CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alphatec Holdings, Inc. , a medical device company that provides customized products and a broad suite of solutions for spinal surgery, announced today that it has named J. Patrick Johnson, M.D., M.S., to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Johnson is Director of the Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders in Los Angeles and Co-Director of Cedars-Sinai’s Hyperhidrosis Center. Dr. Johnson also serves as Consultant Neurosurgeon at Fort Harrison VA Medical center in Helena, Montana; and is an Attending Neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, and Harbor/UCLA Medical Center in Torrance.
“Through his commitment to innovative treatments, Dr. Johnson has repeatedly proven himself to be one of this country’s premier thought leaders in the realm of neuro/spinal surgery, and we are extremely proud that he has agreed to serve on our Scientific Advisory Board,” said John Foster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alphatec. “Dr. Johnson’s contributions to the neurosurgical community have been invaluable and his experience and knowledge will be powerful assets to the development of our products, further underscoring Alphatec’s growth strategy and commitment to surgeon-driven product innovation.”
Dr. Johnson’s current areas of research include the development of computerized image guided spinal stereotaxic technology; minimally invasive and endoscopic spinal surgery; bone morphogenetic protein in spinal fusion; outpatient lumbar microdiscectomy; vertebral body replacement; and artificial disc replacement for the cervical and lumbar spine.
Dr. Johnson has led and participated in numerous clinical studies involving the treatment of spinal disorders and has authored a number of papers published in clinical journals. He is a member of an array of professional organizations, including the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the North American Spine Society and the California Association of Neurological Surgeons, among others.
Dr. Johnson received a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, and then attended Oregon Health Sciences University where he received both a Masters of Science degree in anatomy and neuroendocrinology and his medical degree. He completed his surgical internship and neurosurgery residency at The University of California, Los Angeles, had a neurology/neurosurgery fellowship at the National Hospital for Nervous diseases in London, a spine fellowship at the University of South Florida / Tampa General Hospital and a spinal surgery fellowship at the University of Tennessee.
The appointment of Dr. Johnson increases Alphatec’s Scientific Advisory Board to seven members and places him among the esteemed company of existing SAB members including Stephen H. Hochschuler, M.D.; Bret B. Abshire, M.D.; Frank Eismont, M.D.; Steven Garfin, M.D.; Frank Phillips, M.D.; and James J. Yue, M.D.
About Alphatec
Alphatec is a medical device company focused on the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of products for the surgical treatment of spine disorders. Alphatec’s product offerings are primarily focused on the U.S. spine market, which is estimated to approach $3 billion in 2007, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alphatec Spine, Inc., and include a variety of spinal implant products and systems comprised of components such as spine screws, spinal spacers, and plates that offer multiple solutions to address patients’ needs. In addition to Alphatec’s U.S. presence, it also participates in the Japanese spine fusion and orthopedic trauma markets through its subsidiary, Alphatec Pacific, Inc. Alphatec’s mission is to be a value-based leader in the spinal device market by providing unmatched service to and taking scientific direction from its surgeon customers. Alphatec does so through its unique in-house manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California, that allows us to respond quickly to surgeon needs and to customize innovative products needed for spine fusion surgery. Additional information is available at http://www.alphatecspine.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainty. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward- looking statements. Alphatec cautions investors that there can be no assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: Alphatec’s ability to maintain its level of previously reported sales growth, Alphatec’s ability to manage, develop and expand its spine fusion business in the United States and Japan, Alphatec’s ability to expand and maintain a successful sales and marketing organization, continuation of favorable third party payor reimbursement for procedures performed using our products, unanticipated expenses or liabilities or other adverse events affecting cash flow or Alphatec’s ability to achieve profitability, uncertainty of additional funding, uncertainty of success in developing any new products or acquiring or licensing leading technologies in the spine industry on terms acceptable to the company, failure to successfully introduce and develop new products, including products related to license agreements, failure to obtain FDA clearance or approval for particular devices, Alphatec’s ability to compete with other competing products and with emerging new technologies within and outside of spinal fusion, product liability exposure, patent infringement claims and claims related to our intellectual property. Please refer to the risks detailed in Alphatec’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by law.
Contact: Alphatec Spine, Inc. Steven Yasbek Chief Financial Officer (760) 431-9286 SYasbek@alphatecspine.com Noonan Russo Matthew Haines (212) 845-4235 Matthew.Haines@eurorscg.com
Alphatec Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Alphatec Spine, Inc., Steven Yasbek, Chief Financial Officer,+1-760-431-9286, SYasbek@alphatecspine.com; Noonan Russo, Matthew Haines,+1-212-845-4235, Matthew.Haines@eurorscg.com, for Alphatec Holdings, Inc.
Web site: http://www.alphatecspine.com/
