Developing New Orthopaedic Business Models: 2020 and Beyond

Posted in Health Reform Watch | Sept., 2016 – Carolyn LaWell is ORTHOWORLD’s Chief Content Officer

To thrive in the healthcare environment of tomorrow, orthopaedic device companies will need to operate within a greater portion of the supply chain, assisting upstream and downstream customers in finding operational value. This will require companies to forge stronger relationships, focus on internal efficiencies and launch services, not just devices. Ultimately, the business models of orthopaedic device companies must radically change if they want to maintain profitability, margins and independence in coming years. This was the message from OMTEC® 2016 keynote speaker Bill Tribe, Ph.D., Partner at A.T. Kearney’s Health Practice.

The message is bold, yet not surprising. One needs to look no further than the product—not device, but product—launches of the largest industry players in recent years. Observe a number of examples: DePuy Synthes’ focus on bundled payment services,Stryker’s purchase and subsequent launch of the Mako robot, Smith & Nephew’s development of Syncera. Additional players and offerings, like Cardinal Health’s expansion into the commercialization of orthopaedic implants and Millstone Medical Outsourcing’s direct-to-patient and hospital distribution model, are reaching new portions of the supply chain.

Tribe referred to these as pilot programs. While it can be assumed that a large amount of research and resources, both personnel and capital, went into the creation of these technologies and services to gain meaningful return on their investments, most on this list are too early in their lifecycles to deem successful long-term.

What these companies attempt to do with these models, though, is to solve a different problem for their customers while generating a new revenue stream for themselves. They move beyond legacy devices and distribution to target new price points and customers, and even create new audiences. Tribe argued that all orthopaedic companies, regardless of size or position in the supply chain, should introduce alternative business models that match the shifts in healthcare and their own company needs.

Here is why.

The Economic Case

Margins across the medical device sector have been falling for more than a decade, and will continue to erode by about 5% if unaddressed, according to Tribe’s research. Compounding that is the continued negative impact of price pressure, at nearly 3% per year. An average orthopaedic company would need to reduce its cost of goods by 12% or its Selling, General and Administrative expenses by 8%, or some combination of the two, to offset that 3% in price pressure, he says. That pressure is consistent; therefore, companies must get leaner each year.

On a positive note, orthopaedics is a $46 billion industry growing in the low-single-digits year over year, according to ORTHOWORLD’s THE ORTHOPAEDIC INDUSTRY ANNUAL REPORT®. Healthy procedural volumes due to a growing and aging population, and untapped and underserved markets, mean that the industry remains attractive.

 

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FDA Clears Omega3-Rich Fish Skin for Surgical Applications

SEPTEMBER 16, 2016
McClean, VA – (Marketwired – Sept 13, 2016) – Kerecis, the company using Omega3-rich fish skin for tissue healing, has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
to market the proprietary Kerecis technology as a surgical buttress in the United States. The Kerecis Omega3 Secure Mesh can be used in lung, bariatric, gastric, colorectal and other surgeries.
Kerecis Omega3 is intact fish skin rich in naturally occurring Omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The material, which is used to regenerate damaged human tissue, has the potential to accelerate healing, and was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Office of Naval Research.
Surgical staplers are commonly used during laparoscopic operations to simultaneously cut organs and staple the resulting organ wound closed. The Kerecis Omega3 fish-skin product can strengthen the staple line and reduce the possibility of leakage. The Kerecis Omega3 material recruits the body’s cells from the tissue surrounding the organ cut. These cells are incorporated into the fish skin, which is ultimately converted into functional, living tissue. Studies have shown that cells and stem cells proliferate faster in this structure than in mammalian-sourced materials such as pericardium tissue.

“With diabetes and obesity so common today, improved surgical technologies are needed to cope with more stress and tissue mass,” said Fertram Sigurjonsson, CEO, president and chairman of Kerecis Limited. “Our technology can help improve outcomes by reducing the possibility of leakage from surgical wounds. The FDA approval represents an important milestone for us, as we now have two approved products in the world’s largest market for surgical products.”

