INFUSE Review Leads To Discussion And Some Discord At NASS

Medtronic’s subdued showing at NASS in October revealed the sometimes rocky relationship among industry, clinicians, and academia:  The Yale University Open Data Access Project suggested rhBMP-2 didn’t fuse bone any better than standard-iliac crest bone graft, yet Medtronic executives found some vindication in the process, saying it supported on-label use of BMP, and suggested the Yale University-led process could be a model to settle future controversies in the medical industry.

Medtronic PLC’s exhibit at the North American Spine Society (NASS) 28th Annual Meeting in October was a gap in the otherwise toothy bright smile on the technical floor. The company chose to set up only a few modest tables, a couch, and a booth, providing a stark contrast to the other exhibits on the floor, but that was the point. Medtronic executives sent a message. They were disappointed with the tone of the conference’s discussions regarding recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), the key ingredient in Medtronic’s INFUSE bone graft. The company kept its sales people away from the booth, making only medical affairs personnel available to answer clinical question from doctors. (See Also see "Medtronic “Repurposes” Spine Convention Booth To Tell Its Side of BMP Story" - In Vivo, 14 October, 2013..)

Medtronic’s subdued showing revealed the sometimes rocky relationship among industry, clinicians, and academia. Just a few months earlier, Medtronic stood...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Archive

Final Chance To Have Your Say: Take Our Reader Survey This Week

 

Editor’s note: This is your final call to participate in the survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. The deadline is 20 September.

Early Development Deals: Ipsen's Strategy For Biomarker-Driven Success

 

Mary Jane Hinrichs, Ipsen’s head of early development, talks to In Vivo about getting ahead of the competition by securing deals for candidates before they enter Phase I trials.   

Shape Our Content: Take The Reader Survey

 

Editor’s note: We are conducting a survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. If there are any changes you’d like to see in the coverage topics, content format or the method in which you receive and access In Vivo, or if you love it how it is, now is the time to have your voice heard.

In Partnership with Cerba Research

Prioritizing Safety in CAR-T Therapy: Patient Monitoring with Cerba Research’s Testing Portfolio

The cell and gene therapy (CGT) clinical trial landscape in general and CAR-T cell clinical trials in particular are a special focus for the FDA, EMA, and other regulatory agencies. The whole industry is thus aware of the recent FDA safety investigation and requirements for labeling CAR therapy products.

More from In Vivo

Deals In Depth: June 2025

 
• By 

Five $1bn+ alliances were penned in June, and four exceeded $2bn.

Global Pharma Interest In Korea Undeterred Despite Political Roller Coaster

 
• By 

Despite recent political turmoil, outside investor and corporate interest in South Korean biopharma innovation appears robust or even increasing.

Podcast: Oxolife’s Agnés Arbat, Winner Of The European Prize For Women Innovators

 
• By 

Agnès Arbat, CEO of Oxolife and winner of the EU Women Innovators Prize, joins In Vivo to discuss OXO-001, a novel non-hormonal treatment aimed at improving embryo implantation in IVF. She shares insights from her biotech journey and the future of fertility innovation.