The Spine-Tech Division of Sulzer Medica to Begin Marketing Tutogen Tutoplast Bone Products
CLIFTON, N.J.--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 17, 2000--Tutogen Medical Inc. (AMEX: TTG), today announced that Spine-Tech, a division of Sulzer Medica (NYSE: SM), a leading provider of spinal implants and instruments for spinal surgery, will begin to market the Company's Tutoplast(R) bone products for spinal application in September 2000.
Mr. Manfred Krueger, President & CEO of Tutogen commented, "Over 1,000,000 allograft procedures in Europe and elsewhere have been performed using Tutoplast(R) processed tissue since the process was introduced more than 25 years ago. Through this partnership with Sulzer's Spine-Tech, we will be able to use our expanded facilities to meet the demands of the major markets throughout the United States that will now be accessible."
Mr. P. Richard Lunsford, President of Sulzer Spine-Tech stated, "Although Tutoplast tissue has been widely used, it has not been readily available in the U.S. With our implementation later this year of the global marketing agreement with Tutogen, physicians around the U.S. as well as the rest of the world will be able to obtain and use safe, strong and advanced allograft bone product available for spinal applications." He concluded, "In the months following the initial availability of Tutogen's products, we expect to expand those product offerings to include Tutogen's specialized bone shapes and delivery instruments."
Sulzer Spine-Tech designs, develops, manufactures and markets spinal implants and instruments for the less-invasive surgical treatment of degenerative disk and other spinal conditions. Sulzer Spine-Tech is a subsidiary of Sulzer Medica headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland. Sulzer Medica develops, manufactures and markets implantable medical devices and biomaterials for the dental cardiovascular and orthopedic markets worldwide. Sulzer Medica stock is traded on the Swiss Stock Exchange: (SMEN) and the New York Stock Exchange: (SM).
Tutogen Medical, Inc. utilizes its patented Tutoplast(R)process of tissue preservation and viral inactivation, to manufacture bioimplants for neurosurgical, orthopedic, reconstructive and general surgical indications. The Company's Tutoplast(R)products are sold and distributed worldwide by the Mentor Corporation (NMS: MNTR), Sulzer Medica (NYSE: SM), IOP, Inc. and through subsidiaries in the U.S. and Germany. |
