Neomedic International is a medical device company with large geographical foot print across the world. For more than 20 years they have been providing the medical field with surgical options for Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse treatment.
Many of these procedures are technically challenging, and the surgeon benefits from superior visibility and access to the surgical site, and JUNE Medicals Galaxy II® is the perfect tool to achieve this. Neomedic distributes Galaxy II in several countries across the world.
Neomedic International and JUNE Medical are supporting each other through a symbiotic relationship to fulfil unmet surgical needs. The development of the partnership has allowed the companies to work together across markets to bring novel technologies and a multitude of associated benefits to healthcare systems.
Introducing…
Neomedic International has been providing the medical field with the best surgical options for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse treatment for over 20 years. Through a distribution network covering more than 40 countries, it offers a diverse portfolio of products, providing innovative solutions to problems that urologists and gynaecologists routinely face, as well as improving outcomes and quality of life for patients.
A gap in the market
Emma Maidwell, Managing Director of JUNE Medical UK, explained how the UK partnership between Neomedic and JUNE came about: “There were growing challenges around mesh surgery in the UK with no clear path forward for healthcare professionals. We recognised the need for alternatives to mesh, and we wanted a reliable and reputable manufacturer for reusable handles and needles for fascia repairs, to help ensure patients would be getting appropriate procedures. Neomedic’s products came highly recommended by most of our urogynaecology advisory board, making them an obvious fit for us, and our partnership has since flourished!”
Outlining the benefits
Introducing new products and procedures to the market obviously requires a degree of user education, and JUNE Medical worked closely with Neomedic to offer training to surgeons on the benefits and applications of these products. A particular focus of this was for the Anchorsure system, which can be used for sacrospinous fixation (SSF) procedures in the treatment of vaginal prolapse after a hysterectomy.
Other forms of fixation often require tight suture knots around the ligament, which can compromise neurovascular structures. In contrast, the Anchorsure system delivers a small anchor through the sacrospinous ligament, providing a strong fixation and minimising post-surgical pain. Before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, JUNE Medical supported a number of surgeons to visit Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona – the second largest hospital in Spain – to take part in training workshops. The development and design of the Anchorsure system was explained in detail, providing an opportunity for the delegates to talk through the advantages and disadvantages of using an anchoring system for SSF. Then, the surgeons joined an experienced Anchorsure user and his team in theatre, to get hands on experience with the device. “It’s a long trip, but well worth it to ensure that the right methods are used when introducing a new device and technique in UK hospitals,” Emma added. “We now have a waiting list of other people that wish to attend, and hope to be able to hold more of these workshops in the future.”
A true partnership
From this initial relationship, Neomedic began to work more closely with JUNE Medical’s international distribution division – led by Albert Beran – to identify new opportunities together. This included recognising the potential benefits of introducing the Galaxy II retractor to other markets, particularly in Spain, to improve urogynaecology procedures. Clara Basora, Operations and Marketing Director at Neomedic, commented: “In Spain, nobody was providing or using retractors for female surgery, although it was more common in male surgeries, where there is more anatomy to hold back and retract. However, it was clear how useful the Galaxy II could be in female surgery, and so we included a retractor with every implant kit, so that it could be easily trialled by surgeons.”
“The Galaxy II has been very well received; surgeons have commented that using the retractor is making their lives so much easier, speeding up surgery and ensuring sterility. Using a retractor is much more efficient than requiring assistants to keep a surgical site open manually. Not only is visibility improved, but the number of people in the surgical environment can also be minimised. This frees up time for additional procedures, but has also been particularly beneficial during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, reducing the strain on resources and limiting the number of people in close proximity. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response we have received, we are now exploring other surgical areas – such as traumatology, colorectal, orthopaedic, ENT and plastic surgery – to show surgeons the benefits that the Galaxy II could have in these fields.”
A strong future together
Since it began distributing Neomedic products in the UK, JUNE Medical has become the company’s largest handles and needles partner, as well as offering the Anchorsure system and the polypropylene Uplift SCP Mesh for laparoscopic prolapse repair. Albert commented: “The introduction of the Galaxy II into the market has been both quick and successful. The Neomedic team has been brilliant to work with and our partnership is great in both directions.” Clara added: “We are completely satisfied with our relationship with JUNE Medical. Continual, open communication with the JUNE team means that both sides can respond quickly to changing market needs. It’s great to see how the Galaxy II and Anchorsure are leading to growth in different areas, reflecting the added benefits working together brings to surgeons and patients, and I look forward to exploring even more possibilities together.”
Read more about the JUNE Medical company here — We have just launched JUNE Medical EU.
JUNE Medical Sweden takes up the EU responsibility as the UK leaves the union. With direct sales to Swedish healthcare, as well as a formal EU REP responsibility to the EU, our new Swedish operations are already busier than expected. Heather, Henrik and Britt support Sweden and our EU efforts.