When Zimvie sold its spine division to HGI a few months ago, we speculated about what would happen next. Now we have the answer: Highridge Medical, a brand-new company solely dedicated to the spine.
So, what positive aspects does Highridge have?
1.-High anticipated sales figures: Zimvie’s net sales are estimated to soar past $455 million, with an impressive adjusted EBITDA margin of over 15% expected within a year post-deal closure.
2.-A market share close to 4%.
3.-Leadership prowess: Eric Mayor steps into the role of Executive Chairman of the board, bringing a wealth of experience from his successful stints in the spine market, including roles at K2M and Stryker Spine.
4.-A comprehensive product lineup: Highridge offers quite a complete portfolio of spine care solutions covering various segments, from cervical to thoracolumbar. Their portfolio incorporates many current product trends, such as 3D printed and stand-alone cages. However, one notable absence is expandable technology. Though they do not have their own navigation or robotic technology yet, they’ve ensured compatibility with major systems like Medtronic or BrainLab.
Their range of products is the following:
Cervical Anterior:
- Trinica® and Trinica® Select Anterior Cervical Plate System
- InViZia® Anterior Cervical Plate System
- MaxAn® Anterior Cervical Plate System
- TrellOss™ -C Porous Ti Interbody System
- Trinnect™ Hydrated Anterior Cervical Spacer System
- Puros® -S and Puros® -S2 Allograft
- TM-S Trabecular Metal™ Cervical Fusion Device
- Vista® -S Cervical Interbody Fusion Device
- ROI-C® Cervical Cage with VerteBRIDGE® Plating Technology
- TrellOss™ -C SA Porous Ti Interbody System
- Optio-C® Anterior Cervical System in PEEK and Allograft Options
Biologics
- PrimaGen Advanced™ Allograft InterGro®
- DBM and DBM Fibers Demineralized Bone Matrix
- PlatFORM® CM Collagen Mineral Bone Graft Matrix
- PlatFORM® BG Bioactive Collagen Mineral Bone Graft Matrix
Cervical Posterior:
- Virage System Occipital-Cervico-Thoracic (OCT) spinal fixation
- Lineum® OCT Spinal System
- Gallery™ Laminoplasty Spine System
Enabling Technologies
- Universal Navigation System designed for compatibility with the Medtronic® StealthStation® System and the SureTrak™ II clamps and arrays.
- Vital™ Navigation System with Navigation Array Kit for Brainlab®
- Virage Navigation System, a series of instruments designed to be compatible with the Medtronic StealthStation® System S8
Thoracolumbar
- The Tether™ Vertebral Body Tethering System
- TrellOss®-A SAPorous Ti Interbody System (ALIF)
- TrellOss®- TS Porous Ti Interbody System (PLIF)
- TrellOss®-TC Porous Ti Interbody System (TLIF)
- Vital™ MIS Screw System
- TrellOss®-L MPF Porous Ti Interbody System (LLIF)
- Vital™ Deformity Spinal Fixation System
- Vital™ Spinal Fixation System
5-Distinctive Offerings: Within the previously mentioned product range, two standout products emerge, each targeting niche markets.
- The first is The Tether, the pioneering system designed specifically for Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS). There are very few systems focused on this condition, and The Tether stands out as one of the best alongside Globus Medical Reflect.
- The second is the Mobi-C Cervical Disc. This product was originally developed by LDR, a company later acquired by Biomet and then Zimmer. Its advantage lies in its many years in the market and proven effectiveness. While the market for cervical disc prostheses has shrunk, there are still several products with significant clinical data, such as Mobi-C, Orthofix’s M-6, and Centinel Spine’s Prodisc-C.
What Lies Ahead for Highridge?
Starting with a decent market share (4%), a comprehensive albeit not cutting-edge product line, and strong leadership, Highridge appears poised for action. However, the spine market is notoriously competitive and challenging. The spotlight now shifts to their competitive strategy. While profitability is undoubtedly a key focus to return the investment, the question remains whether they’ll strive to grow and innovate in this demanding landscape. Glen Kashuba, the CEO, emphasizes Highridge’s commitment to improving spine care through investment in R&D and product innovation.
It seems they have a clear focus. Now, let’s wish Highridge and its employees the best of luck, and here’s hoping for some positive news from this new venture soon!