Johnson & Johnson Will Exit Metal Hip Implant Market by 2014

Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick, NJ) will exit the ceramic-on-metal and metal-on-metal hip implant markets by 2014. While the 10,000 lawsuits the company faces from concerns with its ASR hip implants might be considered as a factor in the company's exit, Johnson & Johnson states that it is exiting the market due to upcoming FDA regulations that will make the approval and clearance process for new metal hip implants difficult.A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson / Depuy noted that the viable market for these two bearing combinations is on the decline. Since 2007, sales of metal-on-metal hip implants have declined 90 percent in both Europe and the United States.The company will end the sale of its Complete Ceramic-on-Metal Acetabular Hip System and the Ultimate Metal-on-Metal Articulation System by August of this year. Related products will be winded down through 2014. However, the company will continue the sale of non-metal hip replacement components and its Pinnacle Acetabular Cup.More J&J news:J&J Wins Court Victory in ASR Hip Implant CaseJ&J Faces Class Action Suit from 4500 ASR Hip Implant VictimsJ&J Loses Transvaginal-Mesh Lawsuit