Kleinostheim, 13 June 2016 – curasan AG (ISIN DE0005494538), a leading specialist for medical products in the field of orthobiologics, has completed its plans for expansion in 2016 and 2017. After meticulous market research, the company will invest the additional funds from the capital increase at the end of April 2016 in the targeted expansion of sales and marketing activities in the United States and China.
With this in mind, CEO Michael Schlenk appointed Mr. Shane Ray as the new President USA in May, making him the head of the American subsidiary curasan Inc. Shane Ray has more than 20 years of experience in the American orthopedics market, where he headed several medical technology companies for which he successfully developed and structured the marketing and sales of complex orthobiological products.
‘The orthopedics business alone accounts for three quarters of the American market for bone grafts, which corresponds to nearly $ 850 million in terms of sales volume. curasan focused too intensively on the dental business in the past,’ explains Michael Schlenk. ‘In the orthopedics sector we already have an approved portfolio ready for market launch. However, the search for a suitable sales professional with expertise in orthopedics took longer than expected. With Shane we now have a superb specialist in the American market, which is so important for us.’
Two years after application, curasan expects FDA approval of its CERASORB Ortho Foam bone regeneration material as of the end of 2016. Upon completion of the approval process, the company plans to launch the preparation on the American market via several new sales partners.
‘Developing our own orthopedics sales organization in the United States is not practical from an economic point of view. Shane is already utilizing his excellent contacts to develop a powerful network of sales partners for this market for the market launch in the first quarter of 2017,’ says CEO Schlenk.
At the same time, curasan will intensify its focus on the attractive Chinese market. After the successful development of sales activities in the United Kingdom and the Middle East, the company will transfer the knowledge gained in these markets to the fast-growing market in China with established and new sales partners in the future.
‘The Chinese market for biomaterials is still in its infancy. However, according to the market research company iData, annual growth of more than 30 percent can be expected for bone regeneration materials by 2020,’ Schlenk emphasizes. ‘We already have approval for our CERASORB Dental Granulate in the Chinese market, but no sales network yet. In the next two weeks, together with Gregor Siebert, our marketing and sales manager, I will take the already initiated negotiations into a more advanced phase on location in China with the potential sales partners we consider most promising.’
curasan will also invest in additional approvals in China, including the entire CERASORB orthopedics portfolio and the CERASORB Dental Form Foam and Paste. ‘Our hemostat Stypro was approved 12 years ago in China and the sales via our long-standing partner are very well. The impending development of our partner network for the dental division will thus lay the foundation for the rollout of our orthopedic products as well. We expect approval from the Chinese authorities in 2020,’ Schlenk adds. ‘With a Chinese partner perhaps a bit earlier.’
Your contacts at Curasan AG:
Ingo Middelmenne
Head of Investor Relations
+49 6027 40 900-45
+49 174 90 911 90
ingo.middelmenne@curasan.com
Andrea Weidner
Head of Corporate Communications
+49 6027 40 900-51
andrea.weidner@curasan.com
About curasan AG:
curasan AG develops manufactures and markets biomaterials and other medical products in the field of bone and tissue regeneration. A pioneer in its industry, curasan is specialized primarily on synthetic bone grafting materials for dental and orthopedic applications. Numerous patents and a comprehensive list of scientific documentation prove the clinical success of the products and the highly innovative strength of curasan. Surgically active dentists, implantologists and oral, maxillary and dentofacial surgeons, as well as orthopedics, traumatologists and spinal column surgeons worldwide benefit from the broad range of the premium quality and user-oriented portfolio offered by the technology leader. curasan maintains its own high-tech facilities for research, development and manufacturing in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, which are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other international authorities. In addition to its headquarters, the company has a subsidiary, curasan Inc., in the Research Triangle Park, near Raleigh, N.C., USA. The shares of curasan AG are listed in the General Standard at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
