Alphatec Spine Releases Alphatec NEXoss(TM) Nanostructure Bio-Active Matrix and Announces the First Patient Implant

CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 18, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alphatec Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATEC), the parent company of Alphatec Spine, Inc., a medical device company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets products for the surgical treatment of spine disorders, with a focus on treating conditions related to the aging spine, announced today the first clinical use of Alphatec NEXoss, a next generation synthetic bone graft indicated for use in posterolateral spine fusions in conjunction with bone marrow aspirate, autograft bone and appropriate hardware.
Alphatec NEXoss is composed of two unique patented technologies. The first is an engineered extracellular collagen bioscaffold that provides a physical structure for cell infiltration and attachment. The second is osteoconductive nano-structured bone crystals that have similar composition, structure and size as human bone. These two technologies function together to provide an ideal environment for a natural bone growth solution. Alphatec NEXoss is supported by in vitro and in vivo clinical data.
Last month, Alphatec announced the acquisition of exclusive U.S. distribution rights to market the product under its own brand name called Alphatec NEXoss. Alphatec NEXoss is FDA-cleared for commercial sale.The three-level posterior lumbar fusion procedure was performed by Joseph Stern, M.D., a neurosurgeon in private practice in Greensboro, NC. The patient was treated for progressive worsening of spondylolisthesis of L3-4 and L5-S1 with spinal stenosis and degenerative changes at L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 levels.Dr. Stern chose Alphatec NEXoss as the fusion graft material based on the proven safety and effectiveness of the product technology. “I am very pleased with the excellent handling properties of Alphatec NEXoss,” said Dr. Stern. The mixing and delivery system has been designed with the surgeon in mind and provides a very easy and effective way to deliver the graft both in open and MIS cases.”
“Alphatec NEXoss is an excellent product and an important addition that strengthens our biologics portfolio with a synthetic bone matrix offering,” said Les Cross, Alphatec Spine’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “What makes NEXoss effective is that its patented structure is nearly identical in composition to natural human bone.
“Having a synthetic bone graft solution enables Alphatec Spine to offer one of the most comprehensive biologics portfolios in the industry, which includes structural allografts, DBMs, scar barriers, a stem cell allograft and now synthetic bone grafts. In addition to the many internal new product development programs we have underway, this supply agreement is representative of the many opportunities available in the marketplace today that will help the Company maintain a continuous flow of new products.”
Many surgical procedures of the spine require bone grafts to regenerate bone that has been removed or damaged due to disease or trauma. The current “gold standard” for bone grafting incorporates an autograft of bone harvested from the patient’s iliac crest. Although considered the gold standard, use of autograft is not without its significant disadvantages. In addition to the need for a second operation to harvest the bone from the iliac crest, the supply of harvested autograft is limited and the patient may experience significant post-operative pain at the harvest site for an extended period of time.
A second type of bone used in grafting procedures uses allograft bone derived from processed human cadaver bone. While allograft bone has been used for many years, it also has some disadvantages in that the risk of disease transmission can never be completely ruled out.
The newest technological development for bone grafting products includes synthetic materials. Alphatec NEXoss is an advanced bone graft combining an engineered extracellular matrix bioscaffold proven as an ideal pathway for cell infiltration and osteoconductive nano-structured crystals that mimic the composition, structure and size of human bone, providing a natural bone growth solution.
The spinal orthobiologics market is estimated to be approximately $2 billion annually in the U.S. Synthetics are one of the fastest growing markets in the spinal orthobiologics space and are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 10% over the next 5 years. (Source: i-Data)