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February 2-4, 2017

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May 30, 2017 OrthoSpineNews

Gosselies, Belgium, 29 May 2017, 7am CEST – BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, today announces the appointment of Steve Swinson and Damian Marron to its Board of Directors as Non-Executive Directors.

The appointments of Steve Swinson and Damian Marron, effective 26 May 2017, complement an already strong Board of Bone Therapeutics bringing in specific public company, orthopaedic and cell therapy understanding and expertise and will provide ongoing support to the leadership team. Steve Swinson and Damian Marron will replace Jacques Reymann and Jean-Jacques Verdickt.

Steve Swinson has served in a number of senior roles in orthopaedic medical technology and electronics companies, including general management, senior strategy, sales, marketing and commercial operation positions at Medtronic International, a global leader in medical technology. At Medtronic, he led the Spine and Biologics division for Canada and Western Europe, and was Vice President and General Manager for the international spine divison with substantial revenue responsibility. In a 30 year international business career covering Asia, US, Europe and Africa, he has also held senior positions at the diagnostic and medical departments of the blue chip engineering multinationals, General Electric and Hewlett Packard. Steve has a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Manchester and a MBA from the University of Chicago.

Damian Marron is an experienced life sciences executive with a successful track record of value creation through public and venture capital financing, portfolio planning and turnaround, M&A, licensing agreements and research and marketing collaborations. He has particular competencies in cell therapy, immuno-oncology and orphan diseases. Damian served most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Agalimmune and has also served as Chief Executive Officer of TxCell, a France-based specialist in personalised T-cell immunotherapies, where he led the Company’s IPO on Euronext Paris. As Chief Executive Officer of Trophos, France, he helped raise EUR 34 million in financing and positioned the company for a subsequent acquisition by Roche for EUR 700 million. Damian also served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, for NiCox, where he supported the CEO in financing rounds raising over EUR 175 million.

Michel Helbig de Balzac, Chairman of Bone Therapeutics, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Steve and Damian to the Board of Bone Therapeutics. Their collective track record in leadership and value creation in the healthcare sector and their industry knowledge and expertise in orthopaedic medical technology and cell therapy respectively will be a major asset to the Company. They will be a valuable sounding board to the leadership team as it focuses on advancing our innovative allogeneic cell therapy platform towards commercialization. We would like to thank Jacques Reymann and Jean-Jacques Verdickt for their many years of dedication to Bone Therapeutics and wish them the best in their well-deserved retirement.”

Commenting on his appointment, Steve Swinson said: “Bone Therapeutics leads the field in regenerative approaches to orthopaedics and bone diseases, and its allogeneic cell therapy platform has the potential to transform medicine in these areas. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to use my deep experience in orthopaedic medical technology to help support this Company as it advances its technology towards commercialization.”

Damian Marron added: “I am very excited to be joining Bone Therapeutics. I look forward to bringing my experience in strategic development and my expertise in cell therapy to support the Company as it approaches key value inflection points with its innovative allogeneic cell therapy platform.”

About Bone Therapeutics

Bone Therapeutics is a leading cell therapy company addressing high unmet needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases. Based in Gosselies, Belgium, the Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapy products in clinical development across a number of disease areas targeting markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation.

Our technology is based on a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration which turns undifferentiated stem cells into “osteoblastic”, or bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery.

Our primary clinical focus is ALLOB®, an allogeneic “off-the-shelf” cell therapy product derived from stem cells of healthy donors, which is in Phase II studies for the treatment of delayed-union fractures and spinal fusion. The Company also has an autologous bone cell therapy product, PREOB®, obtained from patient`s own bone marrow and currently in Phase III development for osteonecrosis and non-union fractures.

Bone Therapeutics` cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP standards and are protected by a rich IP estate covering nine patent families. Further information is available at: www.bonetherapeutics.com.

