Stryker sells U.S. spinal implants business to Viscogliosi Brothers

USA – In a shift from its usual acquisition strategy, Stryker, a leading medical device company, has announced the sale of its U.S. spinal implants business to Viscogliosi Brothers (VB), an investment firm specializing in neuro-musculoskeletal solutions.

This division will now operate as part of a newly formed company called VB Spine. Additionally, the deal includes a binding offer for VB Spine to acquire Stryker’s spinal products in France, with plans to expand the sale to other international markets in the future.

Once the transaction is finalized later this year, VB Spine will gain exclusive access to Stryker’s Mako Spine surgical robot, which will be used for spine procedures alongside VB Spine’s implants.

Highlighting the potential of this sale, Kevin A. Lobo, Stryker’s Chair and CEO, stated, “We believe that the spinal implants business, with its comprehensive portfolio and strong sales channel, will thrive as an independent company.

With dedicated resources and a focused strategy, the business will be well-positioned to succeed as part of Viscogliosi Brothers.”

The Viscogliosi Brothers, founders of the investment firm, expressed their enthusiasm about the acquisition. “We have long admired Stryker for its comprehensive spine portfolio, incredible talent, and strong culture,” they said in a joint statement.

“We see a tremendous opportunity to provide the focus, surgeon-centric innovation, and commercial execution needed to grow the business and further impact patient lives and outcomes.”

Stryker’s spinal implants division reported US $707 million in sales in 2024, all of which will transfer to VB Spine as part of the deal.

The sale comes after Stryker reported US $818 million in goodwill and impairment charges related to this division in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Despite the divestment, Lobo emphasized Stryker’s continued interest in interventional spine products, including the Mako Spine robot, which received FDA clearance in August 2024, and the Q Guidance System for surgical navigation and planning. The Mako Spine robot is set for a full commercial U.S. launch in the second half of this year.

Additionally, VB Spine will benefit from exclusive access to the Copilot system, a feature designed to enhance screw placement during surgery by automatically stopping when the planned depth is reached.

This sale follows a busy period for Stryker, which recently acquired Inari Medical in a US $4.9 billion deal and completed other acquisitions, including Vertos Medical, NICO, and care.ai, to expand its portfolio in minimally invasive surgery and AI-driven healthcare solutions.

New CFO

In related news, Stryker announced a leadership change as its long-time CFO Glenn Boehnlein will retire after 22 years with the company.

Preston Wells, the current CFO of Stryker’s orthopedics group, will take over as Chief Financial Officer starting April 1.

Lobo praised Boehnlein as a “growth champion” and expressed confidence in Wells, who has held leadership roles at Stryker since 2016 and previously worked at Johnson & Johnson and Dialight.