Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sunday Op-Ed Piece

In the summertime when the weathers high you can stretch right up and touch the sky, when the weathers fine you got women you got women on your mind, have a drink, have a drive go out and see what you can find, when the weathers fine we go fishing or go swimming in the sea, We're always happy life's for living, yeah, that's our philosophy.

Yes spineologists, every now and then its good to come up and breathe, breathe in the air.  As Mungo Jerry inferred, a sabbatical is refreshing.  Go fishing, jump in the ocean, hugs you chillin' and spend some time with your loved ones. Just like our readers, commentators, and the U.S. Congress, the boys and girls of TSB needed a little rest and relaxation.  A five week vacation paid for by the people would have been nice, but, unlike the POTUS and the lame Congress its time to get back to work.  TSB must question our readers  and wants to know, has everyone had a great summer?  As we approach the autumnal equinox, everyone will be gearing up for the spine silly season.  So what does this mean?  It means that we will be going on the road, and TSB doesn't mean Iowa or Minnesota.  We will be going to CNS on October 1-6 in D.C , the Minimally Invasive meeting on October 21-23 in Las Vegas, and NASS on November 1-5 in the Windy City, topping it off with a kick flight on Southwest to CSRS on December 8-10 in Scottsdale. Who knows maybe with all the money that NASS rakes in, rather than spending it on some ridiculous guest speaker, this year they could hire the Counting Crows to entertain us.  A little pay back would be great for public relations.  If there is one thing TSB has learned about the investment community is that when they have a meeting, they know how to party.  With all the sponsorship subsidies that probably exceed hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars, isn't it time that NASS paid us back?  Hey, let's hire another boring speaker to anesthetize the audience, or let's come in a day earlier and attend the Reverend Robin Young's annual Spine Revival.  TSB thought our members were having a Houston moment attending the recent Rick Perry prayer revival, who knows and whom really cares,  maybe old Rick himself will show up at the technology awards espousing the magic of stem cells.   With all the recent articles on stem cells the only ones that are missing are how to increase cylindrical filaments and real whiskers.

The last week has been a roller coaster ride and a wake up call for publicly traded spine companies based on the punishment that has been doled out.  Unfortunately, the disruption that some speak about is not occurring in new technologies, but in the downward spiral of stock prices. Ouch!  Am I dreaming or is this really happening to me? Some of the companies that have been tossed around have been those that believe that they are shakers and movers within the industry.  NuVasive  has been battered to the point where they have settled at a 52 week low, while AlphaTec has resembled a Duncan Yo-Yo,  while Orthofix has lost steam in light of hiring a new CEO.  Where are all those prognosticators and investors when you need them?  Have they lost their religion for spine?  TSB bets that the shorts are having a field day.  As more companies look to cut the fat, it will be interesting to see who survives in a sagging U.S. economy that will only place additional stress on the U.S. healthcare industry.  This week it was reported in various publications how cuts in healthcare may undermine the role in the labor market, as hospitals and companies look to cut overhead to reduce operating cost.  If you have a job, hang on because this ride is going to last longer than expected.

Though we were away, we noticed that there really wasn't much activity in the spine market, unless one considers Integra's launch of Zuma earth shattering.  Was that a Sea Spine product?  With a product name like that, one must wonder whether someone was hanging out in Malibu or whether they were having an ephemeral moment listening to Neil Young's  and Crazy Horse's 1975 album.  Hopefully, it was the latter.  So as we close another summer in the chapter of our lives, its time to gear up, get those suits cleaned, buff those shoes, and bring down the suitcase, let's see who will come out of the pack this fall in a tight horse race.  Will the market rebound?  Will some of the companies hit by a bear market and punishing economy rebound? Or, are we truly experiencing a correction?  It will be interesting to observe whether investor pessimisms cause angst and consternation at some of these companies.  It's been a great time to be short.  See you down the road.


45 comments:

  1. SeaSpine as been selling Zuma (lumbar) for a couple years now. This launch, I believe, was just for their Zuma-C (cervical). So, will Integra continue with the California product name theme?

    Is Nuva a buy at it's current 52 week low? They're the only company with any revenue growth but they are not the most efficient in my opinion.

    Get a new administration in office next year, along with a healthcare law repeal and watch what that does not only for the value of healthcare stocks but for the market as a whole.

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  2. Only company with revenue growth? Get you facts straight moron.

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  3. Ah, it only took till the second post for the first moron to call someone else a moron.

    Can we just stick to the current topic?

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  4. 7:46 shows again why this site has been the laughing stock of the biz. Like 8:16 pointed out, it only took this person seconds to make the "moron" comment. Well like my 6 year old son says "daddy it takes one to know one".

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  5. Why don't you guys add something postive to the blog instead of just piling on?

    I have heard a few horror stories about Nuvasive mid level management and the way they run their business. I will not name names but they came from the Lone Star state. Has anyone else heard about questionable tactics from their management team?