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors` current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person`s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Contacts

Bone Therapeutics SA
Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer
Wim Goemaere, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +32 (0)2 529 59 90
investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com

For Belgium and International Media Enquiries:
Consilium Strategic Communications
Amber Fennell, Jessica Hodgson and Hendrik Thys
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5701
bonetherapeutics@consilium-comms.com

For French Media and Investor Enquiries:
NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications
Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Nicolas Merigeau
Tel: + 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94
bone@newcap.eu


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May 30, 2017 OrthoSpineNews

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Since its inception, Paragon 28 has obsessed over every aspect of foot and ankle surgery. Committed to creating tailored solutions to improve surgical outcomes, Paragon 28 has launched innovative products and instrumentation that help to streamline procedures, allow surgeons flexibility in technique and approach, and facilitate reproducible results benefitting both the surgeon and patient.

The PRECISION™ Jones Fracture Screw System is the latest addition to Paragon 28®’s robust foot and ankle specific portfolio.  The system is comprised of 120 unique screw options spread across four screw families (4.0 mm, 4.5 mm, 5.5 mm, and 6.2 mm).  Solid and cannulated options of each screw length (34-60 mm; 65 mm) are available to address varying anatomies and fracture patterns. The screws are constructed from titanium alloy that is type II anodized for improved fatigue strength. All screws have a short thread and blunt tip to minimize disruption to the cortical bone and to ensure the intended trajectory through the intramedullary canal of the 5thmetatarsal is maintained during insertion. Additionally, the screws have a low profile head to minimize prominence and avoid impingement of the cuboid.

The PRECISION™ Jones Fracture Screw System also includes instrumentation designed to facilitate placement of a K-wire high and inside the proximal portion of the 5th metatarsal.  The patent pending PRECISION™ Jones Curved K-wire Guide has a tip which matches the base curvature of the 5th metatarsal and radius of curvature which aims the handle of the guide away from the lateral malleolus and cuboid.  This guide’s primary function is to aid in positioning a nitinol K-wire into the center of the intramedullary canal simplifying placement which may reduce intraoperative fluoroscopy time. Constructed from nitinol, the K-wire will flex and follow the curvature of the intramedullary canal while limiting the chance of broaching the surrounding cortex.

In addition to the Curved K-wire Guide, the system includes implant specific taps, countersinks, and standard and long drills to aid in implanting the screw through either a traditional or cannulated technique.

Product Page:
http://www.paragon28.com/products/jones-fracture-screw-system/

Contact: Jim Edson, Director of Product Management and Marketing, jedson@paragon28.com

SOURCE Paragon 28

Related Links

http://www.paragon28.com


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May 30, 2017 OrthoSpineNews

May 29, 2017

TOULOUSE, France–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Regulatory News:

VEXIM (Paris:ALVXM) (FR0011072602 – ALVXM), a medical device company specializing in the minimally invasive treatment of vertebral fractures, today announces it has received the regulatory approval from ANVISA1, Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency, in order to commercialize the SpineJack® in Brazil.

The approval from ANVISA is a key achievement opening a new opportunity for VEXIM in this important international market with untapped potential. This clearance will provide us with new growth opportunities in this key Latin American market. VEXIM estimates that Brazil alone today represents a €15 million market in the vertebral compression fractures field.

This approval will enable us to have substantial growth in our international business. The Company is expecting to initiate export to Brazil in the coming months, after the conclusion of the product’s evaluation process and of distribution partnerships”, said Vincent Gardès, CEO of VEXIM.

Financial reporting schedule:
2nd quarter sales: July 11th, 20172

About VEXIM, the innovative back microsurgery specialist
Based in Balma, near Toulouse (France), VEXIM is a medical device company created in February 2006. The Company has specialized in the creation and marketing of minimally invasive solutions for treating traumatic spinal pathologies. Benefitting from the financial support of it longstanding shareholder, Truffle Capital3, and from OSEO public subsidies, VEXIM has designed and developed the SpineJack®, a unique implant capable of repairing a fractured vertebra and restoring the balance of the spinal column. The company also developed the MasterflowTM, an innovative solution for mixing and injecting orthopedic cement that enhances the accuracy of the injection and optimizes the overall surgical procedure. The company counts 66 employees, including its own sales teams in Europe and a network of international distributors. VEXIM has been listed on NYSE Alternext Paris since May 3rd 2012. For further information, please visit www.vexim.com

SpineJack®4, an innovative implant for treating Vertebral Compression Fractures
The SpineJack® is designed to restore a fractured vertebra to its original shape, restore the spinal column’s optimal anatomy and thus remove pain and enable the patient to recover their functional capabilities. Thanks to a specialized range of instruments, inserting the implants into the vertebra is carried out by minimally invasive surgery, guided by X-ray, in approximately 30 minutes, which is intended to enable the patient to be discharged shortly after surgery. The SpineJack® range consists of 3 titanium implants with 3 different diameters, thus covering 95% of vertebral compression fractures and all patient morphologies. SpineJack® technology benefits from the support of international scientific experts in the field of spine surgery and worldwide patent protection through to 2029.

