Zimmer Spine and Benvenue Medical Enter Exclusive Distribution Agreement for Kiva® VCF Treatment System

BORDEAUX, France and SANTA CLARA, California, October 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Agreement Enables Zimmer to Offer its Customers a Differentiated VCF System

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH), a global leader in musculoskeletal care, and Benvenue Medical, Inc., a U.S.-based developer of minimally invasive solutions for spine repair, today announced at the 2011 EuroSpine meeting that the companies have entered into a multi-year exclusive agreement for Zimmer Spine to distribute Benvenue Medical's flagship product, the Kiva VCF Treatment System.  The Kiva System provides an innovative approach to the treatment of painful vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). 

The Kiva VCF Treatment System received CE Mark Approval in 2008 and has been used to treat more than 500 VCFs globally.  The Kiva System delivers a percutaneously-introduced, cylindrical PEEK-OPTIMA® implant to stabilize and provide structural support to the vertebral body and serve as a conduit for bone cement placement.  

"The Kiva System represents Zimmer Spine's first VCF product offering for our customers.  This differentiated VCF system is a natural extension to our existing product portfolio," said Hubert Piatkowski, Vice President, Zimmer Spine.  

Zimmer Spine maintains a significant marketing, sales and clinical support presence in the global spine market and will offer its customers the Kiva System as part of a broad and growing product portfolio.  The Kiva System will initially be distributed in Germany and Italy with more broad availability throughout EMEA in the near future.  The minimally invasive VCF market in the European Union reached $185 Million (euro 135 Million) in 2010.  The fast-growing European VCF market currently represents about 25 percent of the global VCF market.

"We are very excited about working exclusively with Zimmer to expand access to the Kiva System outside the U.S.," said Robert Weigle, CEO of Benvenue Medical.  "Zimmer Spine has a powerful distribution network and will accelerate sales, training and clinical support for Kiva."  

The Kiva System is also being evaluated versus balloon kyphoplasty in vertebral compression fractures in the KAST (Kiva® System as a Vertebral Augmentation Treatment - A Safety and Effectiveness Trial) at three sites in Europe, including one in France and two in Germany.  The KAST is the largest randomized study versus balloon kyphoplasty to date, and it is an IDE study being conducted in support of a future 510(k) market clearance application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  

About Zimmer Spine

Zimmer Spine develops, produces and markets the highest quality spine products and services that repair, replace and regenerate spine health.  Zimmer Spine works directly with surgeons to share best practices, facilitate surgeon-to-surgeon training and to provide continuous access to relevant information, all to improve patient outcomes. With continual technological advancement, Zimmer constructs superior fusion and non-fusion spine systems, instrumentation systems, cervical plates, allograft bone filler and Trabecular Metal™ Technology. We use our resources to advance industry evolution, and our products and procedures exceed doctor and patient expectations. Through the hands of skilled surgeons, Zimmer enhances patient quality of life. Visit us at http://www.zimmer.com.

About Benvenue Medical, Inc.

Founded in 2004, Benvenue Medical, Inc. is advancing spine repair through the development of proprietary, minimally invasive surgical and interventional solutions. The company is privately held and funded by Versant Ventures, DeNovo Ventures, Domain Associates and Technology Partners.  Its first products are designed for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures and degenerative disc disease, which have combined $1.6 billion revenues globally. For more information, visit http://www.benvenuemedical.com.