Zimmer Biomet underwent major leadership changes and received approval for several new spine and orthopedic devices this year.
Seven key developments for Zimmer Biomet in 2019:
1. Zimmer Biomet brought Carrie Nichol on board to serve as the company's vice president, controller and chief accounting officer, effective Oct. 1. Ms. Nichol joined from Endo International, where she served in similar positions. She began her career as a public accountant at KPMG and holds an MBA from Villanova (Pa.) University.
2. The Tether, Zimmer Biomet's anterior vertebral body tethering treatment for pediatric scoliosis, received FDA approval in August. The Tether offers patients an option to achieve a straighter spine without having to undergo spinal fusion.
3. The company sent an urgent recall letter to hospitals and surgeons concerning its legacy Biomet products in September. Zimmer Biomet said it was conducting voluntary field safety corrective action following concerns about an unnamed supplier that performs cleaning operations on its products.
4. Zimmer Biomet appointed Suketu Upadhyay to replace CFO Daniel Florin in July. Mr. Florin spent 12 years with the company. Mr. Upadhyay previously served as senior vice president of global financial operations at Bristol-Myers Squibb.
5. The FDA approved Zimmer Biomet's Synovasure Lateral Flow Test Kit in May. The device is used to determine infection around a joint replacement in the lubricating fluid of patients being evaluated for revision surgery.
6. Zimmer Biomet received FDA clearance for the minimally invasive Rosa One Spine System in March. Surgeons use the system for robotic-assisted, minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. It also provides navigation support.
7. In January, the company's ROSA Knee System for robotic-assisted total knee replacement surgeries received FDA clearance. The system features 3D preoperative planning tools and real-time, intraoperative data on soft tissue and bone anatomy to improve bone cut accuracy and range of motion gap analysis.