Attila Poka, MD, Joins CoNextions Medical as Chief Medical Officer

SANDY, Utah, Sept. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — CoNextions Medical (www.conextionsmed.com) has announced that Attila Poka, one of the most experienced and internationally known surgeons in Orthopaedic Trauma, has joined CoNextions Medical as CoNextions Medical’s Chief Medical Officer beginning September 1st, 2016.  Dr. Poka was previously Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio and Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Trauma of Ohio University.  Prior to moving to Columbus, Ohio in 1993, Dr. Poka held numerous appointments while at Shock Trauma Center/MIEMSS, in Baltimore, Maryland.  Dr. Poka has a very strong background in educating health care providers both as faculty at universities and as a consultant to multiple international medical companies.  Dr. Poka has given hundreds of educational presentations at medical conferences worldwide, hundreds of book chapters and peer reviewed journal articles, and is widely regarded as a legend in orthopaedic surgery and at Shock Trauma.

In his role as Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Poka will lead CoNextions Medical in its development and practice of clinical education and training for physicians and distributors, oversee clinical research collaboration and educational grants, work with physical therapists in recovery protocols, support sales and marketing programs, and help guide product development initiatives to further improve and expand CoNextions Medical’s products.

“We are honored to announce the hiring of Dr. Poka, who I know will bring his focus and passion for excellence in patient care to CoNextions Medical above all else.  Dr. Poka is an intensely disciplined, yet caring physician who demands the best in quality and will ensure that the focus of CoNextions Medical will continuously remain on providing the best care and outcomes for patients,” said Dan Gruppo, Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing.

Richard J Linder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of CoNextions Medical, said, “Dr. Poka brings us the critical perspective of a tremendous health care provider and patient advocate.”  Mr. Linder further stated, “Dr. Poka’s first-hand experience in caring for injured patients will be invaluable as we maintain our focus on the achievement of our mission to dramatically improve patient outcomes, reduce surgical complications, improve the quality of life for patients, and improve the health economics of tendon repair worldwide.”

Dr. Poka said, “I am honored to move into the next chapter of my career where I have the opportunity to participate in the development, marketing, and sales of a pioneer product which we hope will provide a better means to repair tendons and provide reliable and more consistent patient outcomes.”

About CoNextions Medical

Founded in 2011, CoNextions Medical is a privately-held company located in Sandy, Utah. They are an innovation-based medical device company dedicated to achieving safer, stronger, and more durable tendon repairs worldwide marked by faster rehabilitation, fewer complications, and lower long-term costs.

SOURCE CoNextions Medical

Related Links

http://www.conextionsmed.com

Interventional Orthopedics Foundation Announces Fellowship Grants

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Sept. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — As part of its commitment to furthering the quality of education in the field of interventional orthopedics, the Interventional Orthopedics Foundation is proud to announce that it has awarded two prestigious universities and medical centers in the United States for the 2016-2017 academic year. The grants were awarded through the Foundation and provided a total of $75,000 to recipients for the placement of clinical PM&R Fellows.

Award recipients are Emory University Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia and Stanford University PM&R Sports Medicine Fellowship in Redwood City, California.

These programs demonstrate a comprehensive curriculum that fits well with the IOF’s mission to expand the reach of regenerative interventional orthopedics. Fellows in these programs have the opportunity to acquire significant hands-on spine and peripheral joint ultrasound and fluoroscopy training focused on Interventional Orthopedics—by utilizing more invasive and technically advanced stem cell therapies.” said Nancy Ho, Executive Director for Interventional Orthopedics Foundation.

About the Interventional Orthopedics Foundation

The Interventional Orthopedics Foundation (www.interventionalorthopedics.org) was created as a not-for-profit (501)C(3) organization on January 27, 2015.  The Foundation’s primary function is to educate and serve as a resource to physicians and the public who seek to understand the growing field of interventional orthopedics, which includes the development and availability of regenerative medicine therapies. 

Each application is reviewed by IOF’s Grant Review Committee. Two nationally recognized universities and medical centers were selected to receive one of the 2016 PM&R Clinical Fellowship grants based on a comprehensive application process, focusing on each institution’s specific clinical and research programs that target the specific needs of the local community.

Media contact:  
Dave Klein  
Email  
303-800-6467

SOURCE Interventional Orthopedics Foundation

Related Links

http://www.interventionalorthopedics.org

Should your ASC bundle? Dr. Randolph Bishop on navigating a spine program

Bundled payment programs are receiving a lot of buzz in the value-based arena, but developing a bundled product is no straightforward task.

