Eric Gilbert: Ascendx Spine’s New VP

Eric W. Gilbert, formerly of Stryker Corporation, is now Vice President of Sales & Marketing for U.S. operations at Ascendx Spine. Gilbert, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration Western Michigan University, was Director of Corporate Business Development at Stryker. At Ascendx Gilbert will be focusing much of his initial efforts on the Ascendx Acu-Cut VCF [vertebral compression fractures] Augmentation System.

During his tenure at Stryker, Gilbert held various marketing and business development roles and was responsible for creating and launching the entire Stryker Interventional Spine product platform. Following Stryker, Gilbert was Director of Marketing for the fracture business of Spine Wave, Inc. Most recently, he was Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, for Universal Medical, a regional distributor of spinal and orthopedic implants and pharmaceuticals and a worldwide distributor of bracing equipment.

“Eric will play a lead role in rolling out the U.S. launch of our initial FDA-cleared product, the Ascendx Acu-Cut VCF Augmentation System, ” said Julian M. Mackenzie, CEO of Ascendx Spine, in the March 23, 2012 news release.

The company has designed its Acu-Cut Vertebral Augmentation System to be an alternate solution for physicians who are currently treating VCF patients. Acu-Cut is a uni-pedicular vertebral augmentation system that creates a cavity for precise cement placement. While traditional technologies require passing next to both sides of the spinal cord to reach the entire vertebral body, the Acu-Cut Vertebral Augmentation System is designed to achieve this through single-sided access.

When asked what he thinks will be the most interesting part of his new position, Gilbert told OTW,

I have been fortunate to be part of this market since its inception and have observed the customer’s desire to inject cement while having the fracture of vertebral body reduced. I see Ascendx Spine looking to design future products that have the potential to achieve this customer desire. Based on published biomechanical data and the use of the technology that Ascendx Spine is creating, I am very interested to see if in the future we can significantly reduce the incidence of subsequent fractures.

As for what his first steps will be in rolling out the U.S. launch of the Ascendx Acu-Cut VCF Augmentation System, Gilbert commented to OTW, “Knowing that this will be the first of many products for Ascendx Spine to commercialize in the U.S. market, I am currently looking to find the best fit for distribution into the three specialties treating VCF, creating product awareness and re-engaging many of the relationships I have been fortunate establish in this market over the past 10+ years.”