Cartiva's Synthetic Cartilage Implant for treating arthritis at the base of the great toe will instantly be Wright's most profitable product and one of its fastest growing.

Global sales of orthobiologics for musculoskeletal soft tissue replacement and regeneration are predicted to hit $1.4bn by 2021, driven largely by rising numbers of sports injuries requiring treatment, but also by a higher prevalence of osteoarthritis and a need for innovative treatments for musculoskeletal repair. This article offers an in-depth look at the orthobiologics market landscape for cartilage, meniscus and ligament/tendon replacement and regeneration, as well as insight from an orthopedic surgeon. It also analyzes key players in these markets and highlights emerging trends and the greatest barriers for wider adoption of products.

Medtech companies brought in $2.3 billion in financing in Q1 2017, a slight decrease from Q4 2016; device M&A deals totaled $5.8 billion, a sharp decline from the prior quarter, but there were some billion-dollar deals. Q1 diagnostics financings – totaling $1.2 billion (thanks to a $900 million Series B round by cancer diagnostics company Grail) – showed a significant increase over the preceding quarter, as did the Q1 M&As at $700 million versus the previous $87 million.

Cartiva, a toe implant to treat osteoarthritis, received a strong recommendation from a panel of FDA experts despite suggestions that the device had not fully proven itself.