Nom : VEXIM
Code ISIN : FR0011072602
Code mnémonique : ALVXM

1 Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária.
2 Indicative date, subject to changes.
3 Founded in 2001 in Paris, Truffle Capital is a leading independent European private equity firm. It is dedicated to investing in and building technology leaders in the IT, life sciences and energy sectors. Truffle Capital manages €550m via FCPRs and FCPIs, the latter offering tax rebates (funds are blocked during 7 to 10 years). For further information, please visit www.truffle.fr and www.fcpi.fr.
4 This medical device is a regulated health product that, with regard to these regulations, bears the CE mark. Please refer to the Instructions for Use.

Contacts

VEXIM
Vincent Gardès, CEO
José Da Gloria, Chief Financial Officer
Tel.: +33 5 61 48 48 38
investisseur@vexim.com
or
PRESS RELATIONS
ALIZE RP
Caroline Carmagnol / Wendy Rigal
Tel.: +33 1 44 54 36 66
Tel.: +33 6 48 82 18 94
vexim@alizerp.com


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May 30, 2017 OrthoSpineNews

WARSAW, Ind., May 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SIX: ZBH), a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of a quarterly cash dividend to stockholders for the second quarter of 2017.

The cash dividend of $0.24 per share will be paid on or about July 28, 2017 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 23, 2017.  Future declarations of dividends are subject to approval of the Board of Directors and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.

About Zimmer Biomet

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer Biomet is a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare. We design, manufacture and market orthopaedic reconstructive products; sports medicine, biologics, extremities and trauma products; office based technologies; spine, craniomaxillofacial and thoracic products; dental implants; and related surgical products.

We collaborate with healthcare professionals around the globe to advance the pace of innovation. Our products and solutions help treat patients suffering from disorders of, or injuries to, bones, joints or supporting soft tissues. Together with healthcare professionals, we help millions of people live better lives.

We have operations in more than 25 countries around the world and sell products in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.zimmerbiomet.com, or follow Zimmer Biomet on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zimmerbiomet.

 

SOURCE Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

www.zimmerbiomet.com


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May 30, 2017 OrthoSpineNews

May 30, 2017

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DJO Global, Inc., a leading global provider of medical technologies designed to get and keep people moving, announced the appointment of Jeffery McCaulley as Global President, DJO Surgical, effective immediately. Mr. McCaulley will succeed Brady Shirley, who was appointed DJO’s President and Chief Executive Officer in November, 2016 after successfully doubling revenue and profitability of DJO Surgical since he joined DJO in 2014.

Mr. McCaulley is an experienced senior executive with more than 25 years in the healthcare industry, most recently serving as President and CEO of Smiths Medical, a $1.2B division of Smiths Group, plc. Before joining Smiths Medical, Mr. McCaulley served as President of the Global Reconstructive Division at Zimmer, where he oversaw five global business units and numerous functions. He held previous roles as President and CEO of the Health Division of Wolters Kluwer and Vice President and General Manager of the Global Diabetes Business Unit at Medtronic. Mr. McCaulley began his career at GE Healthcare, where he held progressively more senior roles during his 13 years there, last serving as President and CEO of GE Clinical Services.

Mr. McCaulley received a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an Executive MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.

“Our Surgical business’ best in market performance has and will continue to be the key transformation catalyst in our company. I am excited to combine Jeff’s talent and experience in the space with our exceptional leadership team. Throughout his career, Jeff has a proven track record of accelerating innovation, improving employee and customer engagement, and delivering results. I look forward to this great next chapter for DJO Surgical!” said Mr. Shirley.

“I am very excited to be joining Brady and the team at DJO,” said Mr. McCaulley. “The growth in recent years has been spectacular and I am convinced that we are positioned to continue to make significant market share gains across our portfolio and have the right internal and external teams to improve key areas of patient care and experience.”

