Howmedica is a leader
in the musculoskeletal field,
supplying the world with joint
implants and endoprostheses,
primarily for hips and knees. |
Health Care – Medical Technology
Medical Technology Group (MTG) produces innovative medical devices to serve the diverse needs of orthopedic surgeons, cardiologists, radiologists, urologists, and other health care professionals and their patients.
Howmedica—Musculoskeletal
Howmedica is a leading worldwide supplier of joint implants and endoprostheses, mainly for hips and knees; bone cement; spinal-fixation devices; internal- and external-fixation devices for trauma; and plates and screws for skull and facial surgery. Despite worldwide pricing pressures and weakening foreign currencies, 1997 sales of Howmedica grew 4 percent due to significant volume growth—8 percent excluding the effects of foreign exchange.
 It is estimated that 40 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis, which can result in severe impairment of the joints, most commonly hips and knees. Approximately 125,000 Americans undergo surgery each year to replace defective hip joints. Howmedica offers a wide range of hip implants to help restore normal joint function to incapacitated patients. Howmedica’s leading hip system, the Partnership, includes a broad selection of both cemented and cementless prostheses, for both primary and revision procedures, all with a common instrumentation platform. This system was enhanced in 1997 with the addition of the Citation anatomic stem, as well as the Reliance PF implant designed for use in older patients. The Exeter hip system, with a quarter century of excellent clinical performance, as well as the cementless ABG Hip continue to be well received in international markets.
Howmedica’s largest-selling knee system, the Duracon, combines the durability of vitallium alloy with increased conformity and contact and therefore less wear of the polyethylene cushion between femorotibial surfaces. The Monogram instrument system, which is specified for the Duracon, allows surgeons to customize total knee surgery to meet their patients’ individual needs. The Kinemax and Interax knee systems continue to achieve strong international sales. In 1997, new knee and hip systems began incorporating a new ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material, Duration, that exhibits significantly reduced wear (see feature below).
Howmedica’s Simplex P is the gold standard in bone cement. After more than 25 years of clinical use, it remains the bone cement of choice among U.S. orthopedic surgeons.
It is estimated that osteoporosis contributes to more than 1.5 million fractures in America each year, including about half a million fractures of the vertebrae and a quarter million fractures each of the hip and wrist. The incidence of these events is growing rapidly as the population ages. The lifetime risk of hip fracture is about 5 percent in men and about 15 percent in women, who are more susceptible to bone density loss after menopause. Bone fractures from osteoporosis, accidents, and other causes have increased the demand for trauma products—internal- and external-fixation devices. Howmedica sells a broad range of trauma products, ranging from the Alta rodding and plating system to the Grosse & Kempf and Gamma intramedullary nails and the Omega compression hip screws. The Leibinger Companies, acquired in 1996, are pioneers and continue to be leaders in manufacturing and supplying plates and screws for skull, facial, hand, and foot surgery.Schneider—Interventional
In 1997, Schneider, Pfizer’s interventional cardiology business, experienced strong growth in demand for stents, offset by lower sales of angioplasty products due to price erosion, increasing product competition, and the effect of weakening foreign currencies.
Schneider pioneered the field of angioplasty and more than 20 years ago made the balloon catheter for the first clinical procedure. Angiography and angioplasty have become leading procedures for locating and clearing blockages in blood vessels caused by the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. About 4 million coronary angiographies and 1 million coronary angioplasties are performed worldwide on coronary arteries each year, with an additional 2 million angiographies and 300,000 angioplasties conducted on peripheral vessels. Schneider, a leader in interventional cardiology, offers a diversity of balloon catheter lines, including the Goldie, the Bonnie, and the Asuka throughout the world, and the Takumi in Europe and Japan.
Once blood vessels are cleared, wire mesh cylinders called stents are often implanted to keep these passages open. Stents can also be implanted in peripheral body lumens, such as bile ducts, tracheal and bronchial passages, and the iliac artery. Schneider’s Wallstent is the world leader in peripheral uses, and it is now marketed for coronary use in many international markets. Clinical development of the Wallstent for coronary use in the United States is at an advanced stage; clinical studies are also proceeding for use of the Wallstent in the carotid artery. Stent-graft devices designed for treating occlusive disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms are also under clinical evaluation.
Schneider’s product lines in interventional cardiology are complemented by the comprehensive NAMIC range of ancillary devices. This includes manifolds, syringes, fluid delivery sets, and transducers used in angiographies and angioplasties. American Medical Systems—Urology
While increasing competition, particularly new impotence products, contributed to lower sales for American Medical Systems (AMS) in 1997, the Company launched new products and indications. Products addressing significant opportunities are also in clinical development.
AMS is the world’s leading manufacturer of penile implants for erectile dysfunction, with a broad range of inflatable and malleable devices. The near-term expansion of nonsurgical treatment options, including the advance to market of Pfizer’s pharmaceutical Viagra, is expected in due course to greatly increase the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction, with surgical implants remaining a preferred option for some patients.
In April 1997, the Company launched its Urolume product in the United States for relief from urinary obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland which affects more than half of the men over 60. Urolume was originally introduced in the United States in 1996 for recurrent bulbous urethral stricture and remains the only approved urological stent in the United States.
Approximately 3 million American women suffer from urinary stress incontinence. AMS’s launch of the Mainstay Soft Tissue Anchor provides a viable alternative for these patients. In addition, a revolutionary new approach to treating incontinence is being pursued in the collaboration between AMS and Reprogenesis L.P., focusing on tissue-engineering techniques on autologous cartilage cells. The project also promises an effective treatment for the 1 percent of newborn babies suffering from vesico-ureteral reflux disease.
During 1997, AMS expanded its international trials and made significant progress in the U.S. clinical trial for the Artificial Bowel Sphincter (ABS), a treatment for fecal incontinence. Valleylab
In December 1997, Pfizer announced the sale of Valleylab, a manufacturer of electrosurgical and ultrasonic surgical equipment, to United States Surgical Corporation for $425 million. In January 1998, Pfizer completed the sale. Subsequent Event
In February 1998, the Company announced that it is exploring strategic options for the Medical Technology Group. Options include the divestiture of all or part of the businesses in a public or private transaction. |
