It is difficult to make it as a small to midsize company in the Global Wound Care Market, which was painfully evident for a few Swedish companies in the fall of 2023. SmartTRAK looks at lessons learned and explains why the future is still bright.

Sweden is traditionally a great place to start a wound care company. Several established global leaders are based there, like Mölnlycke*, Essity* and Arjo*. They fund early-stage companies and act as a source of skilled personnel. Strong universities and leading pharma and medical device companies also contribute to a dynamic market.

In the fall of 2023, not one, not two, but three Swedish companies found themselves in deep trouble. RLS Global filed for bankruptcy, Promore Pharma was liquidated and S2Medical was under reconstruction. In this article, SmartTRAK looks deeper at those companies, what went wrong, and highlights a few startups embarking on the journey. Lessons learned are not limited to the Swedish market but apply everywhere.

The companies covered in detail in this comprehensive Market Perspective article, which can be downloaded in its entiretyhere, are:

• Companies in Trouble
  • RLS Global*
  • Promore Pharma*
  • S2Medical*
• Successful Startups
  • Abigo Medical*  
  • Absorbest*
• Other Startups
  • Amferia
  • Ilya Pharma
  • Colzyx 
  • PressCise
  • ViTri Medical*
  • Odinwell
  • Dermicus
  • Seber Medical

Although the fall of 2023 was challenging for a few companies, the future looks bright for Sweden to maintain its position as a strong generator of ...

* These links can only be accessed by SmartTRAK subscribers. To learn more            about SmartTRAK and how to subscribe, scroll down.

Medtronic executives discuss how the Company is making waves in interventional pain, minimally invasive spine and deep brain stimulation in an interview with SmartTRAK at NANS 2024.

Medtronic’s David Carr, vice president and general manager of Pain Interventions, and Amaza Reitmeier, vice president and general manager of Brain Modulation, discuss the Company’s latest news, research and innovation in an interview with SmartTRAK at the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) 2024 Annual Meeting held January 18-21 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

To find out more, including the Company’s priorities and vision for interventional pain, minimally invasive spine and deep brain stimulation, click on the following video to listen to the interview (32:30 min). Topics by timecode are provided below, and you can click the button to download a transcript of the interview.

Interview Topics by Timecode:

00:27 David Carr introduction and background. Overview of Medtronic’s top news at NANS and the importance of the Company’s broad portfolio of pain intervention solutions, including stimulation, targeted drug delivery and interventional spine. 

04:28 Overview of Medtronic’s presence at NANS regarding clinical and scientific research vs competitors. Highlights of clinical data from Australian ECAPs study to support the introduction of the Inceptiv Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) system, what’s next for Inceptiv and how Inceptiv differs from other ECAP-based SCS devices. Discussion of other research and evidence to support expanded indications and health economics. Company strategies for leveraging data to drive adoption, reimbursement and growth in non-surgical refractory back pain and diabetic painful neuropathy (DPN),

SmartTRAK highlights start-ups developing innovative products for joint resurfacing, soft tissue fixation, ligament and tendon augmentation at the 2023 MNVC.

Sports medicine and extremities were prominent themes at the 21st Annual Musculoskeletal New Ventures Conference (MNVC) held in Memphis in November 2023. Approximately one-third of the 38 presenting companies debuted new and innovative technologies for treating sports-related injuries of the knee, shoulder, hand, foot & ankle ranging from soft tissue fixation, ligament and tendon augmentation and cartilage resurfacing. Now that investment in robotics and surgical navigation craze has peaked, major orthopedic manufacturers are directing research and development (R&D) dollars toward restoring joint function using biological approaches and a variety of less invasive techniques. 

Among the topics covered in this market outlook article are:

• Promising Knee and Shoulder Start-Ups
• Extremity Fixation: An Emerging Market
• Resurgence in Joint Resurfacing

A fertile ground for strategic negotiations and deal-making, several of the major players have broadened their range of products through strategic tuck-in acquisitions in the past year. Also, several start-ups are targeting the multi-billion dollar Soft Tissue Fixation market.  This landscape reflects a dynamic and competitive environment where established players seek to strengthen their positions through ...