About DJO Global

DJO Global is a leading global provider of medical technologies designed to get and keep people moving. The Company’s products address the continuum of patient care from injury prevention to rehabilitation after surgery, injury or from degenerative disease, enabling people to regain or maintain their natural motion. Its products are used by orthopedic specialists, spine surgeons, primary care physicians, pain management specialists, physical therapists, podiatrists, chiropractors, athletic trainers and other healthcare professionals. In addition, many of the Company’s medical devices and related accessories are used by athletes and patients for injury prevention and at-home physical therapy treatment. The Company’s product lines include rigid and soft orthopedic bracing, hot and cold therapy, bone growth stimulators, vascular therapy systems and compression garments, therapeutic shoes and inserts, electrical stimulators used for pain management and physical therapy products. The Company’s surgical division offers a comprehensive suite of reconstructive joint products for the hip, knee and shoulder. DJO Global’s products are marketed under a portfolio of brands including Aircast®, Chattanooga, CMF™, Compex®, DonJoy®, ProCare®, DJO® Surgical, Dr. Comfort®, Bell-Horn® and Exos™. For additional information on the Company, please visit www.DJOglobal.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements relate to, among other things, the Company’s expectations for continued market performance, sales growth and growth in market share for DJO’s Surgical Segment. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The important factors that could cause actual operating results and market growth to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the successful execution of the Company’s business transformation plans, including achievement of planned actions to improve liquidity, improvements in operational effectiveness, optimization of the Company’s procurement activities, improvements in manufacturing, distribution, sales and operations planning, and actions to improve the profitability of the mix of our product and customers. Other important factors that could cause actual operating results and market growth for our Surgical Segment to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the continued growth of the surgical implant markets the Company addresses and any impact on these markets from changes in global economic conditions; the impact of potential reductions in reimbursement levels and coverage by Medicare and other governmental and commercial payors; the Company’s highly leveraged financial position; the Company’s ability to successfully develop, license or acquire, and timely introduce and market new products or product enhancements; risks relating to the Company’s international operations; resources needed and risks involved in complying with government regulations and government investigations; the availability and sufficiency of insurance coverage for pending and future product liability claims; and the effects of healthcare reform, Medicare competitive bidding, managed care and buying groups on the prices of the Company’s products. These and other risk factors related to DJO are detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2017. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this press release are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict.

Contacts

DJO Investor/Media Contact:
DJO Global, Inc.
David Smith
SVP, Treasurer and Investor Relations
760.734.3075
ir@djoglobal.com


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May 30, 2017 OrthoSpineNews
Source: The Life Sciences Report – May 29, 2017

Assure Neuromonitoring, a wholly owned subsidiary of Assure Holdings Inc. (IOM:TSX.V), provides intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) services. The standard of care in the United States is to provide IONM services to monitor the nervous systems of patients undergoing invasive surgeries such as spine, ear, nose and throat, and others, to monitor the activity and warn the surgeon if he/she is getting close to a nerve, thereby preventing nerve damage.

Most IONM services are staffed by onsite technologists and offsite neurologists who are provided by third-party services, which does not provide consistency or accountability. According to the company, the Assure platform “employs its own staff of highly trained technologists and uses its own state of the art monitoring equipment, handles 100% of intraoperative neuromonitoring scheduling and setup, and bills for all technical services provided.” Assure’s technologists and neurologists are dedicated to specific surgeons and work as a team, thereby developing rapport and trust.

The company notes that “Assure has developed a comprehensive platform that engages all stakeholders including the surgeon, the technologist, the neurologist, and the patient.”

The company began operations in Colorado in 2015 and has primarily serviced spine surgeries. The company plans to expand into additional states and into additional types of surgeries.

 

READ THE REST HERE

 


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May 30, 2017 OrthoSpineNews

 – May 26, 2017

Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb has a plan to tackle high drug prices.

“Simply put, too many patients are priced out of the medicines they need,” Gottlieb said Thursday at the FDA’s budget hearing.

The FDA is responsible for regulating food and drugs. It’s also responsible for regulating medical devices, blood donations, veterinary products, cosmetics, and tobacco. The FDA doesn’t directly play a role in setting drug prices.

