Press release November 26, 2008 Ortoviva Distractor Gains CE Certification LinkMed's portfolio company Ortoviva, a Swedish innovator of surgical instruments, has gained CE approval for their Distractor system, which improves and simplifies the insertion of disc prostheses in the spinal column. CE approval means that the entire European market is now open for the company. LinkMeds owns 49 percent of the company. Strong demand exists for truly effective instrument solutions that can help surgeons to simply and accurately implant an artificial disc without complications. The lack of proven instruments has limited the sphere of both suitable patients and surgeons. As a result, many people have been forced to continue suffering from back problems, and some may even undergo spinal-fusion procedures that are entirely unnecessary. "Now we can provide a simple set of purpose-built instruments to facilitate deployment of disc prostheses and thus improve the probability for helping more patients return to a painless and normal life," says Ortoviva CEO, Stan Mikulowski. From a functional perspective, the instruments in the Ortoviva Distractor solution hold and separate the two vertebrae adjacent to a damaged disc. This ability to mechanically control position and orientation enormously simplifies disc insertion. "CE certification ensures that Ortoviva and the Distractor solution meet the most rigorous EU requirements. We're already seeing growing interest from clinical specialists as well as disc-implant manufacturers to start using the solution in this rapidly growing market. Before the end of the year we will begin live patient clinical trial programs and we plan to submit an application for FDA approval in the U.S. early in 2009," says Stan Mikulowski. Ortoviva develops instruments for spinal surgery that facilitate the deployment of artificial discs. The company was founded in October 2006 by LinkMed and a group of experts in bio-materials, spinal surgery and medical devices. To see how Distractor works, go to: http://www.ortoviva.com/media/Distraktor.wmv For more information contact: Stan Mikulowski, CEO Ortoviva AB and Tel: 01146 8 50 89 39 42 Also visit www.ortoviva.com and www.linkmed.se. LinkMed develops life-science companies in collaboration with innovators and other financiers. By contributing entrepreneurship and capital, LinkMed has created a portfolio of one subsidiary and eleven associated companies, four in drug development and biotechnology and seven in diagnostics and medical technology. LinkMed's role changes as its portfolio companies develop. The emphasis moves from operational to strategic and the entrepreneurship role evolves into active Board work. The company's principal owners are FastPartner, Koncentra Holding, and the founder Ingemar Lagerlöf. The LinkMed share is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm in the small-cap sector (ticker:LMED).
Ortoviva Distractor Gains CE Certification
| Source: Allenex AB