To download and read the complete "Sports Medicine and Extremities Start-Ups to Watch" market outlook article by Sharon O'Reilly, SmartTRAK's Founder and CEO, just click the button below.

Over the last 10+ years, the market for skin substitutes has been turbulent with new technologies and products being launched and reimbursement changes occurring for the various sites of care. SmartTRAK highlights a few of these based on the recent SAWC Fall meeting.

Skin substitutes, also referred to as CTPs (cellular and/or tissue-based products) or CAMPs (cellular, acellular and matrix‑like products), remained front and center at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) Fall meeting held in Las Vegas on November 2-5, 2023. The strong presence of these products mirrors a similar trend in the overall US Advanced Wound Care (AWC) market. For Q323, skin substitutes alone account for 37% of the US AWC market, more than Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) or Advanced Dressings, according to an analysis of SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard.

In this article, SmartTRAK discusses in detail:

• The Migration of Skin Substitutes Over the Years
• Which Synthetics are Gaining Attention
• New Companies–Unique Technology and Innovations
• Health Policy Dynamics–Reimbursement and Advocacy
• The Future of US-Based AWC Companies
• The Potential for Acquisitions on the Horizon

To download and read the complete detailed "SAWC Fall 2023: Skin Substitutes Reign Again" article by SmartTRAK's Susan Paquette, VP & General Manager, Wound and Terry Hayslett, Sr. Analyst, Wound, just click the button below.

Ready to dive into one of the most rapidly expanding markets in the world of Spine? Welcome to the realm of SI Joint Fusion, a market poised for remarkable growth with a projected 5-year CAGR of +18%. At SmartTRAK, we’re excited to introduce you to this thriving sector and give you a sneak peek of our forthcoming in-depth market segment solution subscription.

Outlined below is a brief list highlighting some of the key insights awaiting you upon subscribing to SmartTRAK's innovative solution and the valuable knowledge it delivers:

• Market Overview (US only/MIS market only):
  - Incidence and Prevalence: Understand the scale of SI Joint Fusion cases.
  - Market Size: Explore the market's current size and potential.
  - Revenue/Procedure Forecast through 2027: Take a look at expected future growth by market segments; transfixing and non-transfixing.
  - Growth Trends: Stay ahead with insights into emerging trends.
• Competitive Landscape:
  - By System Type: Discover the differences between Transfixing and Non-transfixing.
  - 2022 ASP Data Summary: Gain access to crucial pricing information.
• National/Regional Site of Service Procedure Volume Data:
  - HOPD vs ASC vs. Inpatient: Know where these procedures are performed.     - Annual Trends from 2017: Track the historical data for insights. 
• Coding & Reimbursement - 2024 Outlook:
  - Anticipate changes in coding and reimbursement for the coming year.
• Why MIS SIJ Fusion Matters:
  Within the vast Spine landscape, the Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) SI Joint Fusion procedure category is the star of the show. Here's why:
  - Growing Awareness and Diagnosis: More individuals are recognizing SI joint pain as a significant issue.
  - Robust Clinical Data: The body of clinical evidence is expanding.
  - Increasing Reimbursement Coding: Hospitals, HOPDs, ASCs and Physician's offices.
• The Future of MIS SI Joint Fusion:
  Acceptance of the posterior/dorsal non-transfixing MIS SI fusion approach is on the rise. This process is set to drive procedural growth and popularity, particularly among interventional pain physicians at Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs).
  
  

So are you ready to dive into one of the most rapidly expanding markets in the world of Spine? Don’t miss your chance to stay ahead of the curve in the booming world of SI Joint Fusion and Be The Expert! Just click the button below to find out more.

At the 20th World Congress of the International Union of Phlebology, SmartTRAK identifies market developments that will impact the treatment of venous and lymphatic diseases now and in the future.

The American Vein and Lymphatic Society recently hosted the 20th World Congress of the International Union of Phlebology (UIP 2023) in Miami Beach, FL. The Congress drew clinicians from around the world to discuss the latest advances in venous and lymphatic medicine. While the Congress covered many interesting topics, SmartTRAK noted market developments that will impact the treatment of venous and lymphatic diseases now and in the future. In this article, SmartTRAK explores the impact that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement cuts are having on physicians treating venous and lymphatic diseases, examines how clinicians and industry are responding to the proposed Medicare coverage of lymphedema treatment items and evaluates what’s on the horizon for emerging technologies. 