Even so, Gottlieb said there are a few main ways he thinks the agency can help.

  • By stopping the industry from gaming regulations to get more time without competition beyond what Congress intended.
  • Making it more straightforward for complex generic drugs to get to market. Complex drugs are devices like the EpiPen or inhalers that competitors have a hard time getting approved. It’s something Gottlieb has been advocating for for years.
  • Getting through of the backlog of generic drug applications.

 

READ THE REST HERE


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May 26, 2017 OrthoSpineNews

SALT LAKE CITY, UT–(Marketwired – May 26, 2017) – Amedica Corporation (NASDAQ: AMDA), an innovative biomaterial company which develops and manufactures silicon nitride as a platform for biomedical applications, announced today that it has delayed the filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 (“Form 10-Q”).

On May 16, 2017, Amedica filed a Form 12b-25, Notification of Late Filing, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding its delayed Form 10-Q. Prior to filing the Form 10-Q the Company requires additional time to fully consider whether there is any potential impairment in relation to certain of its long-lived assets in connection with the completion of the audit of its 2016 financial results and the filing of its 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management and the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors are continuing to work diligently to complete its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and file it with the SEC as soon as possible. Upon filing of the annual report the Company expects to promptly file the Form 10-Q.

Because the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q has been delayed beyond the 5-day extension period of Form 12b-25, on May 23, 2017, Amedica received a written notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) indicating that the Company is not in compliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) because the Company has failed to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Under the NASDAQ Listing Rules, because the Company is also delinquent on filing its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2016, the Company has until June 19, 2017 to submit a plan to NASDAQ as to how it plans to regain compliance with NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements. If the Company is still unable to file its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q by that time, then the Company intends to submit a compliance plan on or prior to that date. If NASDAQ accepts the Company’s plan, NASDAQ can grant an exception of up to 180 calendar days from the filing’s due date, or until September 27, 2017, to regain compliance. The Company may regain compliance at any time during this 180-day period upon filing with the SEC its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, as well as all subsequent required periodic financial reports that are due within that period. If NASDAQ does not accept the Company’s plan, Amedica will have the opportunity to appeal that decision to a NASDAQ Hearings Panel.

The NASDAQ notification letter has no immediate effect on the listing of Amedica’s common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

About Amedica Corporation
Amedica is focused on the development and application of medical-grade silicon nitride ceramics. Amedica markets spinal fusion products and is developing a new generation of wear- and corrosion-resistant implant components for hip and knee arthroplasty. The Company manufactures its products in its ISO 13485 certified manufacturing facility and, through its partnership with Kyocera, the world’s largest ceramic manufacturer. Amedica’s spine products are FDA-cleared, CE-marked, and are currently marketed in the U.S. and select markets in Europe and South America through its distributor network and its OEM partnerships.

For more information on Amedica or its silicon nitride material platform, please visit www.amedica.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties. For example, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our listing on any NASDAQ market. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated within this press release can also be found in Amedica’s Risk Factors disclosure in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 23, 2016, and in Amedica’s other filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, events or circumstances or other factors arising or coming to our attention after the date hereof.

CONTACT INFORMATION


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May 26, 2017 OrthoSpineNews

LEESBURG, Va., May 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — K2M Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTWO) (the “Company” or “K2M”), a global leader of complex spine and minimally invasive solutions focused on achieving three-dimensional Total Body Balance, today announced the launch of the MESA 2 Cricket, an enhancement to the Company’s innovative MESA® 2 Deformity Spinal System. The MESA 2 Cricket provides surgeons the ability to efficiently complete challenging correction maneuvers in all three anatomical planes, with the goal of achieving three-dimensional balance in patients with complex spinal deformities.

The MESA 2 Cricket offers an innovative, 360-degree approach to more easily capture, manipulate, and align a deformed spine as compared to traditional MESA deformity correction instrumentation. This new instrumentation—available for both rods and K2M’s MESA Rail—eliminates the need for reduction screws and allows for simultaneous multi-axial translation and reduction, as well as for quick removal.

“I have been a long-time user of MESA, and have used it to treat multiple spinal pathologies over the years,” said William Clark, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at the Tulsa Bone and Joint Spine Center in Oklahoma and an associate fellow of the Scoliosis Research Society. “I’m excited about this next-generation Cricket; easy just got easier.”

