FDA clears for marketing new bone cement from aap subsidiary Coripharm

Berlin, 6. february 2001. The aap-subsidiary Coripharm Medizinprodukte GmbH & Co, a specialist for biomaterials, has achieved an important milestone in its business field bone cements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared for marketing the bone cement VersaBondŽ, developed by Coripharm GmbH & Co. KG for its US-sales partner, the Orthopedic Division of Smith & Nephew, Inc. Coripharm GmbH & Co. KG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berlin-based German company aap Implantate AG. The bone cement is manufactured by Coripharm GmbH & Co. KG in Dieburg, Germany. Smith & Nephew Inc. is sole distributor in the U.S. and worldwide. In addition, the US-company has integrated into its product portfolio as sole distributor worldwide the MixORŽ cementing technique, developed exclusively by Coripharm GmbH & Co. KG.

VersaBondŽ bone cement is designed for use in joint replacements, especially hip and knee replacements, when a prosthesis has to be cemented. Cementing the prosthesis fixes the artificial-implant parts mechanically, enabling the patient to put weight or strain on the affected area right away.

Specially designed for use with VersaBondŽ bone cement, Coripharm has developed a new vacuum cementing system. It is also manufactured at Coripharm GmbH & Co. KG's production facilities exclusively for Smith & Nephew, Inc.

aap Implantate AG, a leading German company in the biomedical implant field, estimates the annual volume of the global market for bone cement and cementing technique at EUR 300 mio.