Titan Spine Announces the First Endoskeleton® Interbody Fusion Cases in Australia

MEQUON, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Titan Spine, a medical device surface technology company focused on developing innovative spinal interbody fusion implants, today announced the first surgeries in Australia using the Company’s proprietary Endoskeleton® interbody fusion devices and surface technology, marking the Company’s entry into a robust new market. The first two ALIF cases were performed successfully in October by Dr. Richard Laherty, MBBS FRACS CIME, spine surgeon at Queensland Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery at the Princess Alexandra Hospital near Brisbane.

Dr. Laherty commented, “I have been keeping up on the wealth of studies Titan Spine has published on their proprietary surface technologies over the years that have consistently shown the ability to create a superior osteogenic environment over other materials and surfaces. I was pleased to finally have the opportunity to use the Endoskeleton® titanium devices featuring Titan’s unique surface technology at the macro, micro and cellular level for these procedures. In the first few weeks following these initial cases, we have observed favorable patient outcomes in both cases, and I look forward to offering the Endoskeleton® devices to more of my patients moving forward.”

Titan Spine received registration approval from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in June 2014 to commercially market its full line of Endoskeleton® interbody fusion devices in the country.

Kevin Gemas, President of Titan Spine, added, “Over the past few years we have focused our attention primarily in the U.S. and portions of the EU to educate on and demonstrate the value of our titanium devices featuring our differentiated surface technology. After securing the CMS new technology ICD-10 code, expanding our U.S. sales force, and achieving strong domestic revenue acceleration, we are also now focusing on select OUS markets, such as Australia, that we feel can add to our top and bottom lines. We anticipate tremendous growth in this new region to drive substantial growth for Titan in the coming quarters and beyond.”

Titan Spine offers a full line of Endoskeleton® titanium implants that feature its proprietary surface technology, consisting of a unique combination of roughened topographies at the macro, micro, and cellular levels. 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), downregulating inflammatory factors, and creating the potential for a faster and more robust fusion.^1,2,3 All Endoskeleton® devices are covered by the company’s risk share warranty.

About Titan Spine

Titan Spine, LLC is a surface technology company focused on the design and manufacture of unique 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 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., portions of Europe, and Australia through its sales force and a network of independent distributors. To learn more, visit www.titanspine.com.

¹ Olivares-Navarrete, R., Hyzy, S.L., Slosar, P.J., Schneider, J.M., Schwartz, Z., and Boyan, B.D. (2015). Implant materials generate different peri-implant inflammatory factors: PEEK promotes fibrosis and micro-textured titanium promotes osteogenic factors. Spine, Volume 40, Issue 6, 399–404.

² 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.

³ 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.