Before surging ahead into a bundled payment program, ambulatory surgery centers should first decide whether its surgeons and facility can perform the desired service at a competitive market price. Consider whether the ASC has the ability to operate the business with the margin generated by government payers.

Once an ASC understands its capabilities, it can build a bundled spine surgery product by calculating an accurate facility cost combined with the surgeon payment.

“The goal would be for the facility and surgeon to assume the risk of the episode of care and therefore should cover all aspects of the surgery with the exception of indirect complications,” says Randolph Bishop, MD, MBA, a neurosurgeon at Neurological Institute of Savannah (Ga.).

Certain ASCs pose as superb candidates for bundled payment programs. Surgeon-owned centers and centers specializing in spine are especially groomed for bundled payments.

 

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Stem cell company paid $443,500 to former head of state agency that funds research

By DAVID JENSEN – September 1, 2016

The former president of the $3 billion California stem cell agency received $443,500 in total compensation from the Bay Area stem cell company that appointed him to its board of directors only seven days after he left his state post.

The stock and cash were provided over a two-year period to Alan Trounson by Newark-based StemCells Inc., a firm that was awarded more than $40 million in funding while Trounson headed the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, as the state stem cell agency is formally known.

In 2014, when Trounson served less than six months on the StemCells Inc. board, his total compensation was more than double that of any other board member.

The surprise appointment of Trounson almost immediately after he left CIRM in 2014 generated allegations of conflict of interest. The size of Trounson’s total compensation, however, was not available at that time.

Conflict-of-interest allegations have dogged the agency since it was created in 2004 by California voters to use state bond proceeds to finance stem cell research.

In 2008, the respected scientific journal Nature warned about “cronyism” at the agency. In 2012, the Institute of Medicine, a division of the National Academies of Sciences, recommended in a $700,000 study commissioned by CIRM that the stem cell agency make sweeping changes to reduce the possibility of such conflicts.

Speaking about the agency’s board, Harold Shapiro, chairman of the Institute of Medicine team, told the Los Angeles Times, “They make proposals to themselves, essentially, regarding what should be funded.”

The agency made some changes to deal with conflict questions but resisted the institute’s far-reaching proposals.

The latest news prompted John Simpson, who has followed the stem cell agency for Consumer Watchdog of Santa Monica, to say in an email, “Trounson’s joining the StemCells Inc. board a mere seven days after quitting as CIRM’s president at the time smacked of being a payback for a job well done on behalf of the company when he should have been looking out for the taxpayers’ money and interests. It was a blatant conflict that undermined the agency’s credibility. Now we know his price tag.”

In 2014, the stem cell agency said its “limited” investigation showed that no violation of law occurred. At the time, CIRM Chairman Jonathan Thomas described the issue as a “perception” problem.

 

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Medtronic, Zimmer Biomet Enter 2-level Cervical Disc and Robotic Markets

September 1, 2016 – By  Carolyn LaWell

Disc Replacement

Zimmer Biomet’s $1 billion acquisition of LDR and its Mobi-C cervical disc assets and Medtronic’s FDA Premarket Approval for the Prestige LP 2-level application changed the game in the U.S. 2-level cervical disc replacement arena.

Mobi-C had been the only 2-level disc approved on the U.S. market. Prior to Zimmer Biomet’s purchase of the technology, LDR was able to expand reimbursement coverage, update label claims and publish peer-reviewed papers that resulted in Mobi-C’s sales growth, which increased 80% in 2015 vs. 2014.

Further, in April 2016, LDR reported that Mobi-C had surpassed $100 million in cumulative U.S. revenue since its 2013 launch. Half of the Mobi-C units sold address 1-level indications and half are for 2-level indications.

The acquisition of LDR allows Zimmer Biomet to increase its share of the worldwide spine market from 4% to 5%, according to ORTHOWORLD estimates. While the purchase also expands Zimmer Biomet’s traditional cervical and lumbar offerings, Mobi-C is presumably the technology that attracted Zimmer Biomet to LDR, primarily.

Medtronic’s entry into the 2-level market is expected to put competitive pressure on Zimmer Biomet’s purchase. The 2-level discs will be sold in a small market that faces a lack of reimbursement, compared to 1-level discs and fusion. To dive into specifics, >50 million lives are covered for Mobi-C’s 2-level procedure. The total artificial disc market is expected to reach ~$275 million in 2016, according to estimates in the ORTHOWORLD report, Cervical and Lumbar Artificial Disc Profiles.