MESA 2—the Company’s flagship platform featuring the innovative MESA Technology—is a state-of-the-art pedicle screw system with wide ranging implants and versatile instruments necessary in the treatment of complex spinal pathologies. Top-loading, dual-lead thread, and low-profile MESA 2 screws feature Zero-Torque Technology®, when combined with one-handed locking instruments, and compared to original MESA screws, increase operative efficiency and eliminate surgical steps without applying torsional stress to the spine.

“We are excited to add the MESA 2 Cricket to our MESA 2 portfolio to coincide with this year’s deformity season,” said K2M’s President and CEO Eric Major. “For over a decade, K2M’s MESA Technology has transformed how surgeons treat complex spinal deformities by focusing on operative efficiency, ease of use, and three-dimensional spinal balance as essential to achieving quality outcomes in patients. We’ve utilized these 3D-correction principles inherent in our MESA Technology as the foundation of our Balance ACS (or BACS) platform, and will continue integrating our core competencies in complex spine innovations—and advancements in 3D solutions—to help achieve Total Body Balance for patients with spinal disorders.”

K2M’s Balance ACS is a comprehensive platform applying three-dimensional solutions across the entire clinical care continuum to help drive quality outcomes in spine patients. BACS provides solutions focused on achieving balance of the spine by addressing each anatomical vertebral segment with a 360-degree approach to the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes, emphasizing Total Body Balance as an important component of surgical success.

To date, more than 56,000 surgical cases using MESA Deformity Spinal Systems have been completed. For more information about the MESA 2 Deformity Spinal System and K2M, visit www.K2M.com. For more information about K2M’s Balance ACS platform, visit www.BACS.com.

About K2M

K2M Group Holdings, Inc. is a global leader of complex spine and minimally invasive solutions focused on achieving three-dimensional Total Body Balance. Since its inception, K2M has designed, developed, and commercialized innovative complex spine and minimally invasive spine technologies and techniques used by spine surgeons to treat some of the most complicated spinal pathologies. K2M has leveraged these core competencies into Balance ACS, a platform of products, services, and research to help surgeons achieve three-dimensional spinal balance across the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes, with the goal of supporting the full continuum of care to facilitate quality patient outcomes. The Balance ACS platform, in combination with the Company’s technologies, techniques, and leadership in the 3D-printing of spinal devices, enable K2M to compete favorably in the global spinal surgery market. For more information, visit www.K2M.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect current views with respect to, among other things, operations and financial performance.  Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts such as our statements about our expected financial results and guidance and our expectations for future business prospects.  In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “guidance,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties including, among other things: our ability to achieve or sustain profitability in the future; our ability to demonstrate to spine surgeons the merits of our products; pricing pressures and our ability to compete effectively generally; collaboration and consolidation in hospital purchasing; inadequate coverage and reimbursement for our products from third-party payors; lack of long-term clinical data supporting the safety and efficacy of our products; dependence on a limited number of third-party suppliers; our ability to maintain and expand our network of direct sales employees, independent sales agencies and international distributors and their level of sales or distribution activity with respect to our products; proliferation of physician-owned distributorships in our industry; decline in the sale of certain key products; loss of key personnel; our ability to enhance our product offerings through research and development; our ability to manage expected growth; our ability to successfully acquire or invest in new or complementary businesses, products or technologies; our ability to educate surgeons on the safe and appropriate use of our products; costs associated with high levels of inventory; impairment of our goodwill and intangible assets; disruptions in our main facility or information technology systems;  our ability to ship a sufficient number of our products to meet demand; our ability to strengthen our brand; fluctuations in insurance cost and availability; our ability to comply with extensive governmental regulation within the United States and foreign jurisdictions; our ability  to maintain or obtain regulatory approvals and clearances within the United States and foreign jurisdictions; voluntary corrective actions by us or our distribution or other business partners or agency enforcement actions; recalls or serious safety issues with our products; enforcement actions by regulatory agencies for improper marketing or promotion; misuse or off-label use of our products; delays or failures in clinical trials and results of clinical trials; legal restrictions on our procurement, use, processing, manufacturing or distribution of allograft bone tissue; negative publicity concerning methods of tissue recovery and screening of donor tissue; costs and liabilities relating to environmental laws and regulations;  our failure or the failure of our agents to comply with fraud and abuse laws; U.S. legislative or Food and Drug Administration regulatory reforms; adverse effects of medical device tax provisions; potential tax changes in jurisdictions in which we conduct business; our ability to generate significant sales; potential fluctuations in sales volumes and our results of operations over the course of the year; uncertainty in future capital needs and availability of capital to meet our needs; our level of indebtedness and the availability of borrowings under our credit facility; restrictive covenants and the impact of other provisions in the indenture governing our convertible  senior notes and our credit facility;  continuing worldwide economic instability; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; patent litigation and product liability lawsuits; damages relating to trade secrets or non-competition or non-solicitation agreements; risks associated with operating internationally; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our ability to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws; increased costs and additional regulations and requirements as a result of being a public company; our ability to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; potential volatility in our stock due to sales of additional shares by our pre-IPO owners or otherwise; our lack of current plans to pay cash dividends; our ability to take advantage of certain reduced disclosure requirements and exemptions as a result of being an emerging growth company; potential dilution by the future issuances of additional common stock in connection with our incentive plans, acquisitions or otherwise; anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and our ability to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval; potential limits on our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements.  These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and our filings with the SEC.

