SmartTRAK discusses the latest advancements in biomedical solutions with DSM President John Witkowski

DSM, a global leader in biomedical solutions for more than 30 years, helps improve the health of 3.5 million patients annually. While biomaterials have been around for decades, DSM Biomedical is advancing biomaterial science, providing the latest synthetic biomaterials and stem cell-based technologies that are used in various applications, including spine, general orthopedics, sports medicine, general surgery and wound.

To learn more about the latest advancements in DSM Biomedical biomaterials and technologies and what’s next for the business, click on the following video to listen to SmartTRAK’s interview with John Witkowski, President of DSM Biomedical. A transcript of the interview can also be downloaded below. 

Surprises lead to deceleration of overall Orthobio growth

For Q419, US Orthobio market growth (comprised of Bone, Cartilage, Soft Tissue and Meniscus Replacement implants) was flat at 0.3%. FY19 grew 4.2% over 2018. Both Q4 and FY19 did see shifts within the market. The double-digit growth of Cartilage and Wright’s AUGMENT was offset by lower than expected sales in Infuse, Cartiva SCI and soft tissue augmentation. For 2019, Medtronic remained the overall US market leader, followed by DePuy Synthes and Stryker.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q419/FY19 OrthoBio Market Recap* are:

With a boost from an extra selling day during the third quarter, the US OrthoBio Market continues to be healthy, with Q319 revenue up +5.8% YOY. Year-to-date revenue is up +5.5% compared to the same time period for 2018. In addition to the specific factors that were discussed in the Q219 OrthoBio Recap, the segment’s success may be attributed to robustness in the broader economy and more people feeling comfortable scheduling procedures. As reported in Needham’s Q319 Review, in Q319 vs. Q219, overall orthopedic market growth improved to 5.0% vs. 3.1%, with spine improving to ...

SmartTRAK predicts Orthobiologic’s top market and technology trends to watch in 2019

At the beginning of the year, SmartTRAK took a look back at 2018 and identified continuing and emerging trends in the market for Orthobiologics that were likely to shape the landscape in 2019 and beyond. Now that we're approaching the end of the year, take another look at our predictions for 2019.

So what did we see in store for Orthobiologics? Here are SmartTRAK’s predictions for the top market and technology trends to watch:

Balancing Sales Growth Trajectory and Portfolio Reshaping

As competition heats up, companies will continue to identify tailwinds and headwinds that sway sales growth and will reshape portfolios accordingly. Sustaining above-market growth rates will take creativity, especially in stagnate markets like spine or in areas that face access challenges. Expect focused efforts around adding/expanding higher growth-higher margin products, shedding lower growth-lower margin product lines and expanding market penetration or margins for the “low-hanging fruit” prospects....

Sales strategy, market reach and evidence-based medicine drives strong Orthobiologics performance

SmartTRAK reports that Q219 performance in the OrthoBio market was strong, up 6% YoY, exceeding SmartTRAK expectations. As expected, Medtronic was the overall OrthoBio market leader, followed by DePuy Synthes and Stryker. Overall, all OrthoBio technologies grew year-over-year except for Spinal Constructs, Soft Tissue Augmentation and Synthetic Cartilage. Although the Spine market has stabilized, Spinal Constructs continues to slowly lose share due to...

Among the many topics covered in the Q219 OrthoBio Market Recap* are:

Advanced, higher priced biologics push the US OrthoBio Market higher

• US Bone Replacement grew +2.3% YoY, with FY18 revenues up +2.7%.
• US Cartilage Replacement increased 55.7% YoY, with FY18 revenues up 34.7%.
• US Soft Tissue Augmentation grew 2.3%, with FY18 revenues growing 9.2%.
• US Tendon Allografts posted an 8.4% YoY increase, with FY18 revenues up +3.9% YoY
• US Meniscal Implant market, with robust growth, was up 15.6% YoY for Q418 with FY18 revenues increasing by 3.0%.

Among the many topics covered in the Q418/FY18 OrthoBio Market Recap are:

Stem cell “secretome” is the latest advancement in regenerative medicine. Will it become the heart of tissue regeneration? SmartTRAK interviewed Dr. Robert Keller, Ph.D, Chief Science Officer of Axolotl Biologix to learn more about the Company’s platform and future plans.

The core of regenerative medicine and leveraging the abilities of stem cells and their products to repair diseased or damaged tissues has focused in two main areas, harvesting progenitor cells and the “paracrine effect” of the stem cell secretome.

Recent studies suggest that the benefits of stem cell therapy and the underlying mechanism of repair might relate more to a paracrine modulatory effect rather than the replacement of damaged cells at the site. The secreted factors from the transplanted stems cells have been shown to trigger the patient's own cells to repair the tissue themselves.

One company that is harnessing the power of the stem cell secretome is Axolotl Biologics. Started in 2016, Axolotl Biologics offers human amnion-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (hAMSCs) conditioned medium that contains hAMSCs paracrine factors which can be used in various applications in orthopedics, wound care, pain management, ophthalmology, cardiovascular and cosmetics.

At the 6th ICRS Summit, Bio-Orthopaedics in Sports Medicine, held in San Diego, January 17 and 18, 2019, SmartTRAK caught up with Axolotl Biologix’ Chief Science Officer, Robert Keller, Ph.D. to discuss regenerative medicine and the Company’s progress.

Click on the video below to view the fascinating interview,  scroll down to read a transcript of the interview or download a PDF of the interview by clicking the link below.

Acquisitions and Partnerships are Highpoints in Q318

SmartTRAK reports that the US OrthoBio Market (comprised of Bone Replacement, Cartilage, Soft Tissue and Meniscus) is growing at 4.1% YTD. For Q318, there were no surprises and the segment reached...

Among the many topics covered in the Q318 OrthoBio Market Recap are:

Irrespective of Market Challenges, Orthobiologics Remain Strong

While SmartTRAK saw a strong start in the beginning of the year, Orthobiologics didn’t see the typical Q2 bump. This trend was primarily driven by lower bone replacement revenues. Revenues from the sports medicine segments partially offset the bone replacement declines, with strong performances in Cartilage Replacement and Soft Tissue Augmentation.

Among the many topics covered in the full Q218 Ortho Market Recap are:

Cerapedics’ CEO Glen Kashuba and President and COO Jeff Marx, Ph.D. discuss the future of the bone graft substitutes and the uniqueness of i‑FACTOR Peptide Enhanced Bone Graft, a small peptide technology in an interview with Kim French, Sr. Analyst, SmartTRAK Orthbio.

A transcript of SmartTRAK's interview with Glen Kashuba and Jeff Marx is below, or click on the following video to listen to the interview.