For a younger, active patient facing the prospect of a total hip replacement, the calculus is often grim. The procedure offers relief from pain, but it trades one problem for another: the removal of a significant amount of bone, a lifetime of activity restrictions, and the near-certainty of a more complex revision surgery down the line. It is a trade-off that has kept the niche field of hip resurfacing alive for decades, a procedure designed to cap rather than replace the femoral head, preserving bone for a future that may demand it. Now, a UK-based medical device maker, JointMedica, is pushing a new iteration of that technology through the rigorous gauntlet of US regulatory review, with the first patient in its pivotal study already on the books [JointMedica, 2026].
A Next-Generation Bet on Bone Preservation
JointMedica’s flagship product is the Polymotion Hip Resurfacing (PHR) System. The device is not a radical departure from the concept but an evolution, one that aims to address the historical shortcomings of metal-on-metal resurfacing implants, which fell out of favor over a decade ago due to concerns about metal ion release and soft tissue reactions. The company positions the Polymotion system as a next-generation design, leveraging decades of collective experience from the lineage of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR), a once-popular implant [The Silicon Review, Unknown]. The clinical bet is that by improving bearing surfaces and wear characteristics, they can offer a durable, bone-conserving option for a specific patient population: typically male, under 60, and highly active [JointMedica, Unknown]. For these patients, the standard of care,total hip arthroplasty,can feel like an unacceptable compromise.
The Path Through the FDA
The company’s most significant recent milestone is the initiation of a US Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study, a necessary step to gather clinical data for a Premarket Approval (PMA) application. The study, which received FDA Breakthrough Device designation in 2022, began enrolling patients in February 2025 [grossortho.com, 2026]. The first surgical procedure using the Polymotion system under the IDE protocol was completed on January 22, 2025, a symbolic and practical start to the data collection process [JointMedica, 2026]. By June 2025, the study had reached 30% of its target enrollment [JointMedica, 2025]. This progress is non-trivial; running an IDE study is a capital- and operationally-intensive endeavor for a company of JointMedica’s scale, which is estimated to have between 10 and 50 employees [LinkedIn, Unknown].
Leadership and the Exactech Partnership
Driving this effort is a leadership team with deep roots in orthopaedics. Dr. Sharat Kusuma, the company’s CEO and President, is an orthopaedic surgeon who previously held leadership roles at industry giants Zimmer Biomet and Exactech [The Silicon Review, Unknown]. The chairman, Terence Steffen, is described as an orthopaedic implant design entrepreneur and investor [JointMedica, Unknown]. This blend of clinical and commercial expertise is critical for navigating the complex pathway from design to regulatory submission and, ultimately, to the surgeon’s hand.
A key strategic element is JointMedica’s partnership with Exactech, a US-based orthopaedic company. In January 2022, Exactech led an undisclosed corporate investment round, taking a minority stake in JointMedica [Crunchbase, Jan 2022]. The relationship extends beyond capital to a distribution and co-development agreement, with Exactech handling commercialization and surgical education for the Polymotion system in certain markets [BusinessWire, Jan 2023]. This provides JointMedica with an established commercial channel and validation from a recognized player in joint reconstruction.
| Leadership | Role | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Sharat Kusuma | CEO/President | Orthopaedic surgeon; former roles at Zimmer Biomet & Exactech [The Silicon Review, Unknown] |
| Terence P. Steffen | Chairman | Orthopaedic implant design entrepreneur [JointMedica, Unknown] |
| George W. Young | Director | Not specified in verified sources |
| Eric D. Bohensky | Director | Not specified in verified sources |
The Competitive and Commercial Landscape
JointMedica operates in a specialized corner of the orthopaedic market. Its direct competitors include other implant manufacturers like Orchid Orthopedic Solutions and The Orthopaedic Implant Company, though its specific focus on hip resurfacing creates a narrower competitive set. The commercial model is classic medical devices: selling implants to distributors and surgeons, with pricing and volume dictated by procedural adoption. The company’s estimated turnover sits at £1.4 million (estimated) as of March 2024, with net assets estimated at £16.6 million [Pomanda, Mar 2024]. Its valuation is modeled between £0 and £38.1 million [Pomanda, Mar 2024]. These figures suggest a company in a development and clinical-trial phase, not yet in a high-volume commercial rollout, especially in the lucrative US market.
The risks here are well-defined and substantial. The clinical and regulatory path is long, expensive, and uncertain. Success in the IDE study is not guaranteed, and even with positive data, FDA approval is a separate hurdle. Furthermore, the company must convince a generation of surgeons who may have become wary of hip resurfacing to adopt a new technology. The historical issues with metal-on-metal implants created a skepticism that a single study will need to overcome.
- Regulatory execution risk. The IDE study is ongoing, and any delays or adverse events could significantly impact the timeline to market and burn rate.
- Surgeon adoption headwinds. Re-establishing hip resurfacing as a trusted option requires changing practice patterns and overcoming historical caution.
- Capital intensity. Medical device development, especially through a PMA pathway, consumes significant capital. The company’s funding history is not fully public, raising questions about its runway through the regulatory process.
JointMedica’s most plausible answer to these challenges lies in its partnership with Exactech, which provides not just funding but also commercial infrastructure and surgical training capabilities. The Breakthrough Device designation from the FDA also suggests the agency sees potential in addressing an unmet need, which can streamline certain review aspects.
What to Watch in the Next Twelve Months
The immediate focus for JointMedica is unequivocally on the IDE study. The key milestone to track will be the completion of enrollment, followed by the presentation of initial safety and efficacy data. Any partnership expansion with Exactech or announcements regarding preparation for a commercial launch, contingent on FDA approval, would be strong signals of forward momentum. Given the capital requirements of this phase, another round of financing, potentially again involving Exactech or other strategic investors, is a distinct possibility in the near term.
For the patient population in question,often individuals in their 40s or 50s with advanced osteoarthritis from years of sports or activity,the standard of care today remains a difficult choice. Total hip replacement provides excellent pain relief and function for many, but it is fundamentally a bone-sacrificing procedure with activity limitations that can feel punitive to an active lifestyle. The alternative, living with pain or drastically reducing activity, is its own form of limitation. JointMedica’s Polymotion system represents a bet that a third way is possible: a durable resurfacing that preserves bone and hope for a more physically unrestricted future. The next year of clinical data will determine if that bet has legs.
Sources
- [JointMedica, 2026] First IDE study procedure announcement | https://www.jointmedica.com
- [The Silicon Review, Unknown] Profile of Dr. Sharat Kusuma | https://thesiliconreview.com/magazine/profile/small-company-lead-disruptive-clinical-care-dr--sharat-kusuma-jointmedica
- [grossortho.com, 2026] Report on IDE study enrollment | https://orthocg.com/exactech-announces-fda-breakthrough-device-designation-for-jointmedicas-polymotion-hip-resurfacing-system/
- [JointMedica, 2025] IDE study enrollment update | https://www.jointmedica.com
- [LinkedIn, Unknown] Company employee range | https://uk.linkedin.com/company/jointmedicaltd
- [Crunchbase, Jan 2022] Corporate funding round | https://www.crunchbase.com/funding_round/jointmedica-corporate-round--f98a0f7c
- [BusinessWire, Jan 2023] Partnership announcement with Exactech | https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230110005732/en/Exactech-and-JointMedica-Announce-First-Hip-Resurfacing-Procedure-with-Polymotion-Hip-Implant
- [Pomanda, Mar 2024] Financial estimates | https://pomanda.com/company/03936112/jointmedica-limited