We operate in a very competitive and challenging environment.  New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this release.  We cannot assure you that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.  We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Unless specifically stated otherwise, our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, investments or other strategic transactions we may make.

Media Contact:
Zeno Group on behalf of K2M Group Holdings, Inc.
Christian Emering, 212-299-8985
Christian.Emering@ZenoGroup.com 

Investor Contact:
Westwicke Partners on behalf of K2M Group Holdings, Inc.
Mike Piccinino, CFA, 443-213-0500
K2M@westwicke.com

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May 26, 2017 OrthoSpineNews

LOS ANGELES – Jay R. Lieberman, MD, chair and professor of orthopedic surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California has received a five-year, $2.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to research gene therapy to enhance repair of extensive bone injuries. Examples of these types of injuries include fractures with extensive bone loss, non-healing fractures, failed spinal fusion and revision of total joint replacement.

Lieberman will genetically manipulate human bone marrow cells to overproduce bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), a protein that spurs progenitor cells to produce bone.

“There are a number of bone injuries that are very difficult to repair and lack satisfactory solutions,” Lieberman says. “My goal with this grant is to determine whether genetically modifying human bone marrow cells to overproduce BMP will help heal large bone defects in an animal model and, ultimately, provide a better alternative for repairs in humans.”

Lieberman’s study will determine the efficacy and safety of the gene therapy as well as establish a cellular dose of the genetically manipulated cells that can be scaled up for potential use in humans.

An abstract of the grant, 2R01AR057076-06A1, is available on the NIH RePORTER website.

ABOUT THE KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF USC

Founded in 1885, the Keck School of Medicine of USC is among the nation’s leaders in innovative patient care, scientific discovery, education, and community service. It is part of Keck Medicine of USC, the University of Southern California’s medical enterprise, one of only two university-owned academic medical centers in the Los Angeles area. This includes the Keck Medical Center of USC, composed of the Keck Hospital of USC and the USC Norris Cancer Hospital. The two world-class, USC-owned hospitals are staffed by more than 500 physicians who are faculty at the Keck School. The school today has approximately 1,650 full-time faculty members and voluntary faculty of more than 2,400 physicians. These faculty direct the education of approximately 700 medical students and 1,000 students pursuing graduate and post-graduate degrees. The school trains more than 900 resident physicians in more than 50 specialty or subspecialty programs and is the largest educator of physicians practicing in Southern California. Together, the school’s faculty and residents serve more than 1.5 million patients each year at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, as well as USC-affiliated hospitals Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Keck School faculty also conduct research and teach at several research centers and institutes, including the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine at USC, the USC Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute, the USC Roski Eye Institute and the USC Institute of Urology.

In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked Keck School of Medicine among the Top 40 medical schools in the country. For more information, go to keck.usc.edu.

This press release references support by the National Institutes of Health under award number 2R01AR057076-06A1 ($2,284,028 over five years). One hundred percent of the project’s funding will be federally funded.

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