You will have heard of K2M, specialist developer of implants and devices designed to address complex spine conditions with minimally invasive approaches. You may not have come across Amedica Corporation, a biomaterial company with a specialism in Silicon Nitride Implant technology. Now the two companies have entered into a distribution agreement that will see K2M as the European outlet for Amedica’s Silicon Nitride Interbody Spinal Fusion devices.
Background
Silicon Nitride has been creeping up on the rails, promising in many ways to be the next generation implant material, and boasting numerous potential advantages over even the PEEK polymer, commonly used as an implant material today. Silicon Nitride is a ceramic material with a rather appropriate duality of purpose. It can be polished to present a wear-resistant, highly polished implant bearing surface. Or it can form a porous, bone-bonding, biocompatible and even seemingly infection resistant material. Amedica’s 12 patents position it strongly to exploit the material.
The foundations for the agreement between K2M and Amedica come from a pilot program, conducted in Europe earlier this year. Surgeons were provided the opportunity to integrate Silicon Nitride interbody devices into their offerings for patients suffering from a variety of disorders requiring spinal fusion. The results clearly convinced K2M of the existence of an opportunity for spinal fusion devices devised from a different biomaterial.
Further commercial details of the deal have not been disclosed at this time.
Company comments
for K2M
“K2M is committed to providing the best and most innovative technologies to meet the needs of patients around the world suffering from spinal disorders and we believe our relationship with Amedica will help us further this goal,” said Eric Major, K2M’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are thrilled to make Amedica’s Silicon Nitride interbody spinal fusion devices part of our comprehensive international product portfolio.”
for Amedica
“K2M has an outstanding sales and marketing team that has created a global reputation for providing leading edge technology to their customers. Our Silicon Nitride interbody product line will be integrated into K2M’s current portfolio of interbody spinal fusion devices,” said Eric K. Olson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Amedica. “We believe it is evident that there is a need in Europe for interbody fusion devices that exceed the capabilities of existing PEEK and Titanium-based devices. With this distribution channel in place, we believe Silicon Nitride interbody spinal fusion devices will increasingly be the solution that surgeons rely on to deliver optimal patient outcomes in spinal fusion procedures.”
Source: Amedica Corporation, PR Newswire
published: October 24, 2013 in: Contracts, Orthopaedics, Spine