Q321 results were a letdown compared to the previous quarter as COVID-19 continues to burst HA players’ bubble but hopes for a return to normal prevail.

Spring 2021 brought on much relief to the US Joint Fluid Replacement market and the summer looked promising for a return to normal business conditions. However, as more cases of COVID-19 Delta variant were reported, especially in key hyaluronic acid (HA) states, like Texas and Florida, companies were left as though their bubble got burst. Some players expressed concerns that volumes could be depressed for Q421 since it does not seem to be picking up as fast as they projected. But, for Q321 and for the most part, the majority of HA market players did report positive revenue increases in the third quarter.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q321 US Joint Fluid Replacement Market Recap* are:

Cheryl Blanchard, President and CEO of Anika Therapeutics, discusses the Company’s metamorphosis from a partnered, single product company into a customer-facing, global joint preservation market player, in an interview with SmartTRAK.

Cheryl Blanchard, PhD, discusses the Company’s remarkable achievements amid a global healthcare crisis and progress made as Anika continues to execute on its Transformational Growth Strategy and grand plan in an interview with SmartTRAK at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS) 2021 in San Diego, California. To find out more, click on the following audio recording. A link to download the complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.

This Year’s AAOS Annual Meeting was no different--scientific bodies are still divided on the efficacy of HA therapy and it remains a “bête noire” sitting outside of the gold standard for the treatment of patients affected by knee OA.

For some time now, hyaluronic acid (HA) viscosupplement injections (aka intra-articular (IA) HA injections) have become a standard and an integral part of the physician’s armamentarium in the treatment continuum for an ever-growing number of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA). With OA universally established as the most prevalent form of arthritis afflicting the US population, SmartTRAK estimates that approximately 2.3 million HA injection procedures will be performed for knee OA alone.  Yet, confusion and debates persist over the efficacy of HA therapy, product composition and source of the HA, volume and number of injections, treatment cost and, more recently, regulatory classification for HA products. SmartTRAK believes that the plethora of studies on the use of HA injection that show varied results is ...

To download and read the complete article by Freddy Buntoum, Sr. Analyst, Orthobiologics and Regenerative Medicine at SmartTRAK, please click the button below.

In spite of various headwinds, a strong uptick in surgical procedures and business activities in March was the slingshot effect needed to propel the US Orthobio Market into double-digit percentage growth for Q121.

In spite of the headwinds from a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Q420 that spilled over to the early part of Q121 and winter storms of historical proportions in February, a strong uptick in elective surgical procedures in March was the slingshot effect the US Orthobio Market needed to propel it.

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q121 US Orthobio Market Recap* are:

The first quarter of 2021 felt like riding a car with square wheels, but ahead, the road looks smoother.

Coming out of a rough Q420 that sent the US Joint Fluid Replacement market players spinning at dizzying speed around the roulette wheel, the first quarter of 2021 gave them a bumpy ride on the road to COVID-19 recovery. As if a resurgence of positive COVID cases in late Q420 spilling into Q121 was not enough of a headwind, in mid-February, winter storms Uri and Viola landed a one-two hit across North America. 

Among the many topics covered in detail in our comprehensive Q121 US Joint Fluid Replacement Market Recap* are:

Like the ball whirling around a casino roulette wheel, COVID-19 sent the US Joint Fluid Market players bouncing and spinning off widely, with some landing the year as winners, and others not so much.

Once again COVID-19 sent players spinning at dizzying speed around the roulette wheel, all in hopes that Lady Luck would let them land unscathed for Q420. With the continued pressure from COVID impacting recovery of the healthcare system and business operations, including the US Joint Fluid Replacement, total revenue for Q420 finished lower vs Q419, according to  SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard. 

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q420/FY20 US Joint Fluid Market Recap* are:

With jockeys and their racehorses out of the gates to make up for the losses during H120, a resurge of COVID cases muddied the track again, slowing the finish to the 2020 Derby.

If the US Orthobio Market was off racing again in Q320, the racetrack got a bit muddy with a resurgence of positive COVID-19 cases, which halted or placed restrictions on elective procedures in some US states. Spine procedure volumes were particularly affected by the renewed restrictions in Q420, which had a domino effect of negatively impacting the Bone Replacement segment for Q4 and FY20, respectively.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q420/FY20 US Orthobio Market Recap* are:

Dr. Wasik Ashraf, an Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine, discusses trends and innovation in Orthobiologics and Regenerative Medicine in an interview with SmartTRAK.

In this wide-ranging interview, Dr. Ashraf gives his view of CMS' FY21 OPPS-ASC Final Rulemaking, and discusses emerging trends and innovation in OrthoBiologics and Regenerative Medicine. As a Board-certified and fellowship-trained physician specializing in sports medicine, joint preservation and cartilage restoration, Dr. Ashraf offers his unique view and perspective on some of the newest technologies he is using, as well as those to look out for in the coming years. 

To listen to the interview, recorded live via Uberconference, click on the following video (41:37 min). A transcript of the interview is also available below.

Although the COVID-19 roller coaster was a tough ride in Q220, Soft Tissue Fixation was stepping out and looking good in Q320

When an unpredictable COVID-19 roller coaster hit the tracks, companies saw revenue plummet in Q220 as stay-at-home orders were implemented (mid-March) and elective surgeries were canceled or postponed indefinitely. The impact of COVID-19 that forced government-imposed restrictions was felt throughout the 2

Q320 - The bright ray of sunshine companies had hoped for after dismal results in Q220

While Q220 is down in history as a disastrous quarter, marred by the dark mark of COVID-19, Q320 is the bright ray of sunshine companies in the US Joint Fluid Replacement market had hoped for.

For Q320, HA companies shared upbeat notes about renewed product demand, fueled by an uptick in activity from patients (out and about), distribution channels, and physicians treating an influx of new, as well as existing patients. One of the factors benefiting the HA market is the backlog of patients awaiting their turn for knee arthroplasty (TKA) and remain in need of treatment to manage their knee osteoarthritis (KOA) pain. 

Among the many topics, including company revenues, shares, charts and expert analysis, covered in the comprehensive Q320 US Joint Fluid Market Recap* are: