Bioventus exercised a “call option” to acquire CartiHeal for about $315m, plus up to $135m in milestones. The US FDA recently approved CartiHeal’s Agili-C implant to treat knee joint surface lesions.

The global market for orthobiologics for musculoskeletal soft tissue replacement and regeneration is expected to reach $2.3bn by 2023, according to a new report by Informa's Meddevicetracker. This highly competitive market, which is led by Arthrex and other large and smaller players, continues to grow amid the rising prevalence of musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries and osteoarthritis. High prices of implants, the limited availability of donated tissue and limited reimbursement for synthetic scaffolds are limiting growth in this market.

Many CHPA members also market medical devices "and the consumer side of medical devices is something they feel is underrepresented by other trade associations,” says trade group head Scott Melville. OTC drugs already have “a lot in common” with consumer medical devices, including that paying for neither typically is included in health insurance plans.

Many CHPA members also market medical devices "and the consumer side of medical devices is something they feel is underrepresented by other trade associations,” says trade group head Scott Melville. OTC drugs already have “a lot in common” with consumer medical devices, including that paying for neither typically is included in health insurance plans.