 

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Vexim: Amendment of the financial agenda for 2016

Toulouse, September 2, 2016 –VEXIM (FR0011072602 – ALVXM / PEA‐PME), a medical device company specializing in the minimally invasive treatment of vertebral fractures, will announce its 2016 Half-Year Results on Tuesday, 20 September, 2016 – after the market close.

The other dates announced on the original schedule remain unchanged:

ANNOUNCEMENT                                                            DATE*

2016 Half-Year Results                                          Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Q3 2016 Sales                                                          Thursday, October 13, 2016

* Subject to modification. Press releases are distributed either before the financial markets opening, or after the closure

About VEXIM, the innovative back microsurgery specialist Based in Balma, near Toulouse (France), VEXIM is a medical device company created in February 2006. The company has specialized in the creation and marketing of minimally-invasive solutions for treating traumatic spinal pathologies. Benefitting from the financial support of it longstanding shareholder, Truffle Capital1 and from BPI public subsidies, VEXIM has designed and developed the SpineJack®, a unique implant capable of repairing a fractured vertebra and restoring the balance of the spinal column. The company also developed the MasterflowTM, an innovative solution for mixing and injecting orthopedic cement that enhances the accuracy of the injection and optimizes the overall surgical procedure. The company counts 62 employees, including its own sales teams in Europe and a network of international distributors. VEXIM has been listed on Alternext Paris since May 2012. For further information, please visit www.vexim.com

SpineJack® 2 , a revolutionary implant for treating Vertebral Fractures The revolutionary aspect of the SpineJack® lies in its ability to restore a fractured vertebra to its original shape, restore the spinal column’s optimal anatomy and thus remove pain and enable the patient to recover their functional capabilities. Thanks to a specialized range of instruments, inserting the implants into the vertebra is carried out by minimally-invasive surgery, guided by X-ray, in approximately 30 minutes, enabling the patient to be discharged shortly after surgery. The SpineJack® range consists of 3 titanium implants with 3 different diameters, thus covering 95% of vertebral fractures and all patient morphologies. SpineJack® technology benefits from the support of international scientific experts in the field of spinal surgery and worldwide patent protection through to 2029.

MasterflowTM 2 , a high-performance orthopedic cement delivery system The MasterflowTM is an innovative solution for mixing and injecting orthopedic cement that enhances the accuracy of the injection and optimizes the overall surgical procedure for treating vertebral compression fractures. The device provides a better control of the injection of biomaterials into the spine. A complement of the SpineJack®, the MasterflowTM stands out for being both easy to use and precise, particularly in its ability to stop the cement delivery instantly without inertia. The MasterflowTM contributes to reducing pain in patients. Its first sales were recorded in the U.S. in February 2015, and the system has also received the CE marking in February 2015, a mandatory conformity mark for products marketed in Europe.

 

1 Founded in 2001 in Paris, Truffle Capital is a leading independent European private equity firm. It is dedicated to investing in and building technology leaders in the IT, life sciences and energy sectors. Truffle Capital manages €550m via FCPRs and FCPIs, the latter offering tax rebates (funds are blocked during 7 to 10 years). For further information, please visit www.truffle.fr and www.fcpi.fr.

2 This medical device is a regulated health product that, with regard to these regulations, bears the CE mark. Please refer to the Instructions for Use.

CONTACTS

VEXIM Vincent Gardès CEO investisseur@vexim.com Tél. : +33 5 61 48 48 38

PRESS

ALIZE RP Caroline Carmagnol / Wendy Rigal vexim@alizerp.com Tél. : +33 1 44 54 36 66 Tél. : +33 6 48 82 18 94

Businessman William Parfet resigns from Stryker Corp. Board of Directors

By Al Jones – September 2, 2016

KALAMAZOO, MI – William U. Parfet unceremoniously resigned Wednesday from the Stryker Corp. Board of Directors and the company is not saying why.

Parfet, 69, was among the longest-tenured members of the board, which works on behalf of company stockholders to establish corporate policies, to provide oversight and guidance to the company’s top management, and to make decisions on major corporate issues. Parfet joined the board in 1993.

“On Aug. 31, 2016, William Parfet resigned as a director of Stryker Corp. effective immediately,” the Kalamazoo-based company stated in an email response to questions about the resignation.

Asked why he was resigning, Jenny Braga, senior manager of communications for Stryker, stated in an email that the company had no further comments on the matter.

The board continues with eight members.

In a regulatory filing, Monsanto Co. stated that Parfet also resigned Wednesday from that company’s board. Monsanto is a Missouri-based provider of agricultural products intended to improve farm productivity.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported online that Monsanto disclosed Parfet’s resignation in a regulatory filing but did not give a reason for his departure. Parfet had been a member of that board for 16 years.

