Wright Medical Group recently announced the acquisition of IMASCAP SAS for $88 million. According to the press release, Wright Medical Group (NASDAQ: WMGI) is a publicly traded company focusing on extremity joint replacement and bio-orthopedic material development. IMASCAP SAS focuses on developing software for preoperative joint replacement surgery.

According to the press release, the companies have had a previous relationship where Wright Medical Group used IMASCAP’s Genosys technology in its BLUEPRINT 3D planning software. The technology is said to allow surgeons to visualize potential movement in a shoulder joint so as to determine the best type of implant to use. The program is reported to use data provided entirely from a computed tomography scan. The press release notes that using the program allows surgeons to save time during surgery by adjusting their strategy beforehand. Since Genosys’s release in 2014, the company lists its use in 3800 pre-operative planning procedures, by over 1000 surgeons, in 21 countries.

The press release notes that the deal includes approximately $46.9 million in cash, $15.6 million in ordinary shares, and approximately $26.3 million, in potential earnouts and milestone payments for new software and implant systems.

In the press release, Robert Palmisano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wright Medical Group, stated, “Software-enhanced solutions are the future, and with the acquisition of IMASCAP, we have the opportunity to take a significant lead in this area”.

In a statement by IMASCAP’s Jean Chaoui, President and Chief Executive Officer, “We believe that Wright, with its global leadership position in the extremities market and expertise in medical education and product development, is the ideal partner to realize the full potential of IMASCAP’s technology and product pipeline”.

In its press release, Wright Medical Group also expressed interest in a variety of other technologies under development that could potentially help the company expand into other joint replacement areas. Currently, the company has plans to offer the software free of cost to physicians currently using its shoulder joint replacement technology.

Written by: Raj Pai