About Kerecis

Kerecis develops regenerative technologies based on fish skin and Omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The Kerecis technology is patented in the U.S. and multiple other countries. The initial Kerecis product, Kerecis Omega3 Wound, has been approved by the FDA and European regulatory authorities for wound healing. The product has a Medicare “Q” code (Q4158), allowing it to be easily identified and processed by Medicare and private insurance companies. The FDA has also cleared Kerecis Omega3 SecureMesh for surgical use in the United States.

Kerecis Omega3 is produced in Iceland from fish locally harvested in the North Atlantic waters. For more information, visit www.kerecis.com. Distributor and licensing inquiries are welcome.

Source: FDA Clears Omega3-Rich Fish Skin for Surgical Applications

UNYQ Showcases 3D Printed Scoliosis Brace with Embedded Wearable Technology at White House Event Celebrating Inclusive Design, Assistive Technology & Prosthetics

September 15, 2016

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

UNYQ, the San Francisco- and Seville-based pioneer in personalized prosthetics and orthotics, today showcased their new state-of-the-art scoliosis brace, UNYQ Align™, and their personalized prosthetic cover, UNYQ Performance™, at a White House event hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement and Office of Science and Technology Policy. UNYQ Align™ combines 3D-printing and digital design, powered by the Intel® Curie™ module, into a stylish, customized, and lightweight medical device that assists scoliosis sufferers.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here:http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160915006398/en/

For this special White House event, UNYQ teamed up with Studio Bitonti, led by famed designer, Francis Bitonti, to imagine a brand new type of UNYQ Align™ brace. The result is not only fashionable, but, through innovative topology optimization technology, Studio Bitonti and UNYQ were able to reduce the material significantly to create their most breathable and lightweight scoliosis brace yet.

“It was a privilege to collaborate with UNYQ on this solution. These are the kinds of projects designers need to be paying very close attention to,” said Francis Bitonti, CEO of Studio Bitonti. “UNYQ Align™ demonstrates how innovative technologies, designers, and technologists can combine to revolutionize treatment of medical conditions and dramatically improve the lives of the people who rely on assistive devices.”

Around 7 million US citizens suffer from scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that afflicts both young and old. Bracing is the most common treatment for children and teens, with prescribed usage of up to 16-18 hours a day. Traditional braces make it difficult for patients to reach the minimum recommended bracing period per day because they are constricting, bulky and perceived as unattractive.

UNYQ Align™ uses sensors to detect how long a user wears the device, and monitors pressure points to ensure fit and function. A mobile app collects the data for use by clinicians to make adjustments based on empirical data. At 3.5mm thick, the new brace is lightweight and slim enough to wear under a shirt, and comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. These innovations dramatically improve the patient’s experience and impact their willingness to wear the brace.

“We are thrilled to have been invited to feature 2 of our products, UNYQ Performance™ and UNYQ Align™ at the White House Event Celebrating Inclusive Design, Assistive Technology & Prosthetics,” said Eythor Bender, UNYQ CEO and Co-Founder. “I’m continually inspired by people who have overcome personal barriers, and am proud we have developed products that allow them more opportunities to do so.”

The White House event included remarks from administration officials, industry experts, and designers, and featured a fashion show highlighting inclusive creations.

Included in the fashion show:

  • The UNYQ Align™ concept scoliosis brace designed by Studio Bitonti for UNYQ, was modeled by Grace Mosier, a 15-year-old with scoliosis. Grace demonstrated how the tiny, yet powerful embedded Intel Curie™ Module is helping her reach her treatment goals, while its stylish, customized, and lightweight design gives her more confidence and increases her willingness to wear the brace.
  • An example of UNYQ Performance™, personalized prosthetic covers, that empower amputees to celebrate their authenticity in a fashionable way was worn by retired US Marine Corps Sergeant, Kyle Garcia, whose left leg was amputated after suffering a blast injury from an IED during his third deployment in Afghanistan.

UNYQ Align™ will be launched to a limited number of the top clinics in the U.S. in October. The UNYQ Align™ App will be available in the spring of 2017. Sign up for updates at www.unyq.com.