This downloadable article, discussing the market developments that will impact the treatment of venous and lymphatic diseases now and in the future, delves into many compelling topics, including:

Physician Payment Cuts
The American Medical Association reported that between 2001 and 2023, the cost of operating a medical practice increased by 47%, while physician payment rates increased by only 9%. When adjusted for inflation, the rates have gone down by 26%. Dr. John Blebea, Vascular Surgeon and Clinical Professor of Surgery at Central Michigan University, underscored this point with a presentation titled “The Effect of Medicare Physician Reimbursement Cuts on Office-Based Practices.” Dr. Blebea noted that ...

New Medicare Coverage of Lymphedema Treatment Items
Medicare currently provides Durable Medical Equipment (DME) coverage or authorizes payment for certain compression items when used to treat venous stasis ulcers. However, Medicare does not provide coverage for many of the same items when they are used to treat lymphedema. This dynamic provides a great case study of the effectiveness of advocacy in calling for ...

Emerging Technologies
If innovation fuels growth in the med tech industry, then the number of sessions on emerging technologies at UIP 2023 should mean that the future is bright for venous and lymphatic medicine. Dr. Steve Elias, Director, Center for Vein Disease, Englewood Health Network, hosted several sessions on emerging innovations in thrombectomy, sclerotherapy, artificial intelligence (AI)-guided imaging, intravascular ultrasound and compression therapy. SmartTRAK has covered the Compression Therapy Market since 2015 and has watched ...

To download and read the complete article about The Future of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine by Terry Hayslett, SmartTRAK Senior Analyst, Advanced Wound Care, just click the button below.

SmartTRAK takes a quick look at recent trends that may influence the Total Joints Market in the near and long term

Wall Street Analysts recently called out two trends specifically that could influence the Total Joints Market. One trend, the strengthening of the US dollar, is likely to impact the global market in 2024. Another trend is the increased prescribing of GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Byetta and Mounjaro, medications first used to treat Type 2 diabetes, as a treatment for obesity. This has the potential to impact the market down the road. In this downloadable article, SmartTRAK maps out the potential impact of these trends.

To download and read the complete article by SmartTRAK's Lisa Mahan, Product Development & IT, Sr. Analyst TJ&E, just click the button below.

SmartTRAK identifies three orthopedic robotics companies strategically positioned to shake things up this year in the fast-growing robotic-assisted TJA market.

SmartTRAK projects robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) will account for 48.5% of all US TKAs and 79.6% of all US robotic-assisted joint replacements by 2026E. This growth of robotic-assisted ortho procedures and ongoing adoption of enabling tech continues to drive the US ortho robotics market. In this Market Outlook Article, SmartTRAK identifies and analyzes three robotics companies that may shake things up in 2023 and beyond. They are:

• Stryker: Racing Towards New Indications in 2023
  • On the heels of a record-breaking quarter in Q422 in terms of MAKO installations in the US and internationally, market-leader Stryker (SYK) announced in its Q422 earnings call highly-anticipated timelines for the Company’s plans to launch ...
    
• THINK Surgical: Pursuing Two New Robots in 2023
  • THINK Surgical has a different approach compared to most robotics competitors. The Company focuses on providing robotic systems for joint replacement surgery, with an open implant library as an alternative to closed systems limited to a single manufacturer's implants. At the Canaccord Genuity Healthcare Conference in 2022, the Company revealed plans to ...
    
• Globus Medical: Bringing Knee Enabling Tech to Market in 2023
  • Since Globus Medical (GMED) acquired Stelkast in 2019 as a foundation for expanding into the total joint market, an orthopedic robotic system from the Company has been looming on the horizon. In the last two years, GMED has been consistently submitting intellectual property applications related to ...
    

To read the complete "Three Ortho Robotics Companies to Watch in 2023" Market Outlook article by By Shelly Caruso, SmartTRAK's Market Analyst/Medical Writer, Just click the button below.