VB Spine's Strategic Acquisition Reshapes Global Spine Market

NEW YORK, NY – January 06, 2026 – In a move that solidifies its rapid ascent in the medical technology sector, VB Spine LLC today announced the completion of its acquisition of Stryker’s spinal implant manufacturing facility in Cestas, France. The deal marks a pivotal step in VB Spine’s ambitious global strategy, establishing a critical European manufacturing and training hub less than a year after its formation.

The acquisition follows the April 1, 2025, creation of VB Spine, which was established when Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC acquired the U.S. spine implant business from medtech giant Stryker. Now operating as the largest privately held spine company in the world, VB Spine is aggressively carving out a significant space in a market undergoing dramatic transformation.

The Viscogliosi Playbook in Action

The strategy behind VB Spine's formation and expansion is a hallmark of its leaders: Marc, John, and Anthony Viscogliosi. The brothers have a multi-decade history of identifying, acquiring, and scaling innovative companies within the neuro-musculoskeletal industry. Their firm, Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC, founded in 1999, has been instrumental in commercializing breakthrough technologies, from total disc replacements to dynamic stabilization systems.

This latest move is consistent with their established playbook: acquiring promising yet non-core assets from larger corporations and building a focused, specialized powerhouse around them. While major players like Stryker are divesting from certain segments to streamline their portfolios, the Viscogliosi Brothers are doubling down on spine. Their track record includes building and successfully exiting companies such as Spine Solutions (sold to Synthes) and Small Bone Innovations (acquired by Stryker), and more recently, revitalizing the Coflex technology through their Companion Spine venture.

By acquiring both the U.S. commercial operations and a state-of-the-art European manufacturing plant from Stryker, VB Spine is executing a bold consolidation strategy. It is vertically integrating key assets to create an ecosystem that combines a comprehensive product portfolio with robust manufacturing and distribution capabilities, positioning itself to compete on a global scale.

Reshaping the Competitive Landscape

Stryker's decision to divest its spinal implant assets reflects a broader industry trend among large medtech conglomerates. The company has shifted its focus toward higher-growth areas like robotics, interventional spine, and its $4.9 billion acquisition of Inari Medical. With its spine business showing relatively low growth and facing intense competition, the divestiture allows Stryker to reallocate capital and sharpen its strategic direction. However, the deal includes a crucial partnership, granting VB Spine exclusive access to Stryker’s Mako Spine robotics and Copilot guidance software, a powerful combination of established implants and cutting-edge enabling technology.

This strategic maneuvering thrusts VB Spine directly into a competitive European market historically dominated by giants such as Medtronic and the newly merged Globus Medical-NuVasive entity. The European spinal implant market, valued at over €1.5 billion, is projected to grow steadily, driven by an aging population and the increasing adoption of advanced surgical techniques.

VB Spine enters not as a startup, but as a formidable, well-capitalized player with an estimated revenue between $50 million and $100 million. Its independent, privately held structure may afford it the agility to respond to market needs and surgeon feedback more quickly than its larger, publicly traded competitors. By establishing a manufacturing footprint directly in Europe, the company can enhance its supply chain resilience, reduce lead times, and build stronger relationships with the European surgical community.

Cestas: A Strategic Hub for European Expansion

The Cestas facility is more than just a factory; it is the new anchor for VB Spine’s global ambitions. Described as a state-of-the-art operation with significant technical capabilities, the site will be central to the company's worldwide manufacturing strategy. The acquisition was a turnkey operation, with the facility’s experienced employees, infrastructure, and validated processes all transitioning seamlessly from Stryker to VB Spine, ensuring no interruption to production.

“The team in Cestas brings deep expertise and a strong track record in manufacturing excellence,” said John Viscogliosi, co-CEO of VB Spine, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to VB Spine and excited for the role they will play in our future. Cestas will anchor our worldwide manufacturing capabilities and give us a strong platform to deliver training and best practices to surgeons.”

This focus on education is a key component of the strategy. VB Spine plans to leverage the Cestas site to expand its medical education and training programs for European surgeons. By creating a regional center for excellence, the company aims to foster innovation, share best practices for its comprehensive implant portfolio, and drive the adoption of new technologies in partnership with healthcare professionals. This approach is designed to build loyalty and ensure optimal patient outcomes, moving beyond a purely transactional relationship with its customers.

Building a Specialized MedTech Powerhouse

As one of the largest family-owned medical technology companies in the world, VB Spine represents a distinct model in the industry. Unencumbered by the quarterly reporting pressures of public markets, the company can pursue a long-term vision focused on patient-centric innovation and operational excellence. This vision is backed by significant investment from Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC and its holding company, Viscogliosi Brothers Watermark Holdings LLC, signaling deep financial commitment to the venture's success.

The timing is critical, as the spine market continues to evolve. The demand for minimally invasive surgical (MIS) options, patient-specific 3D-printed implants, and non-fusion technologies is growing rapidly. A focused and agile company like VB Spine, now equipped with a robust product line, exclusive access to robotic technology, and a dedicated European manufacturing base, is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends. By dedicating its resources entirely to the complexities of spine care, VB Spine aims to outmaneuver diversified competitors and deliver the specialized solutions that surgeons and patients increasingly demand.