[Edaily Reporter KIM JI-WAN ] OSTEONIC Co., Ltd.(226400)is set to achieve a quantum leap in performance through a “package strategy” that combines surgical instruments with its SportsMedicine implants. With the “Suture Passer”—a surgical instrument developed at the request of global medical device company Zimmer Biomet—having secured domestic approval, the company can now supply all products necessary for surgery in a single package, moving beyond the supply of anchor devices alone.

According to the financial investment industry on the 24th, driven by the expansion of its SportsMedicine business, OSTEONIC Co., Ltd.’s revenue and operating profit for this year are projected to reach 58 billion won and 13 billion won, respectively. Compared to last year’s revenue of 45 billion won and operating profit of 9 billion won, these figures represent increases of 28.9% and 44.4%, respectively. Growth is expected to accelerate further if the Suture Passer receives approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is incorporated into Zimmer Biomet’s global distribution network.

Sports medicine refers to the field of orthopedic surgery that reconstructs ligaments, tendons, and cartilage damaged by exercise or aging. It is not limited to treatments for athletes but covers a wide range of general musculoskeletal disorders, such as rotator cuff tears, knee ligament injuries, and meniscus tears.

“Acts as a needle” to pass sutures through tendons

On the 20th, OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its independently developed “Suture Passer.”

As its name suggests, the Suture Passer is a tool used to pass sutures—that is, surgical thread—through damaged ligaments or tendons. It performs a role similar to that of a needle passing thread through fabric when mending clothes.

OSTEONIC Co., Ltd.’s sports medicine surgery begins by inserting a small fixation device called an “anchor” into the bone. The anchor is a screw-shaped implant that reattaches the ligament or tendon to the bone.

Once the suture attached to the anchor is passed through the torn tendon and the thread is pulled tight, the separated tendon is reattached to the bone. The suture passer is the tool used to guide the suture precisely to the desired location.

Given that the surgical site is narrow and the tissue is damaged, it is crucial to guide the suture to the exact location. The suture passer helps medical staff suture and secure the damaged tissue with greater precision while viewing the arthroscopic screen.

OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. representative stated, “Development of this product began at the request of Zimmer Biomet, OSTEONIC Co., Ltd.’s global ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) partner for sports medicine.”

Zimmer Biomet Made the Initial Request…

Combining

Implants and Surgical Instruments into a Single Set

In addition, Zimmer Biomet wanted OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. to bundle the anchors and suture passers it supplies

into

a single set for medical professionals. This means that instead of simply selling anchors, OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. will also supply the tools actually needed for surgery.

Previously, medical professionals and hospitals had to prepare implants and suturing instruments separately. Going forward, with the anchors and suture passers provided in a single package, surgical preparation and product use will become much more convenient.

OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. stated, “Based on this approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, we plan to first launch the packaged product in the domestic market,” adding, “We are also proceeding with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process for global distribution.” The company further predicted, “We expect to receive FDA approval around the end of the year.”

Once FDA approval is granted, overseas supply will become possible through Zimmer Biomet’s global distribution network. For OSTEONIC Co., Ltd., this expansion of its product lineup—from anchors to surgical instruments—lays the groundwork for increasing sales to Zimmer Biomet.

The approval of the Schuster-Passer system is also significant in that it marks OSTEONIC Co., Ltd.’s expansion beyond being a mere implant manufacturer to become a comprehensive sports medicine company that provides both the products and tools necessary for surgery.

OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. supplies orthopedic implants to 69 countries worldwide, including global medical device companies such as Zimmer Biomet and B. Braun. As of 2025, the sports medicine segment accounts for 37.9% of total revenue, having grown into the company’s largest business division, surpassing the trauma, upper and lower extremities, and cranio-oral-maxillofacial product groups.

From Shoulders to Knees… Sports Medicine Drives Growth

The rapid growth of the Sports Medicine division is propelling OSTEONIC Co., Ltd.’s performance to new heights.

According to SANGSANGINVESTMENT&SECURITIES, SportsMedicine revenue increased from 4.8 billion won in 2022 to 8.3 billion won in 2023, 10.1 billion won in 2024, and 17.2 billion won in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, the division recorded revenue of 5.7 billion won, marking a 112.7% increase compared to the same period last year. Annual revenue for this year is projected to reach 25.4 billion won.

At the heart of SportsMedicine’s growth is the biomaterial anchor for Zimmer Biomet. OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. began full-scale supply of this product in the second quarter of 2025. Currently, Zimmer Biomet is in the process of promoting the product by supplying samples to healthcare professionals in the United States.

Once full-scale sales begin, revenue growth is expected to accelerate, particularly in the U.S. market. The securities industry forecasts that U.S. exports of sports medicine products to Zimmer Biomet will increase from 5 billion won in 2025 to over 10 billion won this year.

The product portfolio is also expanding from its existing focus on shoulder ligament reconstruction to include the knee. OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. recently obtained a U.S. patent for a single-use device used to suture meniscal cartilage in the knee.

The meniscus is a crescent-shaped cartilage that absorbs shock within the knee joint. It can tear due to sports injuries or the natural aging process. The product developed by OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. is designed so that two implants unfold sequentially when a switch is operated, enabling more precise suturing of the torn cartilage.

OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. also obtained a Japanese patent for this product last year. The company is currently pursuing plans to secure intellectual property rights in major countries outside the U.S. and Japan through Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications.

OSTEONIC Co., Ltd. stated, “With the approval of the ‘Sutcher-Passer’ by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, we are now able to supply a package product combining sports medicine implants and surgical instruments in the domestic market,” adding, “We expect the growth of our sports medicine business to accelerate further once global supply to Zimmer Biomet begins in earnest following FDA approval.”