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30 DEVICES & IMPLANTS Dr. Frank Schwab on keys to commercialize innovations in spine By Alan Condon N ew York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery recently named spine surgeon Frank Schwab, MD, vice chair of the HSS Innovation Institute. Dr. Schwab founded device company Nemaris in 2000, leading it to acquisition by Globus Medical in 2018. Nemaris' Surgimap soware enables surgeons to preoperatively plan procedures to improve pedicle screw and expandable cage placement and was incorporated into Globus Medical's ExcelsiusGPS robotic navigation system for spine surgery. Here, Dr. Schwab discussesd his goals in this new role and what it will take to commercialize innovations in spine. Note: Responses were lightly edited for style and clarity. Question: What are your stretch goals in this new posi- tion? Dr. Frank Schwab: HSS is a recognized global leader in musculoskel- etal research and clinical care. Our scientists and clinicians are ex- tremely talented and innovative. My stretch goal is to work with the HSS Innovation Institute in refining processes and workflow that will substantially augment our pipeline of commercially viable solutions for meaningful impact on patients worldwide. Q: How will your experience as founder of Nemaris help you in this role? Can you share any further details on Ne- maris since the Globus Medical acquisition? FS: I learned a tremendous amount through Nemaris — most impor- tantly, how much focus and energy is required to take ideas to com- mercialization. Many inventors and innovators underestimate the substantial effort and value components related to success of an idea. I also learned that teamwork, trust and honesty are a critical backbone to building a business. e merger with Globus Medical has been extremely positive and was founded on a shared vision to transform spine surgery through a digital and computer-assisted platform. e combined team is de- veloping a series of truly innovative and disruptive solutions. I am eager to see the commercial release of these products that will offer tremendous tools to surgeons and have a great impact on outcomes from surgical care. Q: Are there any current product developments or entre- preneurial opportunities that excite you in the field at the moment? FS: e field is experiencing an incredible innovation boom. e need for more predictable outcomes and safer procedures is driving this. I am excited to see data driven analytics combined with precision care solutions revolutionize spine surgery. Specifically, we will see more precise patient selection, procedural planning and intraoperative technology, which is automated and offers seamless workflow for sur- geons. Robotics and mixed reality are in their very early stages but are certain to have a deep impact in the coming years. Q: From your experience, what do you think are the key factors to ensure commercial success for innovators in spine? FS: A combination of factors are important to be considered: inno- vative ideas, passion and commitment to drive them forward, robust business models and partnerships to have the right expertise in com- mercializing an idea. It seems that good ideas are actually a rather small, although critical, component of all the elements required for successful innovation. n Dr. Derek Taggard performs 1st successful spine procedure with Nexxt Spine cage By Alan Condon N eurosurgeon Derek Taggard, MD, performed the first effective implantation of Nexxt Spine's Matrixx corpectomy system at Community Re- gional Medical Center in Fresno, Calif. Dr. Taggard is director of spinal and neurotrauma at CRMC and associate professor of neurosurgery at the University of California San Francisco in Fresno. The Matrixx system, launched March 31, is a 3D-print- ed titanium cage approved for use in the cervical and thoracolumbar spine in skeletally mature patients. The device aims to replace a diseased or damaged ver- tebral body. It is also designed for reconstruction after a corpectomy to achieve decompression of the spinal cord and neural tissues in degenerative disorders. n