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  6. Not sure what a 'questionable tactic' is but nuva in the lone star state is like a circus with no ringmaster.

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  7. 9:27 It starts at the top in that organization. When you have no real leadership to set an example, what do you expect at all other levels? The VP of Sales at Nuvasive is quite possibly one of the least visible VPs in the industry. As for the AVPs, there are a few stars, but several others are in way over their heads. As for Sales Directors & the Area Managers, many have never even managed at any level, but yet find themselves in roles their not suited for or can actually perform. At the end of the day, all anyone in San Diego cares about is trying deliver a number, not actually developing their people or policing them. It will really be interesting to see what happens as the stock continues to tumble and possibly hits the teens very soon.

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  8. When's Globus going public?

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  9. Anyone thinking about the future of medical device reps should read "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman" by Jamie Reidy. It should come as no surprise that pharma went through the same explosion of reps that led to major contraction.
    Good selling.

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  10. In this business it is simply the new VP hiring his buddies from his former employer regardless of ability.
    SDG went all USS,
    Globus all ex Synthes Spine,
    Spinal Elements hired former Apatech,
    SiBone all former Kyphon, LDR former Synthes, Lanx now comprised of former Globus exes...and the beat goes on and on and on...

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  11. 9:12 think about your comment

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  12. hey 3:26...I'm thinking...I'm thinking?????? Whats your point? You are exactly what I am talking about! You took time out of your "busy" day to make a comment that has nothing to add or of value to this site.

    TSB, Zuma was a Seaspine product (now Integra). While you may mock it, what else has been released that is "ground shattering"?

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  13. Isn't Zuma a girly alcoholic beverage from the 1990s?

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  14. What is the latest on cervical disc front runners and will this technology ever get insurance reimbursement behind it?

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  15. The latest is the gov. investigation of Consultants and conflicts of interest with Institutions going exclusive with Vendors who pay those consultants. If an institution accepts at minimum 1 dollar in medicare payments, then I see some reps and distributors doing prison time. The distributor reps who "negotiated" the 'Deal' will certainly be prosecuted knowing full well laws were being broken. Colusion between the Big 3 will be exposed. And the surgeon consultants will maybe get a slap on the wrist. Prosecutions on its way boys, local reps will be the fall guys.

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  16. 11:24 makes an undisputable point. Contraction will occur. Representation from Medtronic, Depuy/Synthes, Stryker, Globus, Nuvasive, Zimmer, K2, etc will become commodotized just as the screws we sell has become. Contraction will take place resulting in a steep decrease in commissions. Sorry blokes!! The reality is that your 300K - 500K incomes will be market adjusted to 125K - 150K. The market has spoken.

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  17. Zuma is a small cc motor scooter from Yamaha

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  18. 11:27 V.P. of Nuvasive has been MIA as his boys from DePuy have been running the show for quite some time. Being in the the area i have seen some crazy changes as they are chasing market share by paying competitive Rep's Top $ to convert their business. Not much in their pipeline as they are spending their money on this type of venture. Upper Management has been leaving left and right and joining other Companies.
    being a former Purple Kool Aide drinker i see big changes in the year to come. AVP's and ABM's are pushing hard for sales and raising the stakes for local rep's. Seriously a Billion dollar company next year! REALLY???
    Too Many New companies coming out with Lateral with disposable costs next to nothing. The Neurovision dream is over! Osteocell? Really? by itself it shows no fusion! Lets get real. Alex , Keith and Pat are great guys but this does not fuel a Billion dollar company.

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  19. What product and company was used for Gov Perry stem cell treatment? Any thoughts on it's value for fusion?

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  20. 8:15 I didn't realize that Nuvasive had a VP of Sales? Doesn't Alex dictate everything that goes on in that company?

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  21. Current ABM's at NUVA have zero management responsibilities - all good ones have left. Directors are lackeys for VP's, most are ex-pharma reps. VP's are Rydins yes men and and do nothing more then relay emails from corporate to demoralize the field. Stock is headed towards penny status.

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  22. "yes men and do nothing more then relay emails from corporate"....I work for one of the bigs - and boy does that ring true.

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  23. 5:45

    Let me guess, you're either in the Midwest or West area(s)?

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  24. Good morning all TSB bloggers. Can anyone offer up what happend to all the business that Zimmer Spine (Cook) used ot have in Northern California? I believe that Q Surg took it over and have done nothing? What happend to the reps that Cook had selling spine????? Anyone know?

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  25. Who has info on the Stryker vs Zimmer Spine lawsuit of sales force poaching by Zimmer?

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  26. Rumor has it the former KC Nuva Director has some whistleblower issues he's facing. NUVA brought in some slimy folks, and they're paying for it.

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  27. houston depuy is rocking!

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  28. this has turned out to be such a boring blog! nothing but a waste of time. not one single thing of any interest published in months!!!!

