Smith & Nephew Buys Ceterix Orthopaedics for up to $105M

Smith & Nephew plc announced that it has agreed to acquire Ceterix Orthopaedics Inc., the developer of the NovoStitch Pro Meniscal Repair System.

This unique device addresses complex meniscal tear patterns not adequately served by other repair systems. It is highly complementary to Smith & Nephew’s leading FAST-FIX 360 Meniscal Repair System, which addresses vertical tears, the most commonly repairable meniscal injury today.

Currently more than 1.2 million¹ meniscal tears are treated surgically in the US each year. In only 15-20 percent¹ of the cases is the meniscus repaired, rather than removed. With products like NovoStitch Pro and FAST-FIX 360 we see the opportunity to double this proportion in the medium term.

Smith & Nephew will pay an initial cash consideration of $50 million and up to a further $55 million over the next five years, contingent on financial performance.

“NovoStitch Pro is an outstanding technology that addresses an unmet clinical need,” said Brad Cannon, President Sports Medicine and ENT, Smith & Nephew. “We are excited by the opportunities to take this new option to our customers. No other company is better positioned to support changing clinical practice as the standard for meniscal treatment pivots from resection to repair.”

NovoStitch Pro is highly complementary to Smith & Nephew’s FAST-FIX 360 Meniscal Repair System, which addresses vertical tears, the most commonly repairable meniscal injury today.

The NovoStitch Pro allows surgeons to repair arthroscopically a broader range of meniscal tear types, including horizontal, radial, complex, bucket handle and root tears, as well as vertical tears.

“The new NovoStitch Pro Meniscal Repair System is one of the most innovative technologies developed for arthroscopic knee repair,” said Dr. Peter Kurzweil, president of Memorial Orthopaedic Surgical Group in Long Beach, Calif. “NovoStitch offers the potential to repair tear types that were previously considered difficult or impossible to sew, with good control and access for the surgeon.”

The NovoStitch Pro will be sold through Smith & Nephew’s extensive sports medicine sales force as well as Ceterix’s existing dedicated sales force. NovoStitch Pro has 510(k) clearance for sale in the US.

“We are proud of the impact our technology has made in developing the meniscal repair market and are excited by the opportunity to reach many more customers and their patients as an integrated part of Smith & Nephew’s extensive Sports Medicine portfolio,” said John McCutcheon, CEO of Ceterix.

The transaction is expected to close in early 2019, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions. The acquisition will be financed from existing cash and debt facilities.

Reference
¹ 2018 SmartTRAK US Meniscal Repair Fixation market report