Profile: Smith & Nephew plc (SNN)

Smith & Nephew plc, incorporated in 1937, is a global business engaged in the development, manufacture, marketing and sales of medical devices in the sectors of orthopaedics, which includes reconstruction, trauma and clinical therapies, endoscopy and advanced wound management. The Company is organised into three global business units of Orthopaedics (which includes Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies), Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management.

Orthopaedics

Orthopaedic reconstruction implants include hip, knee and shoulder joints, as well as ancillary products, such as bone cement and mixing systems used in cemented reconstruction joint surgery. Orthopaedic trauma fixation products consist of internal and external devices and orthobiological materials used in the stabilisation of severe fractures and deformity correction procedures. Clinical therapies products are those that are applied in an orthopaedic office or clinic setting and include bone growth stimulation, joint fluid therapies and outpatient spine products. The Orthopaedics business is managed worldwide from Memphis, Tennessee, which is also the site of its main manufacturing facility.

The Total Knee product portfolio includes the LEGION Total Knee System and the JOURNEY family of products. The JOURNEY family includes a range of products developed for the active patient. The JOURNEY BCS Knee System is designed by the Group to reproduce normal kinematics. During the year ended December 31, 2008, Orthopaedics launched the R3 Acetabular System.

The Company competes with Zimmer, Stryker, DePuy/Johnson & Johnson, Synthes, Biomet, Genzyme, Sanofi Aventis, DePuy/Johnson & Johnson and Ferring Pharmaceuticals.

Endoscopy

Smith & Nephew’s Endoscopy business, headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, develops and commercialises endoscopic (minimally invasive surgery) techniques, educational programmes and services for surgeons to treat and repair soft tissue and articulating joints. The business focuses on the arthroscopy sector of the endoscopy market. Arthroscopy is the minimally invasive surgery of joints, in particular the knee, shoulder and hip.

The Endoscopy business offers surgeons endoscopic technologies for surgery, including: specialised devices and fixation systems to repair damaged tissue; fluid management and insufflation equipment for surgical access; digital cameras, digital image capture, scopes, light sources and monitors to assist with visualisation; and radiofrequency wands, electromechanical and mechanical blades, and hand instruments for resecting damaged tissue.

In 2008, Smith & Nephew launched the FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchor, a system used to attach rotator cuff tissue to bone in the shoulder. In addition, the BIORAPTOR 2.3 PK Suture Anchor was launched for repair of instability in both the shoulder and hip joints. Smith & Nephew’s CROSSTRAC Hip Guide and ARTHROGARDE Hip Access Cannula systems were launched in 2008. The business also launched its BIOSURE HA Interference Screw line for use in reconstructing the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) in the knee. BIOSURE Interference screw can be used to secure the tibial or femoral end of an ACL or PCL graft.

The Company competes with Arthrex, Mitek/Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, Arthrocare and Linvatec/Conmed.

Advanced Wound Management

Smith & Nephew’s Advanced Wound Management business has its global headquarters in Hull, England and its North American headquarters in St Petersburg, Florida. The business offers a range of products from initial wound bed preparation through to full wound closure. These products are targeted at chronic wounds connected with the older population, such as pressure sores and venous leg ulcers, and the alleviation of wounds such as burns and invasive surgery that impact the wider population.

The Company competes with Kinetic Concepts, Convatec, Molnlycke and Systagenix.