Highridge Medical leaders say the spunout startup is ready to battle for spine market supremacy
Jan 31, 2025
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Rebecca Whitney, CEO of Highridge Medical, and Eric Major, Executive Chairman, share insights on their startup's ambitions in the competitive spine market. They discuss what sets the spine industry apart and how Highridge is positioned for success. The conversation also covers recent advancements in spinal technologies, the advantages of smaller companies over larger firms, and the importance of tailored solutions for spinal surgery. Chris Newmarker adds to the discussion with updates on key industry events and news that shape the med tech landscape.
The recent divestiture of Stryker's U.S. Spine M plant business opens opportunities for smaller companies like High Ridge to innovate and compete in the spine market.
High Ridge Medical emphasizes the importance of deep customer relationships with spinal surgeons to cultivate trust and drive product innovation tailored to surgical needs.
With a doubled research and development budget, High Ridge aims to enhance its capabilities in complex spine, motion preservation, and minimally invasive surgery for significant market growth.
Deep dives
Shakeup in the Spine Market
The podcast discusses a significant shakeup in the spine market, particularly focusing on the recent divestiture by Stryker of its U.S. Spine M plant business to the Viscoliosi brothers, who have a longstanding history in the spine segment. This move maneuvers Stryker towards its other rapidly growing orthopedic business areas while allowing Viscoliosi to revive and compete in the spine market, which has traditionally been characterized by complexity and the need for constant innovation. Leaders from High Ridge Medical express that the restructuring within the industry highlights the unique challenges in the spine sector, which requires intense focus and rapid responsiveness to surgeon needs. The ongoing transitions present opportunities for growth and innovation among smaller, dedicated companies like High Ridge as they navigate this evolving landscape.
Importance of Customer Intimacy in Spine
The podcast emphasizes the critical nature of customer intimacy in the spine industry, pointing out that relationships must be cultivated deeply with spinal surgeons, who often dedicate their entire careers to specialty care. Leaders from High Ridge highlight the necessity of being available 24/7, as many surgical procedures can extend for hours and may require equipment and support at a moment's notice. This relationship-driven approach has proven vital for success, allowing for dialogue and feedback that drives innovation and product development. The cultural shift within High Ridge aims to strengthen these relationships, ultimately focusing on improving patient outcomes through collaboration.
High Ridge's Strategy for Growth
High Ridge Medical's leaders outline their strategy for growth as a response to the previous struggles of the spine business under larger corporate umbrellas. With a renewed focus on innovation, they have doubled their research and development budget, setting up cross-functional teams dedicated to three strategic areas: complex spine, motion preservation, and minimally invasive (MIS) surgery. This concentrated investment aims to enhance the capabilities and offerings of High Ridge, while also fostering a collaborative environment that enables the rapid launch of new products. By leveraging their team’s expertise and maintaining a sharp focus on surgeon needs, High Ridge is positioning itself for significant market share growth in the near future.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Spine Industry
The podcast delves into the unique challenges facing the spine industry, stressing that the intricacies of spinal anatomy require innovative solutions that may not be as prevalent in other medical sectors. Both leaders agree on the need for constant innovation to improve clinical outcomes, especially given that patient satisfaction scores in lumbar surgery remain lower than desired. They reflect on the difficulty spines pose, as there are multiple approaches to treatment that require comprehensive instrumentation to cater to complex surgical needs. This landscape presents a significant opportunity for smaller, agile companies like High Ridge to thrive by focusing exclusively on spine and utilizing their specialized knowledge to develop new solutions.
Future Prospects at High Ridge Medical
The podcast concludes with an optimistic outlook for High Ridge Medical as it prepares to establish itself firmly in the marketplace. Leaders indicate that they have successfully navigated initial challenges following their recent spinout and are now ready to capitalize on their innovative potential, ensuring a pipeline of new developments in both existing and emerging markets. The expectation is that through enhanced collaboration with surgeons and a dedicated focus on patient care, High Ridge will foster stronger relationships and better clinical outcomes. The transformative journey of this emerging company underscores the belief that a dedicated, focused approach in the spine sector can lead to significant advancements and a stronger competitive position.
In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly Podcast, Host Tom Salemi talks with Highridge CEO Rebecca Whitney and Executive Chairman Eric Major about the swirling spinal market. Whitney and Major share what makes the spine industry different from other MedTech sectors and why they believe Highridge is uniquely positioned to grab a large piece of the market.
The episode is sponsored by DeviceTalks Boston. Register to attend at Boston.DeviceTalks.com.
DeviceTalks listeners can find our first interview with the Highridge team here. https://www.devicetalks.com/hear-highridge-medicals-plans-to-scale-the-spine-market-a-preview-of-the-medtechvision-conference/
MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker returns with the Newmarker’s Newsmakers sharing stories about Stereotaxis, the FDA, Philips, Zimmer Biomet, and Stryker.
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