Osteopore expands Latin American reach through Medprin partnership
Osteopore Limited (ASX: OSX) has secured an exclusive distribution partnership with Medprin Biotech GmbH, marking a substantial expansion of its Latin America strategy. The agreement provides access to 20 Latin American countries, up from a single market in Colombia, and focuses on craniofacial reconstruction, Osteopore’s most developed product segment.
Medprin Biotech GmbH operates as a fully-owned subsidiary of Medprin Regenerative Medical Technologies Co., Ltd, a neurosurgery-focused company listed on the ChiNext market of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (301033.SZ) with a market capitalisation of approximately RMB 4.9 billion (~AUD 1.0 billion). The partnership leverages an established distribution network with a substantially larger partner, de-risking market entry across multiple jurisdictions whilst targeting key applications in neurosurgery, orbital reconstruction, and maxillofacial trauma.
The 3-year agreement includes a 1-year extension option subject to mutual agreement. Full commercial access across the region is expected to occur in phases over time due to product registration requirements in each territory. Brazil remains outside this agreement, covered by a separate distribution arrangement secured in October 2024.
Latin American craniomaxillofacial market opportunity
The Latin American craniomaxillofacial market presents material revenue potential for Osteopore. Market research reports valued the region at USD 260 million (~AUD 367 million) in 2023, with projections reaching USD 360 million (~AUD 509 million) by 2028. This trajectory represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.13% between 2023 and 2028.
| Metric | 2023 | 2028 (Projected) | CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Size (USD) | USD 260m | USD 360m | 7.13% |
| Market Size (AUD) | ~AUD 367m | ~AUD 509m | 7.13% |
Latin America’s healthcare landscape presents a unique commercial opportunity for Osteopore’s advanced bone regenerative devices. The region operates a dual public-private system, with private hospitals and tertiary centres delivering a larger share of complex surgical care relative to their size. This configuration aligns with Osteopore’s positioning in specialised craniofacial procedures, where the company’s bioresorbable technology offers clinical advantages over traditional permanent implants.
The growing market provides multi-year runway for revenue expansion as registrations complete across territories. Phased rollout mitigates implementation risk whilst allowing systematic market entry across 20 countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.
What are bioresorbable bone implants?
Osteopore’s core technology centres on 3D-printed scaffolds designed to enable natural bone healing whilst eliminating the need for permanent hardware. A bioresorbable bone implant refers to a surgically placed scaffold that provides structural support during the healing process, then gradually dissolves as new bone tissue forms. This approach contrasts with traditional metal or permanent polymer implants that remain in the body indefinitely.
The company’s patent-protected scaffolds are manufactured using a proprietary technique with a polymer material that naturally dissolves over time. This dissolution process allows only natural and healthy bone tissue to remain, significantly reducing post-surgery complications commonly associated with permanent bone implants. The microstructured design mimics natural bone architecture, facilitating cell migration and tissue regeneration across the scaffold.
For patients requiring craniofacial reconstruction following trauma, tumour removal, or congenital defects, bioresorbable implants eliminate the need for secondary removal surgeries. Permanent implants can trigger long-term complications including infection risk, hardware migration, or immune response. Osteopore’s technology addresses these concerns through complete resorption, leaving only regenerated bone tissue.
Technology differentiation creates competitive moat in high-value surgical applications. The 3D printing manufacturing process, unique to Osteopore, enables patient-specific implant design and production scalability across multiple therapeutic areas.
Key partnership terms
- 3-year exclusive distribution agreement
- 1-year extension option subject to mutual agreement
- Territory: Latin America excluding Brazil
- Business focus: Craniofacial reconstruction
- Standard non-performance termination clauses relating to revenue apply
Management and partner commentary
Dr Yujing Lim, Chief Executive Officer
“The Latin American market represents a unique growth opportunity for us, and we are delighted to partner with Medprin, a company specialised in neurosurgery and craniofacial surgery.”
Henzer Guo, Medprin Director of International Business
“Osteopore has a unique product and technology that we believe is the future of surgery – regenerative medicine. We believe this is an excellent collaboration that leverages our existing channels to reach patients efficaciously.”
Building on Osteopore’s Latin American footprint
The Medprin partnership positions within a broader regional strategy demonstrating systematic market development. Multiple regional partnerships indicate a coordinated expansion approach rather than opportunistic one-off deals.
- Colombia market entry achieved in April 2022 with initial sales secured
- Brazil distribution deal completed in October 2024, establishing presence in Latin America’s largest economy
- Technology collaboration with University of Chile completed bone implant studies in August 2024, validating product performance in regional clinical settings
- Medprin partnership now extends commercial reach to remaining 19 countries across Latin America
This sequential build demonstrates Osteopore (ASX: OSX) executing a phased market penetration strategy. The University of Chile collaboration provides clinical validation specific to Latin American patient populations, whilst the Brazil and Colombia arrangements established proof of concept for commercial operations. The Medprin agreement leverages these foundations to scale distribution across the broader region.
Access expansion from one country to 20 territories represents material de-risking of the Latin American growth thesis. Reliance on single-country distribution arrangements creates execution risk, whereas multi-country partnerships with established players like Medprin provide diversified market access and shared regulatory expertise.
About Medprin Regenerative Medical Technologies
Medprin Regenerative Medical Technologies Co., Ltd specialises in research, development, and manufacturing of high-end medical devices, with successful commercialisation of Class III implantable medical devices including ReDura™, NeoDura™, and Recranio™. The company’s products are available in more than 100 countries and regions, with over 1.6 million patients having benefited from Medprin products.
Listed on the ChiNext market of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under ticker 301033.SZ, Medprin brings established distribution infrastructure and regulatory expertise to the partnership. The company’s existing market presence across 100+ countries demonstrates operational capability in managing complex international medical device distribution, particularly relevant given varying regulatory requirements across Latin American jurisdictions.
Partnership with an established player provides Osteopore immediate access to proven distribution infrastructure and regulatory expertise. Medprin’s focus on neurosurgery and craniofacial applications aligns directly with Osteopore’s product portfolio, ensuring channel partners possess relevant clinical knowledge and established surgeon relationships in target specialties.
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