Stryker Plans Total Knee Replacement Trial For MAKO Robotic Surgery Platform
By Joel Lindsey
After closing its acquisition of MAKO Surgical at the end of 2013, Stryker recently announced plans to launch a trial in 2014 that will test the effectiveness of MAKO robotic surgery applications for full knee replacements.
“Two areas of initial focus, which we are currently evaluating, are enabling Stryker-marketed implants to be put on the robot software and starting the trial for a total knee application.” Stryker VP of strategy and investor relations Katherine A. Owen told investors. “Given the short time since the close, we are not prepared to provide specifics on these two items. However, we do anticipate starting the total knee trial in the first half of this year.”
The announcement came as part of the company’s Q4 performance report, and, despite company representatives’ reticence in disclosing details regarding the upcoming trial, much of the report centered on the company’s future plans for its recent acquisition.
“We believe MAKO has demonstrated excellent market acceptance of their partial knee application,” Owen said. “However, our analysis suggests there’s a bigger opportunity in total hips and total knees to leverage Stryker’s reconstructive implants. We look forward to sharing more regarding our plans for robotic-assisted surgery later in 2014.”
Stryker’s announcement arrives amidst a flurry of criticism about the broader robotic-assisted surgery industry.
One day after Stryker’s announcement, for example, The Wall Street Journal reported recent drops in both the share prices and quarterly earnings of robotic-assisted surgery company Intuitive Surgical Inc.
“The company has continued to face challenges from customer concerns about the safety and cost effectiveness of its da Vinci robots, in addition to ... lower hospital spending related to the U.S. health-care policy overhaul,” the article reports.
Despite the criticisms and dips in earnings elsewhere in the industry, Kevin A. Lobo, Stryker’s president, CEO, and director, remained optimistic.
“We are excited to have closed the acquisition of MAKO at the end of 2013,” Lobo said. “U.S. reconstructive sales were up 9%, reflecting a 10% increase in hips and 8% growth in knees, a stellar performance.”