About UNYQ
UNYQ delivers personalized non-invasive orthopedic devices that improve quality of life and celebrate user’s authenticity fashionably. The company employs digitization and 3D printing and cognitive systems to enhance device functionality and democratize access to everyone affordably. To learn more about UNYQ, its Hub Network and complete product lines, visit unyq.com.

About Studio Bitonti
Studio Bitonti creates tools that push ideas into the world. It designs manufacturing processes, products, and software to enable clients to use emerging technologies on a variety of projects with a variety of materials. The studio’s goal is to help clients produce their ideas with the most innovative tools available. Studio Bitonti is based in Brooklyn, NY. More information can be found at studiobitonti.com

About Intel
Intel (INTC) expands the boundaries of technology to make the most amazing experiences possible. Information about Intel can be found at newsroom.intel.com and intel.com.

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Bioventus Launches EXOGEN® Ultrasound Bone Healing System in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

September 19, 2016

HOOFDDORP, The Netherlands–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bioventus, a leader in orthobiologic solutions, today announced the launch of itsEXOGEN Ultrasound Bone Healing System in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. EXOGEN uses safe, effective low-intensity pulsed ultrasound to help stimulate the body’s natural healing process.1 It also has an 86% heal rate for fractures not healing on their own2 and provides 38% faster healing of fresh fractures.3,4 In addition, 89% of patients with high-energy fractures reported healing when treated with EXOGEN.5

“This announcement marks another milestone as Bioventus continues expanding to international markets and growing its global footprint in orthobiologics,” said Tony Bihl, CEO Bioventus. “ZIMMO, which has more than 40 years of experience serving the healthcare sector in the region, is working with us to distribute EXOGEN.”

“Earlier this spring a team from Bioventus that included representatives from sales and marketing and medical science experts and consultant, visited Riyadh and Jeddah and, trained more than 30 surgeons and key opinion leaders on how to use EXOGEN with patients for both fresh fractures and non-unions,” said Andrew Hosmer, Managing Director International, for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Bioventus. “In addition, this move further grows our relationship with ZIMMO as the company also distributes DUROLANE®, our single injection hyaluronic acid osteoarthritis product.”

EXOGEN is available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia now and more information can be found at www.exogen.com.

About Bioventus

Bioventus is an orthobiologics company that delivers clinically proven, cost-effective products that help people heal quickly and safely. Its mission is to make a difference by helping patients resume and enjoy active lives. Bioventus has two product portfolios for orthobiologics, Bioventus Active Healing Therapies and Bioventus Surgical that make it a global leader in active orthopaedic healing. Built on a commitment to high quality standards, evidence-based medicine and strong ethical behavior, Bioventus is a trusted partner for physicians worldwide.

For more information, visit www.BioventusGlobal.com and follow the company on Twitter @Bioventusglobal.

Bioventus, the Bioventus logo and EXOGEN are registered trademarks of Bioventus LLC. DUROLANE is a registered trademark of Galderma.

EXOGEN – Indications for use in the Middle East.

EXOGEN Ultrasound Bone Healing System is indicated for the non-invasive treatment of osseous defects (excluding vertebra and skull) that includes:

• Treatment of delayed unions and non-unions

• Accelerating the time to heal of fresh fractures

• Treatment of stress fractures

• Accelerating repair following osteotomy

• Accelerating repair in bone transport procedures

• Accelerating repair in distraction osteogenesis procedures

• Treatment of joint fusion

A non-union is considered to be established when the fracture site shows no visibly progressive signs of healing.

There are no known contraindications to the use of EXOGEN.

1. Azuma Y, Ito M, Harada Y, Takagi H, Ohta T, Jingushi S. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound accelerates rat femoral fracture healing by acting on the various cellular reactions in the fracture callus. J Bone Miner Res. 2001; 16(4):671-680.

2. Nolte PA, van der Krans A, Patka P, Janssen IM, Ryaby JP, Albers GH Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in the treatment of non-unions.J Trauma. 2001; 51(4):693−703.

