Miach Orthopaedics, Inc. has entered into a distribution agreement with Veteran’s Health Medical Supply (VHMS) for its Bridge-Enhanced ACL Restoration (BEAR®) Implant.
Miach Teams up With Veteran’s Health Medical
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Under the terms of the agreement, the BEAR implant will be available via the ECAT federal contract to customers in 236 Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facilities.
The distribution agreement provides orthopedic surgeons working in these healthcare facilities with better access to the BEAR Implant. According to the Miach, the distribution agreement also “incorporates the support of VHMS [Veteran’s Health Medical Supply] staff and their longstanding relationships with purchasing departments at these facilities.”
Miach Orthopaedics, based in Westborough, Massachusetts, is a company focused on creating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) implants and treatment options. In December 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the De Novo request for the Bear Implant. For OTW’s coverage see, “FDA Announces De Novo Authorization for New ACL Rupture Treatment.”
The bio-engineered BEAR Implant is a novel device for ACL rupture treatment. It acts as a bridge between the torn ends of the ACL. Combined with an injection of the patient’s own blood, the body is actually able to heal its own torn ACL. As the ACL heals, the body resorbs the implant.
Miach Orthopaedics President and CEO Patrick McBrayer commented, “Over the last year, we have made significant progress in making the BEAR Implant available to patients across the U.S.”
McBrayer continued, “We are excited to partner with VHMS to facilitate access to the BEAR Implant for active and retired military personnel served by Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.”
The contract expands the reach of the implant which was first commercially launched in the fall of 2021. Since that time, according to the company’s press release, “more than 700 patients have been treated with the BEAR Implant at over 150 healthcare facilities across the U.S.”
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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