Interventional Spine, Inc. Enhances Percutaneous Dynamic Stabilization System with DSM’s Bionate PCU

DSM, a global leader in biomedical materials science, today announced the company has entered into a license and supply agreement with orthopedic device manufacturer Interventional Spine Inc.

The agreement grants Interventional Spine Inc. the use of Bionate PCU, a proprietary DSM polymer, in its PDS System™. The Percutaneous Dynamic Stabilization system is the first and only percutaneous bilateral facet-augmentation system for treating degenerative disc disease and Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. The Interventional Spine PDS System™ implant is delivered percutaneously through the skin, making the over-the-wire procedure minimally invasive for the patient. The tough, load bearing qualities of Bionate® PCU help secure the implant in place as it flexes with the natural movement of the spine. Terms of the license and supply agreement were not disclosed, but contain a mix of royalties on devices sold and annual fees.

Interventional Spine’s PDS System™ received CE Mark approval and is commercially available outside the United States. Currently, it is not available for sale in the U.S.

“We at Interventional Spine Inc. are very pleased to partner with DSM Biomedical for one of the key components of our PDS System™,” said Walter A. Cuevas, Interventional Spine CEO. “The combination of DSM’s superior materials technology and Interventional Spine’s unique approach to treat degenerative disc disease and lumbar spinal stenosis, underscore our efforts to help patients with debilitating low back pain live normal and pain free lives.”

“DSM continues to forge ahead along a successful track in building new relationships with medical device manufacturers who want to improve clinical outcomes for patients,” said Rob Evans, Global Business Director, Biomaterials, DSM Biomedical. “Interventional Spine’s novel product portfolio provides benefit-driven fixation options for both normal and osteoporotic bone.”

This announcement precedes the start of the ISASS (SAS) – International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery annual conference where Interventional Spine will be exhibiting at booth 405. The conference runs April 26-29 at Las Vegas’ Venetian Congress Center located within the Venetian & Palazzo Hotels.

DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living.™ 
Royal DSM N.V. is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM’s 22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of about € 9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.

About Interventional Spine 
Interventional Spine®, Inc. is a privately held company based in Irvine, California, that designs, develops and markets patented implantable devices for the spine that can be deployed via Percutaneous techniques. Product offerings include the Interventional Spine PDS System™, which is commercially available outside of the United States only, the PERPOS® PLS System with a unique one size fits all BONE‐LOK® implant for the lumbar spine, the PERPOS® Percutaneous Cervical System which received the Best New Technology in Cervical Care Award for 2010, and RENEW™, an interspinous allograft that can be used as an adjunct to posterior instrumented fusion. Supported by the Company’s unique product introduction systems, Interventional Spine’s products provide benefits to patients, surgeons and hospitals alike. More information can be found at:www.i‐spineinc.com.

Bionate® is a registered trademark of Royal DSM N.V. Use of this trademark is prohibited unless previously authorized in writing by Royal DSM N.V.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.