 

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MiMedx Announces Nationwide Launch of AmnioFill™

MARIETTA, Ga., Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — MiMedx Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDXG), the leading regenerative medicine company utilizing human amniotic tissue and patent-protected processes to develop and market advanced products and therapies for the Wound Care, Surgical, Orthopedic, Spine, Sports Medicine, Ophthalmic, and Dental sectors of healthcare, announced today its plans for the nationwide launch of AmnioFill™, the first product in the MiMedx placental collagen matrix product family to be commercially launched.

Physicians are in need of a product to treat larger acute and chronic wounds encountered in the surgical setting. Slated for nationwide release later this month, AmnioFill is being offered in multiple sizes and configurations to address this and other surgical needs.

AmnioFill is a collagenous matrix derived from the placenta and comprised of placental extracellular matrix (ECM) tissue. AmnioFill is a tissue allograft containing ECM proteins, growth factors, cytokines and other specialty proteins present in placental tissue. Over 226 growth factors, cytokines and chemokines, including important modulators of inflammation and factors critically important in wound healing, are contained in the AmnioFill placental tissue. MiMedx employs terminal sterilization in addition to aseptic processing techniques in its proprietary processing methodology to enhance the safety of AmnioFill and its other amniotic and placental products.

Parker H. “Pete” Petit, Chairman and CEO, said, “AmnioFill will be a great addition to our product lines, addressing the needs of both Wound Care and Surgical markets. For example, we expect that AmnioFill will be an ideal solution for physicians in the treatment of dehisced surgical wounds and other deep complex and hard-to-heal surgical wounds that require a connective tissue matrix to replace or supplement damaged or inadequate integumental tissue.”

Christopher M. Cashman, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercialization Officer, commented, “The historical costs to treat these types of wounds are significant, and the quality of life issues of non-resolved wounds of this nature can be devastating.  There were 53 million outpatient procedures performed in the United States in 2010. Despite advances in preoperative care, the rate of surgical wound dehiscence has not decreased in recent years with 1% to 3% of patients experiencing wound dehiscence. For example, breast reconstruction incisional dehiscence rates range from 10% to 15% in a setting with radiation therapy and abdominal wall surgical dehiscences have a mortality rate as high as 45%.”

Bill Taylor, President and COO, stated, “Our published scientific studies have demonstrated that our dehydrated Human Amnion/Chorion Membrane (dHACM) allografts cause stem cells to migrate and proliferate. Moreover, these scientific studies also demonstrated our dHACM allografts promote angiogenesis. Multiple clinical studies have confirmed that stem cell migration, proliferation and recruitment as well as angiogenesis are essential in wound healing.”

Cashman added, “AmnioFill is designed to provide a scaffold for recruited cells to attach, populate and proliferate. The placental tissues in the scaffold should modulate the activity of the recruited cells to generate new tissue for these larger acute and chronic surgical wounds. When used earlier in the treatment of these complex wounds, we believe AmnioFill becomes an even more cost effective approach as a step therapy for wound closure.”

About MiMedx

MiMedx® is an integrated developer, processor and marketer of patent protected and proprietary regenerative biomaterial products and bioimplants processed from human amniotic membrane and other birth tissues and human skin and bone.  “Innovations in Regenerative Biomaterials” is the framework behind our mission to give physicians products and tissues to help the body heal itself.  The MiMedx allograft product families include our: dHACM family with AmnioFix®, EpiFix® and EpiBurn® brands; Amniotic Fluid family with OrthoFlo brand; Umbilical family with EpiCord™ and AmnioCord™ brands; Placental Collagen family with CollaFix™ and AmnioFill™ brands; Bone family with Physio® brand; and Skin family with AlloBurn™ brand. AmnioFix,  EpiFix, and EpiBurn are our tissue technologies processed from human amniotic membrane; OrthoFlo is an amniotic fluid derived allograft;  EpiCord™ and AmnioCord™ are derived from the umbilical cord; Physio is a unique bone grafting material comprised of 100% bone tissue with no added carrier; AlloBurn is a skin product derived from human skin designed for the treatment of burns; and  CollaFix, our next brand we plan to commercialize, is our collagen fiber technology, developed with our patented cross-linking polymers, designed to mimic the natural composition, structure and mechanical properties of musculoskeletal tissues in order to augment their repair.