3. Heckman JD, Ryaby JP, McCabe J, Frey JJ, Kilcoyne RF Acceleration of tibial fracture-healing by non-invasive, low intensity pulsed ultrasound. J Bone Joint Surge [Am].

1994; 76(1):26−34.

4. Kristiansen TK, Ryaby JP, McCabe J, Frey JJ, Roe LR Accelerated healing of distal radial fractures with the use of specific, low-intensity ultrasound. A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. 1997; 79(7):961−973.

5. Lerner A, Stein H, Soudry M. Compound high-energy limb fractures with delayed union: our experience with adjuvant ultrasound stimulation (EXOGEN). Ultrasonics. 2004; 42(1):915-917.

Contacts

Bioventus
Media Contacts:
Thomas Hill
+1 919-474-6715
thomas.hill@bioventusglobal.com
or
Berdine Vonk
+31 (0)23 554 88 14
berdine.vonk@bioventusglobal.com

Troubled hospital giant CHS looking to sell its business

By Dave Barkholz  | September 16, 2016

Troubled Community Health Systems is considering selling its entire business, according to various reports Friday.

Quoting anonymous sources “with knowledge of the matter,” Bloomberg said hospital giant CHS had enlisted advisers to consider options. Deliberations are in the early stages and there is no certainty of a deal, according to reports.

CHS’s battered stock price surged on the rumors, closing up 16% Friday to $12.27 per share.

CHS spokeswoman Tomi Galen said CHS does not comment on rumors.

Earlier this month, Modern Healthcare reported that CHS plans to sell more than the 12 hospitals it has for sale, quoting CFO Larry Cash speaking at the Wells Fargo Securities Healthcare Conference in Boston.

Cash said they are getting interest in additional hospitals. And after examining its portfolio of 159 hospitals, it likely will see “other transactions” before the end of the year, he said.

 

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ApiFix® Ltd. Reaches 100-Patient Milestone with the Expansion of European Clinical Sites to Treat Children and Adolescents who have Scoliosis with its Minimally Invasive, Non-Fusion Device

CHARLESTON, S.C. and MISGAV, Israel, Sept. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — ApiFix, Ltd. announced today that the company’s ApiFix® system has now been used to correct scoliosis in 100 patients with a first case at the PAUL GERHARDT DIAKONIE hospital in Berlin, Germany. The 100th case was Dr. Miguel Alquiza’s first time implanting the ApiFix system. It took about an hour with excellent results, leaving the surgical team enthusiastic about the device.

The ApiFix system is a minimally invasive, fusionless spinal implant system for the correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). Traditional surgical correction is a highly invasive procedure involving fusion which results in a rigid spine, compared to the ApiFix system which can be implanted with a minimally invasive procedure, does not require fusion, and retains flexibility of the spine.

ApiFix has opened new European clinical centers in Italy, Germanyand France in the first half of 2016. PAUL GERHARDT DIAKONIE hospital in Berlin is one of the newest German centers that has started twork with the ApiFix system.  The 100 patient clinical experience in Europe and Israel now includes twelve sites in nine countries, with the earliest patients being over four years out post operatively and excellent results overall. The Company expects to double the number of cases by the end of 2017.

ApiFix’s US based Chairman, Ted Bird commented, “I am very happy with the progress being made by the ApiFix team in managing the controlled clinical release in Europe and Israel since receiving a CE Mark in December, 2012. The company has also made great progress on preparing a submission to the FDA for a Humanitarian Device Exemption, (HDE) clearance in the US after receiving approval from the agency for this pathway last year.”

Apifix Principals will attend the annual meeting of the Scoliosis Research Society, (SRS) in Prague, Czech Republic onSeptember 21-23 to present the ApiFix system, clinical cases and their follow-up to potential users from all over the world.

