Impliant Announces the Addition of Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs to Executive Management Team

PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 19  /PRNewswire/ -- Impliant, Inc., a developer of novel motion-sparing alternatives to traditional spinal fusion surgery, announced today that it has added Noel Rolon to its executive management team as the Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs.

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Mr. Rolon brings 30 years of clinical and regulatory experience in the spinal and medical device field to Impliant, including the successful completion of several IDE/PMA studies.  Most recently, he served as Vice President of Worldwide Clinical and Regulatory Affairs for Gentis, Inc., a developer of biomaterials-based nucleus augmentation products for the treatment of early-stage spinal degeneration.  Prior to Gentis, Mr. Rolon served as Director of Global Clinical Affairs for Synthes Spine, in which he was responsible for the management of the ProDisc-L, ProDisc-C, and In-Space Interspinous Spacer clinical trials.  Preceding his time at Synthes, Mr. Rolon held various senior regulatory and clinical positions at Johnson & Johnson in their Ethicon, Cordis, and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics divisions.  During his time at Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Rolon was the recipient of several awards, including the Distinguished Analytical Chemist Award and Ortho Vice President's Award for his work with infectious diseases.

"We are very fortunate to have Noel as part of the Impliant executive management team," commented Todd Potokar, President & CEO of Impliant.  "His vast experience in managing IDE studies will pay large dividends in the execution and completion of our TOPS clinical study and the management of other key product development initiatives moving forward."

Mr. Rolon commented on his decision to join Impliant by stating, "Throughout my career, I've had the good fortune to help bring several motion-sparing spinal implants to market.  However, I was attracted to the TOPS device due to its novel design and the fact that there is a growing need for the ability to provide stabilization while maintaining motion in patients that would otherwise require a posterior decompression and fusion.  I am honored to help lead Impliant's flagship TOPS clinical program and to contribute to the development of the company's product pipeline, which will undoubtedly help thousands of people worldwide."

About the TOPS(TM) System

Impliant's TOPS(TM) System, a mobile posterior device, is designed to stabilize but not fuse the L3-4 or L4-5 vertebral level to alleviate pain stemming from spinal stenosis with or without degenerative facet arthrosis and spondylolisthesis.  Following a laminectomy and medial facetectomy, the device is affixed to the spine via four pedicle screws using a standard posterior surgical approach.  Impliant believes that the TOPS(TM) System could benefit over 500,000 patients worldwide undergoing spinal fusion surgery each year.  The TOPS(TM) System is currently not approved for sale in the United States.

About Impliant, Inc.

Impliant, Inc. is a privately-held company engaged in the development of novel spine arthroplasty solutions for some of the most prevalent pathologies of the spine.  The company's flagship product is the TOPS(TM) System, which has the longest clinical history in the Total Posterior Arthroplasty market segment, dating to January 2005.  Impliant is also developing the VersaLink Fixation System, the TOPS-SP System, and several other next-generation and multi-level technologies to further increase its addressable market. Impliant is headquartered in Princeton, NJ with research facilities located in Ramat Poleg, Israel.  Shareholders include Elron Electronic Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq & TASE: ELRN).  For more information about Impliant, please visit http://www.impliant.com/. 

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DATASOURCE: Impliant, Inc.



CONTACT:  Todd Potokar, President & CEO, , or Ronnie

Levy, COO & General Manager, , both of Impliant, Inc.,

[phone]



Web Site:  http://www.impliant.com/ 

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