13 Minutes in Conversation with Rich Simmonds, CEO of Orthoson

Formally spun out of OTIF portfolio company OxSonics in 2015, OrthoSon is using ultrasound technology to develop a safe and cost-effective procedure for the treatment of degenerative disc disease, for which there are few current therapies except vertebral fusion. The procedure is a minimally-invasive, incision-free, first-line therapy designed to restore the biomechanical properties to degenerated spinal discs. By injecting proprietary Sono-Sensitive Particles (SSPs) into the nucleus pulposus of spinal discs and applying focused ultrasound at a high intensity, degenerate disc nuclei are broken down, allowing a replacement hydrogel material to be injected, restoring healthy biomechanics in the spine.

Questions covered include:

• 00:26 – Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to join Orthoson.
• 01:42 – What is the problem Orthoson is trying to solve?
• 02:47 – How does Orthoson’s technology work?
• 03:44 – How large is the opportunity for Orthoson, both in the UK and globally?
• 04:43 – What is the regulatory framework you have to work within?
• 05:56 – How has the business been funded to date and how much additional funding is required?
• 07:03 – What are the effects of COVID-19 on the business and what are you doing to mitigate these?
• 08:46 – What are the advantages of being a spinout based in Oxford compared to your previous experiences in the MedTech sector?
• 10:01 – What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of leading a spinout company?
• 10:50 – What are the key goals for the business in the next 12-24 months?
• 11:32 – What is the long-term vision for Orthoson?

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