Sulzer Medica Ne-Osteo

Bone morphogenic protein product development program is terminated Oct. 9. Sulzer says it "does not feel the program will yield the required commercial results." Regulatory obstacles had been encountered by two potential competitors in the bone growth factor area - Stryker and Wyeth-Ayerst (1"The Gray Sheet" July 9, 2001, p. 14). The company plans to close a related Denver facility, lay off about 60 workers and concentrate its continuing U.S. biologics R&D efforts in Austin. Thomas Zehnder, VP-business and technology development, will replace former Sulzer Biologics President Jerry Marlar, who has resigned. One-time restructuring costs of $7 mil. and annual savings of $8 mil. are anticipated. Sulzer booked a second-quarter loss of about $399 mil. due to the Inter-Op hip recall