MEQUON, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Titan Spine, a medical device surface technology company focused on developing innovative spinal interbody fusion implants, today announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with MBA as a strategic partner to provide Titan’s line of Endoskeleton® titanium implants to practicing spine surgeons in six countries across Europe. Under the agreement, Titan Spine will provide its spinal interbody fusion devices featuring its proprietary surface technology to MBA for distribution in Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Luxembourg, Belgium and the United Kingdom (UK). MBA is a prominent international medical device marketing-and-distribution organization that specializes in the sale of products used for orthopedic and neurosurgery treatments.
Marcus Klarl, Vice President of Sales, Europe for Titan Spine, commented, “MBA is one of the leaders in distribution of orthopedic and neurosurgical products throughout Europe and offers us a strategic alliance to penetrate the major markets of Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the UK, which was a critical objective we hoped to achieve this year. We took this a step farther as we recognized the anticipated demand for on-the-ground support required for a smooth launch. The opening of our newest office, located in Spain, marks a second, complementary focal point in increasing our presence in select European markets that are actively embracing and driving titanium as the material of choice for interbody fusion devices. Surgeons in the Spanish and Portuguese markets in particular reflect an ideal opportunity for Titan because they recognize the need for devices that combine the advantages of titanium with our proprietary surface technology. With a new distribution partner and new office in Spain, we are confident that our differentiated products will continue to resonate with spine surgeons.”In addition, Titan Spine recently opened an office in Valencia, Spain to support the growing European adoption of its Endoskeleton® devices. The Spain office supports sales, training and marketing initiatives across Europe in conjunction with Titan’s European headquarters located in Laichingen, Germany. In addition, the Spain office operates in a strategic capacity to facilitate distribution efforts and relations within the Spanish and Portuguese markets, which are quickly adopting the Company’s titanium devices featuring its proprietary surface technology.
Kevin Gemas, President of Titan Spine, added, “Titan Spine has experienced significant sales growth over the last few years, with particular uptick over the first half of 2015. By broadly expanding our line of titanium spinal implants to surgeons and patients in six additional countries across Europe, we have a greater opportunity to offer the benefits of our subtractive surface technology for surgeons and patients in Europe. We are seeing growing European demand for surface enhanced interbody fusion devices that do not possess the potential hazards associated with additive/coated implants.”
Paul Griffin, Managing Director at MBA, said, “Partnering with Titan Spine to distribute the Endoskeleton® line of interbody fusion devices enables us to significantly enhance our offering of spinal products, and further makes innovative implants, that meet the needs and, ultimately, create value for the surgeons and their patients, more accessible.”
The full line of Endoskeleton® devices features Titan Spine’s proprietary implant surface technology, consisting of a unique combination of roughened topographies at the macro, micro, and cellular levels created by a subtractive process. This unique combination of surface topographies is designed to create an optimal host-bone response and actively participate in the fusion process by promoting the upregulation of osteogenic and angiogenic factors necessary for bone growth, encouraging natural production of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and creating the potential for a faster and more robust fusion.1,2
About Titan Spine
Titan Spine, LLC is a surface technology company focused on the design and manufacture of interbody fusion devices for the spine. The company is committed to advancing the science of surface engineering to enhance the treatment of various pathologies of the spine that require interbody fusion. Titan Spine, located in Mequon, Wisconsin and Laichingen, Germany, markets a full line of Endoskeleton®interbody devices featuring its proprietary textured surface in the U.S. and portions of Europe through its sales force and a network of independent distributors. The company will also be launching its next-generation nanoLOCK™ surface that features various topographies at the macro, micro, and nano (MMN™) levels in Q4, 2015. To learn more, visit www.titanspine.com.
1 Olivares-Navarrete, R., Gittens, R.A., Schneider, J.M., Hyzy, S.L., Haithcock, D.A., Ullrich, P.F., Schwartz, Z., Boyan, B.D. (2012). Osteoblasts exhibit a more differentiated phenotype and increased bone morphogenetic production on titanium alloy substrates than poly-ether-ether-ketone. The Spine Journal, 12, 265-272.
2 Olivares-Navarrete, R., Hyzy, S.L., Gittens, R.A., Schneider, J.M., Haithcock, D.A., Ullrich, P.F., Slosar, P. J., Schwartz, Z., Boyan, B.D. (2013). Rough titanium alloys regulate osteoblast production of angiogenic factors. The Spine Journal, 13, 1563-1570.