Karlsruhe-based joimax officially kicked off the new alliance during an evening reception during the 9th Annual German Spine Surgeons Meeting 2014 in Leipzig, Germany. Joimax also sponsored a luncheon symposium on 12 December, where Thomas Bierstedt and Bernd Illerhaus, both neurosurgeons from Orthopedic Neurosurgery Center (ONZ) in Datteln, Germany, shared their initial clinical experience and preliminary results utilising the Synergy disc for motion preservation procedures.
Synergy is the world’s first cervical disc replacement that is designed specifically to actively correct pre-operative deformity, prevent post-operative misalignment and provide optimal stability for multi-level procedures. The disc incorporates a revolutionary geometry, offering multiple alignment corrections to provide surgeons with reliable and precise control of lordosis and sagittal balance.
The first clinical cases with the Synergy disc were performed in 2009 in Europe. These pilot cases with the long-term, follow-up data have recently been submitted for publication.
“We are very excited with the initial results from Germany, which have validated our pilot cases,” commented SDRI’s chief executive officer, Devesh Menawat. “We are eagerly anticipating the next follow-up periods and engaging in the next steps of our strategy designed to gain regulatory approval for our Synergy disc in the USA.”
Kemal Yucesoy, a neurosurgeon involved in the pilot study, stated: “The gold standard (cervical fusion) involves proper reconstruction of sagittal balance following decompression. Conventional disc replacements, however, do just the opposite; they restore range of motion but they have an unpredictable impact on sagittal balance. The Synergy disc combines the best of both of these very successful treatments by restoring range of motion and normal sagittal balance to the patient. Restoring alignment of the spine is vital for long-term success of cervical disc replacements. Our long-term follow-up has demonstrated outstanding results. The Synergy disc will help to expand the indications for cervical arthroplasty.”
“SDRI’s Synergy addresses a significant unmet clinical need in patients suffering from alignment problems who, today, have no viable option,” said Wolfgang Ries, joimax founder, chief executive officer and president. “We have begun to commercialise the product in Germany and early feedback from surgeons is very positive. We look forward to broadening the penetration for Synergy in German hospitals and delivering this surgical solution to doctors and hospitals in Austria and Switzerland.”
“Germany, Austria and Switzerland represent key international markets for our company,” added SDRI president Glenn Webb. “The size of these markets for spine products, combined with joimax’s reputation for delivering relevant solutions and effective training for spine surgeons, provides us with a great opportunity for growth and to expand the adoption of our Synergy technologies into other markets. This alliance further supports our mission to give options to patients, who, otherwise, have no alternative treatments available.”
