Cartiva, a developer of products for the treatment of cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Rehab Matrix Canada, a distributor of foot and ankle orthopedic medical devices.
Pursuant to the terms of the distribution agreement, Cartiva synthetic cartilage implants will be exclusively distributed by Rehab Matrix in Canada.
Cartiva implant has been designed to replace the damaged cartilage in the affected joint with a smooth, resilient cartilage-like polymer.
While fusion is effective at reducing pain caused by advanced arthritis in the great toe, the implant prohibits natural joint motion by fusing the joint with plates and screws.
Cartiva also allows the patients to avoid the inconvenience of wearing a hard cast for six to eight weeks following a fusion procedure.
Cartiva president and CEO Timothy J Patrick noted Rehab Matrix is an ideal partner as they have long-established relationships with many of the leading foot and ankle surgeons in Canada.
"We look forward to working with the Rehab Matrix team as they formally launch the product later this year."
"We are seeing increasing interest in Cartiva SCI in Canada, where over 150 of the patients in our clinical trial were treated.
"We are confident that Canadian surgeons will welcome the addition of this innovative technology as a treatment option for their patients," Patrick added.