Contact:  Saar Wollach, ApiFix Sales & Marketing Manager, +972-54-4511512, Email

SOURCE ApiFix

Related Links

http://www.apifix.com

 

HHS takes steps to provide more information about clinical trials to the public

Friday, September 16, 2016

 

In an effort to make information about clinical trials widely available to the public, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today issued a final rule(link is external) that specifies requirements for registering certain clinical trials and submitting summary results information to ClinicalTrials.gov. The new rule expands the legal requirements for submitting registration and results information for clinical trials involving U.S. Food and Drug Administration-regulated drug, biological and device products. At the same time, the National Institutes of Health has issued a complementary policy(link is external) for registering and submitting summary results information to ClinicalTrials.gov for all NIH-funded trials, including those not subject to the final rule.

“Access to more information about clinical trials is good for patients, the public and science,” said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. “The final rule and NIH policy we have issued today will help maximize the value of clinical trials, whether publicly or privately supported, and help us honor our commitments to trial participants, who do so much to help society advance knowledge and improve health.”

Clinical trials are vital to medical advances because they test new and existing health-related interventions, helping us understand whether they are safe and effective in humans when used as intended. Some clinical trials provide information about which medical treatments work best for certain illnesses or certain groups of people.

Expanding the registration information in ClinicalTrials.gov improves people’s ability to find clinical trials in which they may be able to participate and access investigational therapies. More information about the scientific results of trials, whether positive or negative, may help inform healthcare providers and patients regarding medical decisions. Additional information will help researchers avoid unnecessary duplication of studies, focus on areas in need of study and improve study designs, ultimately advancing the development of clinical interventions.

Requirements under the final rule apply to most interventional studies of drug, biological and device products that are regulated by the FDA. The requirements do not apply to phase 1 trials of drug and biological products, or small feasibility studies of device products. The final rule specifies how and when information collected in a clinical trial must be submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov. It does not dictate how clinical trials should be designed or conducted, or what data must be collected.

“When people participate in clinical trials, they are volunteering to create generalizable knowledge to help others in the future and we want their participation honored by ensuring that the existence of trials and their results are available to all patients and their healthcare providers, as well as researchers,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “The FDA will help ensure compliance with these new requirements so that patients and providers can have confidence in and access to significantly more clinical trial information, and researchers can improve clinical trial focus and design.”

The final rule was informed by nearly 900 comments received during the public comment period on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the National Library of Medicine’s many years of experience with managing and operating ClinicalTrials.gov. Important elements of the final rule include:

  • Providing a checklist for evaluating which clinical trials are subject to the regulations and who is responsible for submitting required information;
  • Expanding the scope of trials for which summary results information must be submitted to include trials involving FDA-regulated products that have not yet been approved, licensed, or cleared by the FDA;
  • Requiring additional registration and summary results information data elements to be submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov, including the race and ethnicity of trial participants, if collected, and the full protocol;
  • Requiring additional types of adverse event information; and
  • Providing a list of potential legal consequences for non-compliance.

Learn more about these changes in the related links in the right-hand sidebar to this release.

The NIH policy applies to all NIH-funded trials, including phase 1 clinical trials of FDA-regulated products and small feasibility device trials as well as products that are not regulated by the FDA, such as behavioral interventions.

HHS values the public’s participation in clinical trials and the knowledge gained by their participation; considers it an obligation to support the maximal use of this knowledge for the greatest benefit to human health; and strongly supports sharing of clinical trial summary data to allow the broader scientific research community to use and build upon clinical trial findings.

The Office of the Director is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director.

About the National Library of Medicine (NLM): The world’s largest biomedical library, NLM maintains and makes available a vast print collection and produces electronic information resources on a wide range of topics that are searched billions of times each year by millions of people around the globe. It also supports and conducts research, development, and training in biomedical informatics and health information technology. Additional information is available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

Amplitude Surgical: Acquisition of the Remaining Minority Interests (40%) in the Brazilian Subsidiary

September 16, 2016

VALENCE, France–(BUSINESS WIRE)

Amplitude Surgical (Paris:AMPLI) (ISIN: FR0012789667, Ticker: AMPLI, PEA-PME eligible), a leading French player on the global surgical technology market for lower-limb orthopedics, announces the acquisition of the remaining minority interests (40%) in its Brazilian subsidiary.

