The latest intel suggests the spine market is rebounding more quickly than expected, but certain new market dynamics will persist.

While much remains up in the air, early data suggests the spine market is rebounding more quickly than expected. Surgeons are beginning to perform cases that were postponed through March and April due to COVID-19. In conversations with WFS analysts,  NuVasive* (NUVA) management reported a mix of both deferred cases and new volume in May. NUVA’s spine business reportedly tracked ~50% below pre-COVID levels in May versus ~70% below in April. The Company’s current trajectory and consensus expectations for the quarter implies a recovery in procedure volumes to 35% below pre-COVID levels in June according to  WFS NUVA: Takeaways From The 2020 “Virtual” Bus Tour Report. Similarly, Canaccord Genuity estimates  Alphatec’s* FY20 US revenue will be down –9.7% YoY with an estimated -45.6% drop in Q220 sales. This assumes the impact from COVID-19 started in mid-March, April revenues were down ~60-70%, and notable improvement began in early May as more states resume procedures.

J Mocco, MD, MS discusses how an evolving pandemic is affecting stroke care in an interview with SmartTRAK

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically disrupted health care around the world and is wreaking havoc on medical device markets. In the US, social distancing and other mitigation efforts have helped flatten the curve and many states are now working toward reopening their economies.

The pandemic continues to evolve and its impact on healthcare delivery systems is rapidly changing. Elective surgery has re-started again in many states and hard-hit places like New York City have seen COVID-19 cases peak and start to trend downward. So how are these trends affecting stroke care? Why are strokes up in some regions but down in others? When will neurointerventional procedure volumes return to pre-COVID levels? To find out the answers to these questions and more, SmartTRAK talked with J Mocco, MD, MS, Vice Chair, Department of Neurosurgery and Professor of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.

To listen to the interview recorded via Uberconference on Monday May 11, click on the following video. A transcript of the interview can be downloaded here.

As the COVID-19 continues to affect every aspect of life, the MedTech industry perseveres in its attempt to adapt and continue moving forward. SAWC and the Wound Healing Society held the SAWC Spring 2020 as a virtual experience on July 24-26. In their words "At a time when so much else is canceled, the work to treat, manage, and prevent chronic wounds and improve patient care cannot stop. Hope must go on."

The following is a small sampling of the updates compiled, reviewed and posted in real time last week by our SmartTRAK analysts, including many from SAWC 2020. We constantly monitor the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, trends, financial data and competitor developments in the global Life Sciences industry.

SmartTRAK, the leading source of competitive intelligence used by the top global orthopedic & wound care companies, had four articles featured in the International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society Summer 2020 Issue. These articles were originally published on the SmartTRAK platform.

The ICRS is the main forum for international collaboration in cartilaginous tissue research and joint preservation whose stated mission is "Advancing Science & Education of the Prevention & Treatment of Cartilage Disease Worldwide."

Kim French, SmartTRAK's Senior Analyst, OrthoBio, had three of her articles included in the Summer 2020 issue:

Strong start in Q120 was negatively impacted by the double whammy of postponed elective procedures and lag in capital equipment purchases as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While adoption of robotics and other enabling technologies was gaining significant momentum quarter over quarter through year-end 2019, delays in elective spine surgery due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in declines in capital equipment sales and fewer computer-assisted spine surgeries in Q120. However, these declines are expected to be temporary and improve as surgeries rebound through the end of the year and into 2021.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q120 CAS Spine Market Recap* are:

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses and continues to affect everyday life around the world, the path that lies ahead for the MedTech industry and the search for effective therapeutics and vaccines remains hard to predict.

The following is a small sampling of the updates compiled, reviewed and posted in real time last week by our SmartTRAK analysts. We constantly monitor  the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, trends, financial data and competitor developments in the global Life Sciences industry.

 

Companies came out of the gate strong in Q120, but COVID-19’s one-two punch on elective procedures and capital equipment purchases negatively impacted orthopedic enabling technology revenues toward the end of the quarter.

While adoption of robotics and other enabling technologies was gaining significant momentum quarter over quarter through year-end 2019, delays in elective spine surgery due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in declines in capital equipment sales and fewer computer-assisted orthopedic surgeries in Q120.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q120 CAS Ortho Market Recap* are:

The orthobiologics market continues to ramp up studies and new product development as surgeries impacted by COVID-19 are rescheduled. The following is a small sampling of the OrthoBio updates compiled, reviewed and posted in real time last week by our SmartTRAK analysts. We constantly monitor  the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, trends, financial data and competitor developments in the global Life Sciences industry.

A well-oiled engine, the Soft Tissue Fixation train was prepped for a good start to 2020, then COVID-19 sent it in reverse back down the revenue tracks.

Looking back at how 2019 finished, market sentiment was quite optimistic that 2020 could be another positive year for the WW Soft Tissue Fixation Market. With +3.7% YoY growth in Q419, the first quarter of 2020 seemed set for a good start, with companies chugging along nicely, actively pushing products, planning or recruiting for clinical trials, and some of them also receiving FDA 510(k) clearance for new products or for line extensions. All appeared to be business as usual, that is, until COVID-19 reared its ugly head, picking China as its first target. Alas, the rapid worldwide spread of this devastating virus forced a major halt in elective procedures to enable healthcare systems to focus on the rising number of COVID-19 cases. 

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q120 Soft Tissue Fixation Market Recap* are: