Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Zimmer Biomet's New JuggerStitch to Grow Sports Medicine Line

Read MoreHide Full Article

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (ZBH - Free Report) recently received the FDA’s 510(k) clearance for its meniscal repair device JuggerStitch. This next-generation machine will now be commercially available in the market and help broaden the company’s sports medicine portfolio.

Meniscal Repair in Detail

Going by UW Medicine’s definition, “arthroscopic meniscus repair is an outpatient surgical procedure to repair torn knee cartilage. The torn meniscus is repaired by a variety of minimally invasive techniques and requires postoperative protection to allow healing.”

Athletes involved in contact sports often suffer meniscus tears.

How JuggerStitch is Superior

Per Zimmer Biomet, traditional meniscal fixator repair devices use hard plastic anchors and surface knots. This can cause damage in cartilage and also increases the risk of later complications.

On the contrary, the JuggerStitch equipment has two soft anchors connected by a knotless, self-locking suture loop. This claims to offer a less invasive, all-suture, knotless approach to meniscal repair procedures, thereby improving tissue preservation and enhancing the surgeon's control of the tissue compression at the repair site compared to traditional implants.

Market Potential

According to a Persistence Market Researchreport, the global meniscus repair systems market is expected to reach $771 million in 2028 at a CAGR of 8.7%. Given the current market growth prospects, the latest clearance seems well-timed.

Some Recent Developments

In September, Zimmer Biometalso got the FDA 510(k) consent for its flagship Persona Revision Knee System to facilitate revision knee replacement procedures. With this launch, the company expects to expand its knee replacement product offerings.

In August, the company won the FDA approval for The Tether to be used in treating scoliosis, which will provide young surgical patients with a fusion-less alternative. This was the first approval nod  in the last 15 years for a device of humanitarian use in spinal pediatrics.

Share Price Performance

The company has rallied 10.8% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 5.6% and the S&P 500 Index’s gain of 4.7%.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Currently, Zimmer Biomet carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Baxter International Inc. (BAX - Free Report) , GW Pharmaceuticals PLC and Neurotrope, Inc. (NTRP - Free Report) .

Baxter has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 12.8%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

GW Pharmaceuticals estimates third-quarter earnings growth rate to be 72.9%. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

Neurotrope has a Zacks Rank of 2 and a projected third-quarter earnings growth rate of 27.7%.

Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation

Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.

A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 7 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.

See 7 breakthrough stocks now>>

Published in