From Medtronic's new spine leader to Johnson & Johnson's planned split, here are eight key updates from spine and orthopedic device companies in the last week:
1. Johnson & Johnson is dividing into two separate companies; one will focus on its medical devices and drugs, and the other will focus on consumer health products.
2. Harry "Skip" Kiil has been appointed president of Medtronic's cranial and spinal technologies operating unit, effective Jan. 4.
3. Stryker launched the Prophecy Infinity resect-through guides for total ankle replacement surgeries.
4. Accelus, a minimally invasive spine device company, plans to merge with CHP Merger Corp. The businesses entered into an agreement Nov. 14 to combine, and the resulting company will have an estimated pro-forma enterprise value of $482 million.
5. NuVasive's stock jumped 9 percent Nov. 15 after a report that Globus Medical made a preliminary takeover approach.
6. Colfax, DJO's parent company, named its upcoming spinoff orthopedic brand, CEO Matt Trerotola said in a Nov. 4 third quarter earnings call.
7. The American Medical Association accepted a new CPT add-on code for the second level of lumbar total disc replacement procedures. The code will go into effect in 2023.
8. Aurora Spine reached a sales milestone in the third quarter, according to financial results posted Nov. 16. Read more details here.