Medtech (or medical devices) is one of the fastest growing industries in Switzerland with more than 4,000 new employees in the industry in the last two years. There are more than 1,400 medtech companies, which includes implant manufacturers, employing more than 58,500 people in Switzerland. Aside from some of the big players like Johnson & Johnson Medical or Medtronic, the large majority of Medtech companies are start-ups. Some 93% of them employ fewer than 250 employees and four out of five companies have fewer than 50 employees, according to the 2018 sector studyexternal link by Swiss Medtech.
In Spine, we can find important swiss companies as Spineart or Medacta that they sell worldwide as well as start-ups as Neo Medical that they have started recently.Here are the top 7 swiss spine companies:
I.- SPINEART
Spineart is a privately held medical device company focused on simplifying the surgical act by designing, developing and promoting safe and efficient solutions to spine surgeons, operating room teams, and patients.Spineart is an independant company with his headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and direct sales network in Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, United States.Spineart is a pioneer in its field, having introduced unique patented and clinically validated technologies in the fields of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Motion Preservation, Fusion, Biologics, and Fractures Treatment.Spineart markets a complete portfolio combining traceable barcoded sterile packed implants with compact instrument sets, thus proudly promoting greater safety, cost-efficiency, and compliance at the hospital.http://www.spineart.com
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Spineart: Jérôme Levieux.He Co-Founded Spineart Geneva SA in 2005 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer and Head of Research & Development. A mechanical engineer specialized in materials and surface coating. He has over 20 years experience in the spine industry. Prior to creating SPINEART, he was Spine Product Manager for BBRAUN-AESCULAP, where, amongst many other responsibilities, he was in charge of the commercialization of the PRODISC in France.
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Spineart: Stéphane Mugnier. He co-founded Spineart Geneva SA in 2005 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer and Head of Sales, Marketing & Operations. Prior to creating SPINEART, Mr. Mugnier spent twelve years with BBRAUN-AESCULAP where he started as product manager for Trauma and Spine, and then became Director of the spinal division In France. He holds a B.A. in business management with a specialization in marketing.
II.-MEDACTA
Medacta International is a Swiss company founded in 1958 and headquartered in Castel San Pietro, Ticino. They develops, manufactures and distributes orthopaedic and neurosurgical medical devices worldwide. Medacta was founded in 1999 by Dr Siccardi with a vision of redefining better through innovation for people needing joint replacement and spine surgery. Medacta International SA, an orthopedics company, designs and produces orthopedic products. It offers personalized kinematic models and 3D planning tools for use in hip, knee, shoulder, and spine procedures.
Medacta specializes in highly innovative minimally-invasive, personalized approaches designed to bring renewed hope and optimism to patients. At the 2014 North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting, Medacta’s new MySpine® Patient Matched product was awarded “Best New Technology – Posterior Thoracolumbar Spine Treatments”. Through medical education, our innovation leads to better results for both patients and the healthcare system.Website: https://www.medacta.com
Founder & CEO: Dr. Francesco Siccardi Sr
III.- coLigne
coLigne headquarters are in Zurich, Switzerland, with a development office in Paris, France and a biomaterial lab in Boulder Colorado USA. With Dr. A Steffee in 1990, Coligne first provided carbon composite interbody fusion cages to Switzerland and France. Since 1994 and as independent entrepreneurs, coLigne brings to market carbon composite products used to treat spinal degenerative disease, deformity, trauma and tumors in Europe and USA. Spinal implant developer and manufacturer utilizing its own proprietary biomaterial, ostaPek, a long carbon fiber reinforced polymer (LCFRP), with unique anisotropic elasticity and strength characteristics combined with radiolucency to permit objective evaluation of fusion. In 1994, coLigne proposed ostaPek “built like bone” composite technology, a high density long carbon fiber reinforced polymer (LCFRP) in controlled orientation. Our proprietary technology builds ostaPek composite into patented matrixes that better replicate the specific mechanical properties of a specific bone. This is not possible with traditional metal or simple plastic. Strength with memory of corrective form is assured for weight bearing support that can also be flexibile and without radiographic artifact. Just like bone. coLigne markets a full array of ostaPek IBD devices for PLIF, TLIF, ALIF, ACIF and ELIF approaches, as well as ostaPek stackable VBR’s and varying length corpectomy devices. coLigne introduced the world’s first ostaPek posterior thoracolumbar fixation rod with polyaxial screws in 2008. www.coligne.com
C.E.O.at coLigne AG: Robert Lange.
IV.- Pina Medizintechnik
Pina Medizintechnik Vertriebs AG is manufacturer of implants and instruments for the medical intervention at the vertebra column.We have been one of the first companies in Europe to introduce cervical titanium cages with a specific uncus-retaining and lordosis-securing design. Based on this, we were able to offer a stackable combination system for individual treatment following a cervical corpectomy. We only followed the international trend for non-metallic implants after the introduction of a new material that was especially developed for medical implants by the firm of Oxford Performance Materials Inc., though we were still able to retain the proven design. https://www.pina-med.ch/de/
CEO – Chief Executive Officer: Cäcilia Piotrowski
V.-7s Medical AG
7s Medical AG with its headquarter in Switzerland (Canton of Lucerne) is a medical technology company focusing on the development and distribution of orthopedic medical products in the fields of Trauma, Spine and CMF.7s Medical AG was founded by partners coming from leading medical technology enterprises together with experienced entrepreneurs, who invest in long-term projects and sustainable companies. The experience of these partners is complemented by a global network of doctors, developers, manufacturers and distribution partners. http://7smedical.com
VI.-NEO Medical
Neo a Swiss based Medtech manufacturer, commercializing a Non-Constraint Thoroca-Lumbar Spinal Fusion System for Value Based Care. Neo is dedicated to significantly impact the Economic Value in the overall Healthcare Eco-System and improve patient outcomes through an innovative less stress surgical technique (referred to as Non-constraint), high quality & simple single-touch Instrumentation and zero-touch implants.http://www.neo-medical.com
Co-CEO & President: Jonas Larsson, Co-CEO Vincent Lefauconnier
VII.-ICOTEC
Founded in 1999, icotec AG is engaged in the design, development and manufacturing of Carbon/PEEK composites to create high strength components for various applications, including medical devices, automotive and aerospace technology. The company is headquartered in Altstaetten, Switzerland. http://www.icotec.ch
Chief Executive Officer:Roger Stadler