01/14/2014

Contacts: Smith & Nephew – Joe Metzger (media) 978-749-1330 or Phil Cowdy (investor/analyst), +44 0 20 7401 7646

UMass Lowell – Christine Gillette (media), 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

Smith & Nephew (NYSE: SNN; LSE: SN), the global medical technology business, is proud to announce it will co-sponsor the 2014 Massachusetts Medical Device Development (M2D2) Center's New Venture Competition. 

Designed to showcase innovative ideas coming out of early-stage medical device companies, the nationwide competition will focus on joint reconstruction, sports medicine and trauma.

The prizes will total $50,000 of in-kind services including facilities, engineering, legal, business and medical device assistance from Smith & Nephew and the competition co-sponsors, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP and M2D2, a joint initiative of the University of Massachusetts' Lowell and Worcester campuses.

"We're excited about this collaboration," explains Dr. Ruth Cheng, director of innovation for Smith & Nephew. "Not only does it build on our reputation as innovation leaders; it helps us foster relationships with those entrepreneurs who are on the cutting edge of the growth areas we target."

"M2D2 is grateful for Smith & Nephew's support of the New Venture Competition and of entrepreneurs and startups in the medical-device sector," said Steven Tello, UMass Lowell's associate vice chancellor for entrepreneurship and economic development. "We are honored to work with a company that exemplifies success in the industry both in Massachusetts and around the globe."

For the competition, Smith & Nephew has identified five areas where innovation will help address current and future needs in orthopaedic reconstruction, sports medicine, and trauma:

  • Tools that enable procedure simplification – solutions that would reduce procedural steps, shorten overall procedure time, provide surgeons with greater confidence, and/or ensure consistency from procedure to procedure. 
  • Tissue-sparing procedures – solutions that would shorten recovery time, decrease the incision/number of portals, and/or reduce bone removal/soft tissue damage, and/or minimize potential for human error. 
  • Stabilization of and integration/fixation to bone – solutions that would provide high fixation strength both immediately and long-term, and work regardless of bone density. 
  • Novel soft tissue repair – solutions that would provide or restore the alignment and functionality of the target tissue immediately and long-term, and be minimally invasive. 
  • Joint-preservation solutions – solutions that would provide effective protection of joints, and be minimally invasive. Solution can be either short-term or long-term/permanent. Early intervention solutions are preferred. 

All applicants must submit an initial application, which will be reviewed by M2D2. Fifteen finalists will then be invited to present their concepts in-person at a public event at M2D2's offices on March 26. For more information on the competition and how to apply, companies should visit www.uml.edu/M2D2.

Smith & Nephew is known for its innovative products. These include the TRIGEN(TM) SURESHOT(TM) Nail System for fracture repair; the FAST-FIX 360 for meniscal repairs; and VERILAST(TM) Technology, Smith & Nephew's proprietary OXINIUM(TM) alloy combining Oxidized Zirconium (a metal alloy) along with a highly crossed link plastic liner for knee and hip replacement products. New products in 2013 included the JOURNEY(TM) II BCS knee implant incorporating the VERILAST Technology and the HEALICOIL(TM) REGENESORB Suture Anchor, the first device using Smith & Nephew's proprietary advanced biocomposite material.

M2D2 leverages the engineering, business and clinical strengths of world-class researchers and resources at UMass Lowell and UMass Worcester to provide affordable and confidential services to medical device inventors and startups, as well as offering business incubator space on the UMass Lowell campus.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping improve people's lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma, Smith & Nephew has around 11,000 employees and a presence in more than 90 countries. Annual sales in 2012 were more than $4.1 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN).

About M2D2

M2D2, the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center, is a joint initiative of the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the UMass system. Its aim is to help new medical device entrepreneurs develop products every step of the way, from proof-of-concept to commercialization. Its affiliated faculty and staff have has assisted more than 100 start-up companies and entrepreneurs since the program kicked off in the spring of 2007. 

Forward-looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith & Nephew, these factors include: economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting health care providers, payers and customers; price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, our success in integrating acquired businesses, and disruption that may result from changes we make in our business plans or organization to adapt to market developments; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or reputational nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors. Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith & Nephew's expectations. (TM) Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain marks registered US Patent and Trademark Office. All Trademarks acknowledged.

Share