Zimmer Biomet, Align Technology ink distribution deal

September 20, 2019 By Sean Whooley Leave a Comment

Zimmer Biomet (NYSE:ZBH) said yesterday that it entered into a multinational distribution deal with Align Technology (NSDQ:ALGN) for its iTero Element family of intraoral scanners.

The companies did not disclose the terms of the agreement, but said the partnership has a goal of delivering multiple digital workflows for dental professionals and laboratories, enabling business-to-business collaboration and offering an optimal treatment experience.

The iTero scanners are designed to strengthen the speed and visualization capabilities in intraoral imaging. The product family is available through Zimmer Biomet Dental in Europe, and the company plans to expand its distribution to the U.S., Canada and Japan in October.

“Zimmer Biomet is committed to offering best-in-class solutions and technology tailored to dental professionals’ needs, and this partnership with Align Technology to complement our portfolio of fully digital solutions is another important step in that direction,” Zimmer Biomet Dental president Pedro Malha said in prepared remarks.

“We are excited to be partnering with Zimmer Biomet to demonstrate our companies’ commitment to supporting dental professionals on their journey to digital dentistry,” added iTero SVP and managing director Yuval Shaked. “A key differentiator in the evolution to a digital practice and dental ecosystem is clinical education. Through this partnership, the iTero scanner becomes the preferred intraoral scanner used in the U.S. and European Zimmer Biomet Institutes, which train thousands of dental professionals annually in an interactive learning environment with the ultimate goal of improved clinical outcomes.”

ZBH shares were up 0.7% at $140.54 apiece in early-morning trading today; shares of ALGN rose 0.8% to $181.77.

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