Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, DePuy Orthopaedics plans to phase out sales of all of its metal-on-metal hip implants from the 31st of August 2013 as a result of slowing sales.
The company is pulling the plug on its metal-on-metal implant business saying that it will halt all sales of its Ultramet Metal-on-Metal Articulation and Complete Ceramic-on-Metal Acetabular Hip System because of lower doctor adoption rates and as a result of a recent decision by the FDA to reclassify all metal-on-metal hip replacements.
Johnson & Johnson said the decision was not related to safety concerns, despite a string of high profile recalls of metal-on-metal hips by Depuy and other Orthopaedic device makers. DePuy officials have said the company will discontinue other products over the next year and a half as it continues to simplify and streamline its portfolio.
