ZimVie Inc., the Colorado-based spine and dental spin-off from Zimmer Biomet, is expanding its existing partnership with Munich, Germany-based Brainlab AG—a company that has pioneered and led the drive to bring digital technologies into the surgery suite.
Under their expanded agreement, the two companies will be collaborating to blend ZimVie’s Vital™ and Virage® spinal fixation systems with Brainlab’s spine and trauma technologies. The agreement is for a global co-marketing presence.
The joint project between the two companies is intended to help surgeons plan and execute spinal procedures, accurately place pedicle screws, and minimize radiation exposure. In addition, ZimVie will co-market the Brainlab spine and trauma navigation technologies alongside its existing spine implant solutions globally.
ZimVie President and CEO Vafa Jamali said, “We are excited to partner with Brainlab to bring into the operating room differentiated technology aiming at enhancing workflow and accuracy for surgeons and staff.”
In addition, said Jamali, “We have been focused on expanding our portfolio with enabling technology to drive greater adoption across our spine portfolio. Our common interest in delivering clinical and economic value to our customers and patients aligns perfectly with ZimVie’s strategic initiatives.”
Rebecca Whitney, president of Global Spine at ZimVie, said, “As the provider of an advanced portfolio of spine enabling technologies in the market, Brainlab is an ideal partner in our mission to make spine surgery more efficient and reproducible without compromising accuracy and safety.”
Furthermore, she said, “We will benefit from a complementary customer base with little overlap in existing accounts. The introduction of the Brainlab portfolio of enabling technologies to ZimVie surgeon customers represents potential upside for both companies and helps us to make an impact on the lives of physicians and patients.”
ZimVie
ZimVie, which was spun off from Zimmer Biomet on March 1, 2022, reported that first half 2023 sales reached $450 million, of which spine represented $211 million (47%) and dental products represented $239 million (53%). In terms of operating profit, ZimVie generated $66 million in the first half of this year, of which dental products contributed $45 million or 71%).
For the full year, the company expects to generate between $850-870 million in total sales and earn an EBITDA profit margins of between 13.5-14.0%.
Brainlab
Brainlab was founded in Munich in 1989, by CEO Stefan Vilsmeier, at age 17. His first product was a mouse-controlled, menu-driven surgical planning and navigation software program. He was at the time a student at the University of Vienna and he exhibited his program at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, D.C. in 1992.
Stefan Vilsmeier is a self-taught computer programmer, German entrepreneur, inventor, author, and founder, president and CEO of Brainlab.
In recent years Brainlab has been expanding its digital capabilities significantly.
In 2009, Brainlab began a partnership with Voyant Health, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based company focusing on orthopedic technology. In 2011, Brainlab announced that it would acquire Voyant Health.
Brainlab acquired Medineering and its line of robot-assisted surgery devices on March 20, 2019. In 2020, Brainlab announced two additional acquisitions—VisionTree Software Inc., a San Diego-based company that develops cloud-based, patient-centric data collection and health management solutions and Level Ex, a Chicago-based medical video game maker.
In June 2020, Brainlab announced the creation of Snke OS a Brainlab subsidiary (approx. 150 employees) creating the first digital health technology platform for surgery.
In March 2021 Brainlab acquired Mint Medical which develops image reading and reporting software for clinical routine and research.
In May 2022, Brainlab acquired a majority interest in the robotic and medical device developer and manufacture MedPhoton—a company focused on intraoperative imaging and a mobile imaging robot, Loop-x.
In September 2022, Brainlab announced the acquisition of Dr. Langer Medical GmbH, a family-owned company that specializes in the development of intraoperative neuromonitoring solutions and related equipment for surgical interventions.
Brainlab’s various innovative digital ecosystems are employed in 6,300 hospitals in 120 countries. The company has been at the forefront of health technology for over 30 years. The company employs around 2,200 people.
