Simplify Medical, developer of the Simplify cervical artificial disc, appointed two new members to its executive team, effective immediately.
Here are six notes:
1. Brian Polonet steps into the role of vice president, sales and marketing. In this position he will head initiatives to boost increased adoption in Europe and prepare for a Simplify cervical artificial disc U.S. commercial launch.
2. Equipped with 17 years of experience in the spine field, Mr. Polonet previously served as a managing partner at TDR Associates. Throughout his career he was vice president of sales and marketing at Paradigm Surgical, and vice president of sales at SpinalMotion.
3. Kim Norton now serves as vice president, reimbursement. She will manage payer relations and oversee development and evolution of Simplify Medical's reimbursement strategy.
4. Ms. Norton has 20-plus years of experience in the reimbursement, outcomes research and government relations fields. She previously served as head of reimbursement and payer relations for Aesculap as well as VP of reimbursement fro LDR Spine and DePuy Synthes.
5. The company also promoted Beth Neil to vice president of clinical affairs and Mark Alvis to vice president of quality assurance and operations.
6. Simplify Medical is in the midst of investigational device exemption clinical trials testing its cervical artificial disc for implantation between C3 and C7. The company has 166 patients enrolled at 16 U.S. sites for its one-level trial. By the end of the year, the company hopes to have 200 patients enrolled at 18 centers for its two-level study.