DePuy Synthes Acquires Biomedical Enterprises

DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., part of the DePuy Synthes companies of Johnson & Johnson, has acquired privately held BioMedical Enterprises Inc. (BME), a manufacturer of Nitinol orthopedic implants for small bone fixation. The implants are used to treat bunions, hammertoes and other foot and ankle deformities, as well as hand and wrist deformities.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
 
The BME acquisition reinforces Johnson & Johnson medical devices focus on accelerating and strengthening DePuy Synthes’ portfolio of elective extremity procedures —providing a more complete solution for foot and ankle and hand and wrist specialists.
 
BME is based in San Antonio, Texas, and serves healthcare professionals in the United States and select markets throughout the world. BME, founded more than a decade ago, was one of the first U.S. manufacturers of Nitinol metal implants for musculoskeletal fixation and uses memory metal implants for bone fixation. Nitinol is a nickel-titanium alloy that provides dynamic continuous active compression, which helps to promote healing after bone fixation. BME implants come ready-to-use on a sterilized, pre-loaded, fully disposable insertion tool.
 
“BME’s technology is an excellent complement to our portfolio of solutions that spans all of orthopedics,” said Ciro Römer, company group chairman, DePuy Synthes. “The BME portfolio will be integrated into our trauma platform, where we will be able to expand the availability of these solutions, increase the pace of innovation in this area, and reach more patients around the world. We look forward to welcoming the BME employees to DePuy Synthes.”
 
DePuy Synthes develops solutions in the specialties of joint reconstruction, trauma, neurological, craniomaxillofacial, spinal surgery and sports medicine. The company’s implants and instruments are also used for the surgical treatment of orthopedic deformities and tumor diseases.