Olivier Jallabert, Chairman and CEO of Amplitude Surgical, says: “On such a major and high-potential market as Brazil, we now totally control our distribution subsidiary. In Brazil, where Amplitude Surgical has been established since 2014 (and present – via a distributor – since 2006), this transaction should enable us to continue the particularly buoyant growth we have been recording in that country, over 30% in local currency in FY 2015-16, and thus to carry on benefiting from the considerable potential of this market, which already accounts for almost 10% of the Group’s sales.

After acquiring a 50% stake in Unimplant, its historic distributor in Brazil, in February 2014 and an additional 10% stake in April 2015, Amplitude Surgical recently increased its stake in its subsidiary to 100% by exercising its call option on the remaining (40%) minority interests.

This latter operation, for approximately €4.1 million, significantly benefited from the Brazilian real’s weakness compared with the euro, as the stake’s value was booked as €4.4 million at the end of December 2015 and €6.6 million at June 30, 2015.

Next financial press release: 2015-16 annual results, on Thursday October 6, 2016, after market.

About Amplitude Surgical
Founded in 1997 in Valence, France, Amplitude Surgical is a leading French player on the global surgical technology market for lower-limb orthopedics. Amplitude Surgical develops and markets high-end products for orthopedic surgery covering the main disorders affecting the hip, knee and extremities, and notably foot and ankle surgery. Amplitude Surgical develops, in close collaboration with surgeons, numerous high value-added innovations in order to best meet the needs of patients, surgeons and healthcare facilities. A leading player in France, Amplitude Surgical is developing abroad through its subsidiaries and a network of exclusive distributors and agents. Amplitude Surgical operates on the lower-limb market through the intermediary of its Novastep subsidiaries in France and the United States. Amplitude Surgical distributes its products in more than 30 countries. As of June 30, 2016, Amplitude Surgical had a workforce of almost 290 staff and recorded sales of over 80 million euros.

Contacts

Amplitude Surgical
Philippe Garcia, +33 (0)4 75 41 87 41
CFO
philippe.garcia@amplitude-ortho.com
or
NewCap
Investor Relations
Marc Willaume, +33 (0)1 44 71 00 13
amplitude@newcap.eu
or
NewCap
Media Relations
Nicolas Merigeau, +33 (0)1 44 71 98 55
amplitude@newcap.eu

Smith & Nephew retains membership of World Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for fourteenth consecutive year

16 September 2016

Smith & Nephew (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business, is proud to announce that it has retained its position as an index component on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

Since 1999, the DJSI tracks the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide based on an analysis of financially relevant economic, environmental, and social factors. Smith & Nephew is included in both the 2016 DJSI World and DJSI Europe Indices. Smith & Nephew has now been a member of DJSI World since 2002 and a member of DJSI Europe since 2001.

In the Healthcare Equipment and Supplies sector, Smith & Nephew is one of only seven members of the DJSI World Index and one of just three members for DJSI Europe. Smith & Nephew scored highly in Climate Strategy, Occupational Health and Safety, Social Reporting and was awarded a perfect score in the Environmental Reporting category, illustrating the company’s continued excellence in sustainable operations.

Olivier Bohuon, Chief Executive Officer of Smith & Nephew, said:

“We are firmly committed to making a meaningful contribution across all three pillars of sustainability – social, environmental and economic. Our emphasis is on delivering positive outcomes that advance the long-term prospects for our business everywhere we operate. We will continue to strive to be a responsible business that sets an example for others. ”

Media

Charles Reynolds, Corporate Communications
Smith & Nephew
+44 (0)20 7401 7646

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping healthcare professionals improve people’s lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management,Sports Medicine and Trauma & Extremities, Smith & Nephew has around 15,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Annual sales in 2015 were more than $4.6 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN).

