Toulouse, February 28th 2013 - Vexim (FR0011072602 - ALVXM), a medical device company specialising in minimally-invasive treatment of vertebral fractures, today announced the acquisition of an innovative technological system in the injection of orthopaedic cement for its development in vertebroplasty.
Major acquisition in vertebroplasty
Thanks to its SpineJack® implant, Vexim already had revolutionary technology for the mini-invasive treatment of vertebral compression fractures, notably enabling the anatomic restoration of fractured vertebra and the reestablishment of the spinal column’s balance.
Thanks to the acquisition of a brand new system for mixing and injecting orthopaedic cement that complements the Company’s SpineJack® technology, Vexim is expanding its presence in the field of vertebroplasty, which currently represents around half of mini-invasive procedures in the treatment of vertebral compression. This new system will thus allow surgery to be performed on indications where priority is given to stabilising the fracture and eliminating pain by injecting cement into the vertebra.
This innovation, patented and acquired in the form of an exclusive worldwide licence, will provide real benefits for physicians and patients alike thanks to its unique competitive advantages:
• compatibility with the use of ultra-high-viscosity cement, thus limiting the risk of leakage and allowing controlled cement distribution in the vertebra;
• precision injection: control and immediate stop of the injection;
• safe and secure technique: the physician has better control when carrying out the injection whilst maximizing the radiation safety distance;
• user friendly: an injection system with increased strength that can be manipulated with one hand.
Launch in Europe and the United States in 2014
Simultaneously to its European launch in 2014, Vexim is considering introducing this unique system in the US market, which represents 60% of the vertebroplasty market by value[1]. This innovative system thus provides a real opportunity to access one of the world’s largest markets.
A comprehensive and innovative range on a high-potential market
Thanks to this positioning on the vertebroplasty segment and its exclusive vertebral restoration solution using the SpineJack®, Vexim will have a comprehensive offer in the innovative treatment of vertebral fractures, a dynamic market that is expected to see double-digit growth over the coming years. This trend is backed by socio-demographic factors associated with an aging population, increasing awareness by health professionals and better healthcare cover. Vexim intends to meet these growing needs by pursuing its innovation and marketing efforts in relation to its avant-garde solutions, the aim being to eventually become the European leader in innovative back microsurgery.
Vincent Gardès, CEO of Vexim, comments: “At the time of our IPO almost a year ago, as a young innovative company in the minimally-invasive spine surgery area, we pledged to become even more innovative every year in order to continually strengthen our competitive advantage. Thanks to this new solution in the field of vertebroplasty, we are proving that innovation is the driving force behind our development and the cornerstone of our continued growth.”
About Vexim, the innovative back microsurgery specialist
Based in Balma, near Toulouse (France), Vexim is a medical device specialist created in February. The Company has specialised in the creation and marketing of mini-invasive solutions for treating traumatic spinal pathologies. Benefitting from the financial support of its longstanding shareholders, Truffle Capital[2] and Banexi Venture, and from OSEO public subsidies, Vexim has designed and developed the SpineJack®, a unique implant capable of repairing a deformed or fractured vertebra and correcting the anatomy of the spinal column. The Company currently has 40 staff. It has its own sales teams in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as distributors in Turkey, Argentina, India, Mexico, Brazil and United Arab Emirates. Vexim has been listed on NYSE Alternext Paris since 3 May 2012.
For further information, please go to www.vexim.com
SpineJack®, a revolutionary implant for treating Vertebral Compression Fractures
The revolutionary aspect of the SpineJack® lies in its ability 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 in a mini-invasive manner, guided by X-ray, in approximately 30 minutes, enabling 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 spinal columns, good medical-expense reimbursement systems in Europe and worldwide patent protection through to 2029.