We process the human amniotic membrane utilizing our proprietary PURION® Process, to produce a safe and effective implant. MiMedx proprietary processing methodology employs aseptic processing techniques in addition to terminal sterilization.  MiMedx is the leading supplier of amniotic tissue, having supplied over 700,000 allografts to date for application in the Wound Care, Burn, Surgical, Orthopedic, Spine, Sports Medicine, Ophthalmic and Dental sectors of healthcare.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes statements that look forward in time or that express management’s beliefs, expectations or hopes. Such statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to the Company’s belief that AmnioFill will be a great addition to its product lines, addressing the needs of both wound care and surgical markets; that AmnioFill will be an ideal solution for physicians in the treatment of dehisced surgical wounds and other deep complex and hard-to-heal surgical wounds that require a connective tissue matrix to replace or supplement damages or inadequate integumental tissue; and that, when used earlier in the treatment of complex wounds, AmnioFill becomes an even more cost effective approach as a step therapy for wound closure. Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include that demand for, and acceptance of, any new product by the medical community may not be as expected; factors such as third party reimbursement may impact physician use of product; AmnioFill may not be used as anticipated or perform as anticipated in the clinical setting; AmnioFill may  not be as cost effective as anticipated, and the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, without limitation, its 10-K filing for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and its most recent 10Q filing. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company does not undertake to update them in any manner except as may be required by the Company’s disclosure obligations in filings it makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the federal securities laws.

SOURCE MiMedx Group, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.mimedx.com

Zimmer Biomet Holdings to Present at INVESTIndiana Equity Conference

WARSAW, Ind., Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SIX: ZBH), a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare, announced that it will be participating in the INVESTIndiana Equity Conference at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 1:10 p.m. Eastern Time.

A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed via Zimmer Biomet’s Investor Relations website athttp://investor.zimmerbiomet.com.

About Zimmer Biomet
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer Biomet is a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare. We design, manufacture and market orthopaedic reconstructive products; sports medicine, biologics, extremities and trauma products; spine, bone healing, craniomaxillofacial and thoracic products; dental implants; and related surgical products.

We collaborate with healthcare professionals around the globe to advance the pace of innovation. Our products and solutions help treat patients suffering from disorders of, or injuries to, bones, joints or supporting soft tissues. Together with healthcare professionals, we help millions of people live better lives.

We have operations in more than 25 countries around the world and sell products in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.zimmerbiomet.com or follow Zimmer Biomet on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zimmerbiomet.

About INVESTIndiana
Since 2008, the INVESTIndiana Equity Conference has given professional investors and fund managers an opportunity to interact with leading Indiana public companies.  The event features CEOs, CFOs and corporate leaders discussing important trends and their strategies to grow their companies.

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SOURCE Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.zimmerbiomet.com

Stryker’s Endoscopy division acquires Ivy Sports Medicine

KALAMAZOO, Michigan, USA, Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Stryker’s Endoscopy division announced today it has acquired Ivy Sports Medicine, LLC, whose portfolio is comprised of a comprehensive minimally invasive meniscal repair platform. The addition of Ivy Sports Medicine’s portfolio enables Stryker to provide customers with a complete meniscal platform to better serve their patients.

The portfolio includes the only FDA-approved collagen meniscus implant (CMI®) on the market, a reliable and innovative all-inside repair device, as well as an inside-out meniscal suturing platform.  Ivy’s history and sole focus on advancing the treatment of meniscal injuries is also highly complementary to Stryker’s current portfolio of visualization, resection, fluid management, and ACL reconstruction platforms.

“The acquisition of Ivy Sports Medicine strengthens our capabilities and fits strategically with our current portfolio. Ivy’s complete meniscal platform, coupled with their clinical history, will allow us to provide our customers with multiple solutions to address meniscal repair,” said Matt Moreau, Vice President and General Manager of Stryker’s Sports Medicine business.  “This is an area of sports medicine where there is continued opportunity to address unmet customer needs. The Ivy portfolio provides a unique platform for us to build upon as we seek to continue advancing the treatment of meniscal injuries.”

“Ivy Sports Medicine was formed to capitalize on the unmet opportunity in meniscal repair, which we view as one of the more attractive growth opportunities in all of orthopaedics,” said Robert Pangia, CEO of Ivy Sports Medicine. “Our products provide surgeons with a complete set of tools to treat a large spectrum of meniscal repairs. We are excited about the prospects of combining these products with Stryker’s distribution channels and complementary portfolio of sports medicine products.”

About Stryker

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. The Company offers a diverse array of innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. Stryker is active in over 100 countries around the world. Please contact us for more information at www.stryker.com.

Media Contact
Jenny Braga, Senior Communications Manager
jenny.braga@stryker.com

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SOURCE Stryker

Related Links

http://www.stryker.com