International Life Sciences Appoints CEO of Artelon

International Life Sciences, LLC, announced the appointment of Aaron C. Smith as chief executive officer of Artelon, developer of synthetic biomaterial technology for orthopedic soft tissue reinforcement.
 
Smith is a 23-year orthopedic industry veteran and biomedical engineer who joins the company after 6 years with Amniox Medical, a subsidiary of TissueTech. As Co-founder and general manager of Amniox Medical, Smith and his team launched the first amniotic membrane and umbilical cord tissue product into the orthopedic reconstruction and wound care space, establishing the company as a leader in the $600 million regenerative tissue market. During his previous tenure as Senior Director, Extremity Management Group with Wright Medical Technology Inc., Smith oversaw the transformation of the company’s legacy extremities portfolio from a niche product line into a market leader in the burgeoning Foot and Ankle Surgery market. Smith also served in leadership roles with Spinal Concepts (acquired by Abbott Laboratories in 2003), Xomed Surgical Products (acquired by Medtronic in 1999), and Acromed (acquired by DePuy Orthopedics in 1997).
 
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Aaron Smith to Artelon,” said Mark Cohen, Chairman of the Board, International Life Sciences. “His established track record of bringing innovative technologies to bear in emerging musculoskeletal markets is an excellent and timely fit for our organization. Under Aaron’s leadership, we look forward to fulfilling the promise of our Artelon technology.”
 
Artelon’s biomaterials were developed specifically for medical applications and have demonstrated long-term clinical benefit to patients. The materials are made from a unique polymer textile that provides mechanical strength and tissue scaffolding, while degrading in a highly predictable fashion. They are sterile and biologically inert and avoid the unpredictability and safety concerns associated with reinforcement grafts manufactured from donated human tissue. Artelon’s products are available in the United States and select international markets through its network of independent sales agents.
 
“Artelon has a suite of proprietary biomaterials that has been in development for over 30 years and has been used by some of the most prominent orthopedists in the world to benefit more than 30,000 patients,” said Smith. “There is an impressive trove of scientific evidence and intellectual property supporting this unique technology. In our markets of interest, Artelon is well differentiated and highly complementary to other emerging regenerative technologies. We have an excellent opportunity to leverage our core competencies to solve major unmet clinical needs and ultimately improve patient care, recovery and surgical outcomes.”