Mitek Sports Medicine Introduces Two New Products at AOSSM Meeting

DePuy Mitek Sports Medicine (part of the DePuy Synthes Companies of Johnson & Johnson), has launched Monovisc high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, a single-injection treatment for knee pain related to osteoarthritis, and the PEAK platelet-rich plasma (PRP) system, a new device that produces PRP in only 2.5 minutes.

The products were launched during the annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) in Seattle, Wash.

“Both products are important new early intervention options for sports medicine physicians and their patients,” said Peter Vitanzo, M.D., sports medicine specialist at the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, Pa. “These products give us more non-operative tools to personalize the approach for the individual patient based on their level of activity, degree of injury and treatment preference.”

Monovisc is a single-injection hyaluronan treatment that can provide up to six months of pain relief and helps restore joint mobility in patients suffering from pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee, according to the company. It is injected directly into the knee to help replace the naturally occuring hyaluronan found in healthy joint fluid, and to cushion, protect and lubricate the knee joint. It is for patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative non-pharmacologic therapy and simple analgesics such as acetaminophen. Monovisc is the only single-injection treatment with hyaluronic acid produced from a non-avian source, thereby reducing the risk for allergic reaction in some patients.

Mitek Sports Medicine is the exclusive marketer and distributor of Monovisc and Orthovisc (manufactured by Anika Therapeutics Inc.) high-molecular-weight hyaluronan, a multi-injection hyaluronan treatment also used to treat knee pain due to osteoarthritis. According to the AOSSM, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting nearly 20 million Americans.

The PEAK PRP System (manufactured by DSM Biomedical, but distributed by Mitek), works by separating PRP from a sample of a patient’s own blood. The device produces 3 milliliters of high-quality PRP from 27 milliliters of whole blood in 2.5 minutes, yielding up to seven-times the normal concentration of platelets, according to Mitek officials. The processing time is significantly less than competitor systems that have processing times ranging from 10 to 30 minutes, according to data from DSM Biomedical. In addition, the PEAK PRP System weighs only four pounds, making it smaller and more portable.

PRP injections are designed to use the natural healing factors to treat tendonitis or chronic injuries.

“Our goal with these single- and multiple-injection products, and our new PRP system, is to provide a range of options across the sports medicine patient continuum of care that help return patients to the activities they enjoy as quickly as possible,” said Ian Lawson, worldwide president, Mitek Sports Medicine.

Mitek Sports Medicine develops minimally invasive devices and non-surgical products used in the treatment of joint injuries related to sports and physical activity, as well as degenerative tissue conditions. The company is based in Raynham, Mass.