USA – Smith+Nephew, a global medical technology company, has announced the acquisition of Engage Surgical, the owner of the only cementless unicompartmental (partial) knee system commercially available in the United States.

Based in Orlando, Florida Engage Surgical created its partial knee system as a novel, modern, cementless knee implant with the goal of maximizing long-term fixation through biologic integration, shorter operating times, and a shift to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).

This acquisition reinforces Smith+Nephew’s growth strategy by transforming its business through innovation and acquisition, while also providing differentiation for its customers.

According to Randy Kilburn, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Reconstruction, Robotics, and Digital, Smith+Nephew is now the only medical device company offering both cemented and cementless partial knee implants in the US, as well as robotics-assistance through the CORI Surgical System that is well-suited for the precise alignment needed.

Smith+Nephew’s Robotics and Real Intelligence strategy will be bolstered by the acquisition. Because of the need for precise alignment, partial knee procedures are well-suited for robotics, and Smith+Nephew’s CORI Surgical System already supports the cemented JOURNEY II unicompartmental knee.

The acquisition will cost up to US$135 million in total, depending on sales performance. Smith+Nephew paid for the acquisition with existing cash and debt resources.

The Engage Surgical Partial Knee System has been optimized for robotics and will be used with CORI in the future.

With an increasing proportion of knee procedures performed in ASCs, Engage Surgical’s Partial Knee System complements Smith+Nephew’s focus on serving the growing outpatient market.

Smith+Nephew anticipates that with Engage Surgical’s Partial Knee System, it will be able to drive market expansion in the United States and, in time, other markets as regulatory approvals are obtained.

Engage Surgical’s Partial Knee System has received regulatory clearance in the United States, where it is currently available in a limited market release.

The partial knee market is currently worth around US$300 million in the United States and is expected to grow at a faster rate than the total knee market, at around 4% per year through 2029, cites the press release.

Smith+Nephew anticipates that cementless partial knees will outpace overall partial knees, in line with recent trends in the cementless segment.

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