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  29. 12:23 As a courtesy to our readers and commentators, please do not read nor comment on the blog. Considering that this year we are on run rate to finish between 1.2 and 1.5 million viewers, the absence of your commentary will surely not be missed. No offense, but you are starting to sound like a broken record. It's a blog and its free. Not Happy? Go spend $295 or $250 dollars for a subscription. As much as we appreciate your readership, it's time to move on. Besides, if you can do better, start your own blog. Peace.

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  30. Any word out of Alphatec? They lay off 40 people and the stock is getting crushed. They seem like a good buy right now for a larger company.

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  31. TSB...that's what I'm talking about. Amen to you and great blog man!!!

    B. Freeman

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  32. MM: You are a great guy, and I hope you don't take offense. But, 12:23 is sort of correct. Honestly, we love the forum. Anything that can be done to juice it up?

    Is Stryker buying Globus? I guess that would mean that DePuy is suing Stryker???

    What do my fellow spinebloggers want covered?

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  33. What I love about this blog is that, once again, it re-affirms that there are certainly plenty of "vilaage idiots" who exist in this profession that we call Spine.

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  34. I enjoy this blog for the real info that can come out of it. But all you little bitches winning and talking crap should leave and go buy some new dresses! Let the selling to the real men that can talk about the products and do feature benefits sales. Something I am sure you know nothing about! It is called getting back to the basics and learn how to sell! Not winning about PODS or your competition. Its about getting up everyday and going out and selling on your merits not complaining about your competition. Its called SALES!!

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  35. To all the women reps out there I am the 3:18 blogger. Please do not take the Dress comment as negative to you. I know a lot of women reps who can out sell anyone by doing the right thing and talking about the positives of there product. Again lets sell on what we can do our self and not negative on our competitors.

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  36. If there's one thing this blog had me so close to doing (mostly in part thanks to input from the comments section) it was to short sell a boat load of NuVasive and AlphaTec - should have pulled the trigger...would have been a fine pay day indeed!

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  37. 3:18

    You truly think that in this business simply knowing your products and the competitions and feature benefiting someone will rue the day?? In this brave new world you need corporate involvement, great relationships/relationship building and some luck. Sure knowing products in and out doesn't hurt, but its not that simple. I can picture you now in some surgeons office trying to shove a widget down his throat saying "Look at the double lead thread on this screw" when he could simply care less. Nice speech though, I'm sure Glen Gary Glen Ross 2 will coming calling for you soon!!

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  38. Please do not comment on this blog anymore. Hehehehe. Don't comment on this blog anymore because everyone are stale jerks. Hehehehe. All a bunch of spine jerks. I think the jerk store called. They want their blog back.

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  39. Amen 414. Come spend a day with me in my zero dollar expansion territory and show me how it's done 318.....get real


    -everyone

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  40. Here is a day in the life of Mr. 3:18..."say doctor Smith have you seen this great new steerable TLIF we are about to come out with...well no sir there are only 3 sets across the country but if you put a case on, I am sure I can get you a set". Or better yet...trying to sell the F&B's on his new cervical cort/can graft, wow looks at these trials/raps Dr.
    Get real! Without solid backing from your corp guys like 4:14 said, you dead in the water selling just that...water! I have been in this biz for 12 years and I can say that much of my success came from not just the F&B's but from the guys internal. My product managers made me successful and we seldom give them the credit they all deserve.

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  41. Can someone get a f*cking dictionary out. It's WHINING, not winning. Inbred winnner

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  42. MM/TSB

    You have officially 'Jumped the Shark'!

    "Considering that this year we are on run rate to finish between 1.2 and 1.5 million viewers, the absence of your commentary will surely not be missed."

    ...and US Magazine is now in the stands of my not-to-be-named whole-foodish grocery store. Why? People can't help but watch a car crash and the mob loves a Circus.

    12:23 is right, this is like 'Ground Hogs Day'. You've dangled and re-strung your 'is it a correction or is spine dead?' lure for months. You're entries are down and the viewership up. WHY?

    The comments! The spectacle! The back and forth that for an insular industry like ours reads like a transcript from the 'Jersey Shore'.

    And you finally put the top hat on with your comment on the 22nd AKA 'Pound sand pal, 1.5 viewers can't be wrong.'

    The tragedy you muse over is the waste of talent and capital in the spine industry. YOU are wasting your bully pulpit, so I ask you:

    Where's the 'innovation' TSB?

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  43. Oh and I thought I'd dust off this ole chestnut for you:

    "My advice TSB, redefine your mission and rebrand the blog. Either indulge the zombies full bore and pull in some Google ad space dollars for local singles and DUI attorneys, pull the plug, or maybe create a community of problem solvers (clinical, legal, governmental, etc.) and develop an open source dialogue for people who earnestly want to move forward and thrive."

    If you've got the 'viewers', might as well, to borrow a phrase from you, "go out and sell something".

    Peace!

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  44. Is trans1 still in business?

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