For more information about Smith & Nephew, follow @SmithNephewplc on Twitter or visit SmithNephewplc on Facebook.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as “aim”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “well-placed”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “consider” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith & Nephew, these factors include: economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting health care providers, payers and customers; price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls or other problems with quality management systems or failure to comply with related regulations; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; disruption to our supply chain or operations or those of our suppliers; competition for qualified personnel; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, our success in performing due diligence, valuing and integrating acquired businesses; disruption that may result from transactions or other changes we make in our business plans or organisation to adapt to market developments; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or reputational nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors. Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith & Nephew’s expectations.  

Histogenics Corporation Announces $30.0 Million Private Placement

WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Histogenics Corporation (Histogenics) (Nasdaq:HSGX), a regenerative medicine company focused on developing and commercializing products in the musculoskeletal space, today announced that it has entered into a definitive securities purchase agreement to raise approximately $30.0 million in a private placement of common stock, Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants exercisable for common stock.  The private placement is being led by new healthcare dedicated institutional investors, with participation by certain existing investors.

Histogenics expects to use the net proceeds from the private placement to support the development of NeoCart®, its novel cartilage repair therapy, including the completion of the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial, and for general corporate and working capital purposes.  Upon the closing of the private placement, Histogenics expects the proceeds raised in the offering along with its existing cash resources to last through the middle of 2018.  Based on Histogenics’ current plans, enrollment in the NeoCart Phase 3 clinical trial will be completed in the second quarter of 2017, with topline data on its 1-year primary efficacy endpoint available by the middle of 2018.

Pursuant to the terms of the securities purchase agreement, Histogenics has agreed to sell 2,653,553 shares of common stock at a price of $2.25 per share and 24,158.8688 shares of newly created Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, which shares of preferred stock are convertible into approximately 10,679,781 shares of common stock.  Purchasers will receive warrants to purchase up to approximately 13,333,334 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.25 per share.  The warrants will be exercisable following approval of the private placement byHistogenics stockholders and will expire 5 years from the date of such stockholder approval.  The closing of the offering is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Affiliates of certain members of Histogenics’ Board of Directors agreed to purchase an aggregate of 283,045 shares of common stock and 2,563.1451 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in the private placement and will receive warrants to purchase up to 1,422,221 shares of Histogenics’ common stock at an exercise price of $2.25 per share.

H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC served as the sole placement agent in connection with this offering.

The securities to be sold in the private placement will not have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or state securities laws as of the time of issuance and may not be offered or sold in the United Statesabsent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.  Histogenics has agreed to file one or more registration statements with the SECregistering the resale of the shares of common stock purchased in the private placement and the shares of common stock underlying the warrants and issuable upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Histogenics Corporation

Histogenics is a leading regenerative medicine company developing and commercializing products in the musculoskeletal segment of the marketplace.  Histogenics’ regenerative medicine platform combines expertise in cell processing, scaffolding, tissue engineering, bioadhesives and growth factors to provide solutions to treat musculoskeletal-related conditions.  Histogenics’ first investigational product candidate, NeoCart®, is currently in Phase 3 clinical development.  NeoCart is an autologous cell therapy designed to treat cartilage defects in the knee using the patient’s own cells.  Knee cartilage defects represent a significant opportunity in the United States, with an estimated 500,000 or more applicable procedures each year.  NeoCart is designed to exhibit characteristics of articular, hyaline cartilage prior to and upon implantation into the knee and therefore does not rely on the body to make new cartilage, characteristics not exhibited in other current treatment options.  For more information, please visit www.histogenics.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Various statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” under the securities laws.  Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “expect,” “estimate,” “design,” “goal,”  “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “likely,” “should,” “will,” and “would,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions or words, identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the Company’s forward-looking statements include, among others:  the expected closing and closing date of the offering and the use of proceeds of the offering and other factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Histogenics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, which are on file with the SEC and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition to the risks described above and in Histogenics’ annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect Histogenics’ results.

There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Histogenics will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Histogenics.  Therefore, no assurance can be given that the outcomes stated in such forward-looking statements and estimates will be achieved.

All written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to Histogenics or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein.  Histogenicscautions investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements Histogenics makes or that are made on its behalf.  The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Histogenics undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

 

Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (781) 547-7909

InvestorRelations@histogenics.com

Histogenics Corporation