Lackluster Sales of the Charité Artificial Discs due to Reimbursement Woes

According to a new report by Millennium Research Group (MRG), the US market for spinal implants will grow steadily over the next 5 years, attaining annual sales of over $5 billion in 2010.

(PRWEB) November 9, 2005 -- The spinal implant market continues to be one of the fastest-growing markets in the orthopedic industry. It is estimated that over 30 million Americans suffer low back pain at any given time, and a growing number opt for spinal fusions. In the past several years the spinal implant market has benefited from solid market fundamentals, such as robust volume growth attributed to an aging population, increased demand for premium products, a greater penetration of orthobiologics, and a more knowledgeable patient base. Although the landscape of this market will continue to be driven by the aging US population, the advent of motion preservation technologies will expand the number of potential surgical candidates, leading to robust revenue growth over the forecast period. According to a new report by Millennium Research Group (MRG), the US market for spinal implants will grow steadily over the next 5 years, attaining annual sales of over $5 billion in 2010.

The US approval of the SB Charité III lumbar artificial disc was hailed by many as a watershed event in the field of spinal surgery. Nonetheless, sales to date have been rather disappointing due to an unfavorable reimbursement environment as well as a steep learning curve associated with the implantation technique. Over the next several years, however, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is expected to create a dedicated reimbursement code for motion preservation devices, thereby facilitating greater penetration of these devices. Consequently, the entire motion preservation device market will increase exponentially as patient awareness and patient demand for these technologies increases. Over the forecast period, the motion preservation market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 60%.

MRG’s US report is part of the Global Markets for Spinal Implants series, which includes analysis of Europe, Asia Pacific, and key industry competitors. The global report series covers over 40 competitors including Medtronic Sofamor Danek (MDT), DePuy Spine (JNJ), Synthes Spine, Zimmer Spine (ZMH), Stryker (SYK), Osteotech (OSTE), EBI Spine (BMET), Abbott Spine (ABT), Blackstone Medical, NuVasive, Aesculap, and Scient’X.

A leading source of competitive intelligence, MRG is now the largest provider of medical device market research in the world. Located in Toronto, Canada, MRG covers global markets and has pioneered reporting of numerous emerging products.

Contact Information:
Nilesh Patel
Millennium Research Group Inc.
+1 (416) 364-7776 ext.121
npatel@mrg.net
www.mrg.net

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