OSSTEC secures £2.5m to launch cementless 3D-printed knee replacement technology

The round was led by Empirical Ventures and remains open for further investment. 

Osteoarthritis causes chronic pain for billions of people worldwide, with 1.3 million knee replacement surgeries performed globally each year. 450,000 of these cases are young patients who face a 35 per cent chance of failure (often due to the loss of fixation between the bone and the implant) and revision surgery. 

Based on over a decade of research at Imperial College London, OSSTEC has developed patented 3D-printing technology to mimic cartilage articulating surfaces and bone-fixing structures. Its first product has been developed with a team of surgeons and applies this technology in less invasive knee implants to stimulate bone growth. 

In a statement, Johnathan Matlock, general partner and co-founder at Empirical Ventures, said: “OSSTEC is an excellent example of how scientific discovery can be transformed into real-world impact. The company has huge potential to completely reform best practices in this field of healthcare, with an impressive team of scientists pushing the boundaries of engineering and medical research.”