DePuy Synthes has acquired Expanding Innovations (EI), strengthening the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) MedTech subsidiary’s spine portfolio and position in the growing expandable interbody cage segment.
Under the deal, the terms of which have not been publicly disclosed, DePuy will inherit EI’s portfolio of expandable implant technologies for spine surgery. These include the California-based company’s X-PAC transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) expandable posterior cage for use in lower back vertebral fusion procedures, and X-PAC lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF), an expandable lateral cage system that expands in-situ to restore disc height, decompress nerves, and promote bridging bone fusion.
LLIF and TLIF are common types of lower back surgery wherein unstable spinal vertebrae are fused together, either to relieve nerve compression or treat conditions such as degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis.
Meanwhile, expandable cage systems are a fast-growing orthopaedic market segment. Xenix, which markets an expandable interbody fusion device, said it has seen “strong market demand” for the technology.
DePuy said the inherited products will complement its TriALTIS spine system and be integrated into its VELYS portfolio for spinal applications.
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared in 2023, TriALTIS is a thoracolumbar screw system used in complex spine surgery procedures, while VELYS is a robotic-assisted surgical platform, initially FDA-cleared in January 2021 for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and it is also used in spinal fusion procedures.
DePuy’s worldwide president, Namal Nawana, commented: “EI is an exciting addition to DePuy Synthes and furthers our commitment to bringing market-leading solutions across our spine portfolio.
“Our current portfolio and EI’s innovation pipeline will strengthen our position in this high-growth segment while expanding our ability to deliver meaningful innovation for surgeons and patients.”
GlobalData analysis reveals that the global spine surgery market is growing at a CAGR of 2.4% and is forecast to reach a valuation of around $25.1bn in 2035, while the global spinal fusion market is growing at a CAGR of 1.4% and is projected to reach a valuation of around $17.5bn in 2035.
J&J acquired DePuy Synthes in a $21.3bn deal back in 2011. In October 2025, however, J&J announced its intention to spin off the spine orthopaedics business, asserting that the plans would help the company to “accelerate the portfolio shift” of its medtech business to “higher-growth and higher-margin markets”.