VertiFlex®, Inc. Announces Appointments of Co-Medical Directors Scott L. Blumenthal, MD and A. Nick Shamie, MD
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. – (Business Wire) VertiFlex, Inc., a leading innovator of minimally invasive and motion preserving spinal surgery technologies, today announced the appointments of Scott L. Blumenthal, MD, and A. Nick Shamie, MD, as Co-Medical Directors of the company. The two surgeons will be responsible for providing medical and strategic clinical direction to VertiFlex, as well as assistance in its primary objective of completing its Superion™ Interspinous Spacer IDE pivotal trial.
“We are pleased to have attracted two world-renowned surgeons in Drs. Blumenthal and Shamie, to assist in the successful execution of our trial,” said Earl R. Fender, President and Chief Executive Officer of VertiFlex. “VertiFlex is uniquely positioned to provide the least invasive surgical treatment available for patients suffering from spinal stenosis. The addition of Drs. Blumenthal and Shamie will help patients in the United States receive this treatment sooner.”
Dr. Scott Blumenthal is a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon with the Texas Back Institute in Plano, TX. His practice is focused on research and application of non-fusion treatments of the spine. He has been a leading investigator in spinal arthroplasty resulting in numerous publications and presentations at international scientific conferences. Dr. Blumenthal serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, and is also the Spine Consultant for the Dallas Mavericks. “Due to my strong interest in preserving motion in the spine, and doing so in the least invasive way possible, I believe Superion is generationally advanced over other alternatives. I’m committed to working with VertiFlex in evaluating Superion’s safety and effectiveness, leading to its approval and availability to patients,” stated Dr. Blumenthal.
Dr. Nick Shamie is a Board-Certified Spine Surgeon and Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, and Co-Director of the UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Shamie has served on the UCLA School of Medicine faculty since joining the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2000. Among his areas of clinical focus are minimally invasive approaches to the spine, clinical trials, and spinal stenosis, where he is an internationally recognized expert. He has traveled extensively to train other spine surgeons in the use of commercially available stenosis devices. Dr. Shamie has also conducted his own clinical research on devices indicated for moderate spinal stenosis. “I am pleased to be associated with VertiFlex and Superion. Because of its dramatic minimally invasive design, I believe Superion provides certain advantages in treating moderate lumbar spinal stenosis, as suggested by recent clinical data compiled outside the United States. Dr. Blumenthal and I share a common interest in furthering research in such exciting technologies,” reiterated Dr. Shamie.
About VertiFlex, Inc.
VertiFlex is a privately held medical device company dedicated to the advancement of minimally invasive and motion preserving technologies for disorders of the spine. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Clemente, CA, VertiFlex currently markets products globally in addition to conducting a pivotal human IDE trial for a next generation interspinous spacer. The Superion interspinous spacer is a percutaneous titanium implant that fits between the spinous processes in the lumbar spine. Superion received CE mark in 2007, and is currently undergoing a pivotal FDA clinical trial for the minimally invasive treatment of spinal stenosis. Current investors include Aberdare Ventures, Alta Partners, Morgenthaler, and New Enterprise Associates.
VertiFlex, Inc.
Scott Lynch
Vice President, Global Marketing
949-940-1400
info@vertiflexspine.com
www.vertiflexspine.com
