communicate with the Atlantis VAD (Virtual Abutment Design) software used to create patient-specific implant abutments. The interface will allow 3Shape scanner users to "quickly and easily transfer digital scan information of patient oral geometry to the Astra Tech Atlantis design and manufacturing facilities worldwide."
Education
Astra Tech and the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry have signed a seven-year agreement to expand Astra Tech's support of the College's predoctoral implant programs. Astra Tech has been working with the College since 2005, when the company made a donation that helped establish a "top clinical implant dentistry program" at the school.
Appointments
Nobel Biocare announced that Richard Laube will take the helm at the company, effective May 1. Mr. Laube will join Nobel from Nestle SA, where he was CEO of the Nutrition division. Mr. Laube has no dental implant experience, though he has previously led the OTC business at F. Hoffmann La Roche. Domenico Scala will remain with Nobel in an advisory capacity through October.
