Zimvie gets a less than rapturous reception

The various medtechs and biopharma groups that have lined up spin-offs for the coming months will have to hope that theirs go better than Zimmer Biomet’s. The orthopaedics company yesterday listed Zimvie, the spin-out hosting its spinal and dental operations, on Nasdaq, but trading was paused due to volatility four times, and by the close Zimvie had lost a third of its value. The new company is home to Zimmer’s slower-growing segments, and Zimvie is guiding to flat 2022 revenues of around $1bn; it also launches with $561m in debt, according to its 8K. The main problem in term of sales is the spinal business, which has been hit hard by Covid. Spine revenues are expected to contract by the mid-single digits in 2022, the company has said. Zimvie’s main spinal products include implants such as its Mobi-C cervical disc and Tether, a paediatric scoliosis treatment; crucially, the Rosa One Spine surgical robot appears to be staying with Zimmer. The next spin-out in the pipeline is that of Becton Dickinson’s diabetes business, also via a Nasdaq listing. Perhaps that will go more smoothly.