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:

The mid-March madness of COVID-19 results in final missed shots for many companies.

For sports fans, March is about celebrating the best in college basketball. Regrettably, March Madness was swapped with COVID-19 mid-March madness, disrupting lives and companies across the world. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the first corporate earnings season has concluded and we now have a peek of the negative impacts caused by the pandemic and deferral of elective procedures. As for Q120, US orthobiologics revenue declined -5.5% YoY compared to Q119. 

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

Coming through Q120 bruised and expecting much harder punches before the calm, companies ride the COVID-19 storm

According to SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard, Q120 revenue for the US Joint Fluid Replacement market was down -2.8%, which is within the range predicted by market leaders and physicians in SmartTRAK’s Impact of COVID-19 on the US Joint Fluid Replacement and Regenerative Medicine Injectable Markets for Knee OA*. Albeit revenue is down for Q120, the stay-at-home orders across US states triggered by the rapid spread of COVID-19 were not implemented until mid-March, which helped to mitigate what could have been much bigger losses. 

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q120 US Joint Fluid Replacement Market Recap* are:

As access to healthcare continues to open up, the orthopedic industry is taking significant precautions to insure the health, safety and piece of mind of patients and caregivers and balance that with its attempt to ramp up services and procedures. The following is a small sampling of the orthopedic updates compiled, reviewed and posted in real-time by our SmartTRAK analysts, who are constantly monitoring the situation and sifting through the noise to present the most relevant news to our subscribers:

Updated Survey Data Points to Recovery by Q420

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. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant effect on physician practices in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, including the number of elective procedures being postponed, when normal operations might resume, the adoption of telemedicine, delivery of physician education and interactions with industry. To find out more, SmartTRAK Analyst Freddy Buntoum interviewed Steven Sampson, DO, founder of The Orthobiologic Institute (TOBI) and an internationally-recognized expert in the field of non-surgical orthopedics and the science of sports medicine. To hear Dr. Sampson’s take on how things might evolve throughout the rest of 2020, and how his practice and organization are supporting patients and other stakeholders, click on the following video to listen to the interview recorded via Uberconference (25:20 minutes). A transcript of the interview can be downloaded below.

For the fourth quarter of 2019, WW Soft Tissue Fixation Market revenue was up +3.7% YoY. Aggregate growth for the quarter especially benefited from healthy and continued revenue gains in the Hip Labral repair segment, which was up +8.9% YoY. And, to a smaller extent, the Meniscal repair and the Shoulder repair segments also contributing to the overall WW market growth in Q419 with YoY increases of 4.4% and 4.1%, respectively, based on SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard. Similar to other orthopedic markets, such as the Joint replacement market, Soft Tissue Fixation is typically seasonal with lower sales during Q3 and recovery in Q4 driven by a year-end increase in the number of elective procedures and stronger product push as competitors race to finish the year at or above their respective budget projections.

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:

Overall, 2019 was a good recovery year for the US Joint Fluid market with Single-injection treatment options at the helm

For Q419, revenue in the US Joint Fluid market was up, recovering fairly well from a year ago according to SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard. Aggregate growth for the quarter was attributable to a double-digit revenue growth in single injection. Stronger demand and heavy product push in that segment, especially at year-end, was offset to a certain extent by revenue declines in 3- and 5-injections. 

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q419 US Joint Fluid Market Recap* are: