Smith & Nephew

What Smith & Nephew does

Smith & Nephew plc is a UK-headquartered (Hull), publicly listed (NYSE: SNN; LSE: SN) portfolio medical technology company founded in 1856, operating across approximately 100 countries with FY2025 revenue of ~$6.2 billion. The company organises its offering around three franchises: Sports Medicine & ENT, Orthopaedic Reconstruction, and Advanced Wound Management — focused on the repair, regeneration, and replacement of soft and hard tissue.

The product portfolio combines capital platforms, consumables, and biologics. Robotics and digital surgery are anchored by the CORI and next-generation CORI XT handheld platforms (covering knee, hip, and shoulder arthroplasty with no preoperative CT/MRI requirement), connected to the CORIOGRAPH pre-operative planner and the INTELLIO Connected Tower / MY.INTELLIO cloud portal. Sports-medicine differentiation rests on COBLATION radiofrequency wands (WEREWOLF FLOW 50/90, FASTSEAL with FLOW-IQ, ~96°C peak temperature, 30-year clinical history), the REGENETEN bioinductive collagen implant (10 years, 150,000+ patients, 3x re-tear reduction), the CARTIHEAL AGILI-C cartilage scaffold (only FDA-approved for KL 0-3 osteoarthritis), the Q-FIX all-suture anchor family, and HEALICOIL open-architecture anchors. Orthopaedic reconstruction is supported by OXINIUM oxidized zirconium implants and the JOURNEY II and CONCELOC systems. Advanced Wound Management encompasses the LEAF Patient Monitoring System, ALLEVYN dressings, PICO single-use NPWT, and RENASYS NPWT systems.

Revenue is generated predominantly through direct enterprise sales to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centres, and group purchasing organizations, with surgeon preference and clinical education (Smith+Nephew Academy, INSPIRE Live Surgery, UFC Combat Sports Medicine Course) acting as primary demand drivers. The GTM motion is a global field-sales model supplemented by surgeon-directed purchasing, exclusive private-label distribution (e.g., Nuo Therapeutics/Aurix), and technology/integration partnerships (Veeva Quality Cloud, Karl Storz). Recent strategic emphasis has been on bolt-on M&A (CartiHeal $180M+$150M in 2023, Integrity Orthopaedics up to £450M in 2026 Q1) to deepen the orthopaedic reconstruction and sports-medicine portfolios alongside next-generation product refreshes in robotics (CORI XT) and connected wound care (LEAF NG, ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE, RENASYS EDGE).

Name

Smith & Nephew

Legal name

Smith & Nephew plc

Website

https://smith-nephew.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Smith & Nephew is a UK-listed global medical technology company that designs, manufactures, and sells orthopaedic implants, sports-medicine devices, robotic surgery systems (CORI), and advanced wound-care products to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centres, and surgeons across roughly 100 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orthopaedic and Wound Care Medical Devices

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Medicine & Soft Tissue Repair Implants (Anchors/Grafts/Meniscal Repair) (HLAHAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Orthopedic Joint Reconstruction Implants (Hip/Knee/Shoulder/Elbow/Ankle) (HLAHAEAA), Orthopedic Trauma & Extremities Fixation (Plates/Screws/Nails/External Fixation) (HLAHAEAB), Orthotics & Bracing (AFO/KAFO, Spinal, Soft Goods Supports) (HLAHAMAC)

Keywords

• Orthopaedic medical devices
• Sports medicine products
• Advanced wound care
• Surgical robotics systems
• Orthopaedic reconstruction implants

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Medical Devices and Implants: Revenue primarily generated from sale of medical devices, surgical implants, and instruments across three business segments: Sports Medicine & ENT, Orthopaedic Reconstruction, and Advanced Wound Management. Includes consumable products, capital equipment sales, and associated services.
2. Wound Care Products: Revenue from advanced wound management products including dressings, negative pressure wound therapy systems, and related consumables. LEAF Patient Monitoring System monitors over 150,000 patients annually.
3. Surgical Robotics Systems: CORI Surgical System and related robotics platforms for orthopedic procedures sold to hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Smith & Nephew is a portfolio medical technology company that designs, manufactures, and sells medical devices for the repair, regeneration, and replacement of soft and hard tissue. The company operates across three segments: Sports Medicine (knee, shoulder, hip, and foot/ankle surgical repair including suture anchors, cartilage repair implants, and COBLATION wands), Orthopaedic Reconstruction (knee and hip implants, robotics-assisted surgical systems), and Advanced Wound Management (negative pressure wound therapy, advanced dressings, and pressure injury monitoring).

Product overview

Smith & Nephew is a portfolio medical technology company focused on the repair, regeneration and replacement of soft and hard tissue. The company operates across three main segments: Sports Medicine (including knee, shoulder, hip, and foot/ankle repair), Orthopaedic Reconstruction (including robotics and implants), and Advanced Wound Management. Key product families include: robotics platforms (CORI Surgical System, CORI XT); cartilage repair (CARTIHEAL AGILI-C implant); rotator cuff repair (REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant); suture anchors (Q-FIX, HEALICOIL, MICRORAPTOR families); COBLATION wands (WEREWOLF FLOW 50/90, FASTSEAL); wound care (LEAF Monitoring System, ALLEVYN dressings, RENASYS NPWT); and digital solutions (INTELLIO Connected Tower, MY.INTELLIO cloud portal). The portfolio serves elite athletes to general patients, supported by extensive medical education programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARTIHEAL AGILI-C: Cartilage repair implant for knee cartilage and osteochondral defects
• REGENETEN
• CORI
• Q-FIX
• WEREWOLF
• LEAF
• ALLEVYN
• RENASYS

Products and services

• CORI Surgical System Handheld robotics platform for orthopedic surgeries featuring real-time digital planning and personalized surgical approaches without requiring preoperative CT or MRI scans, used by orthopaedic surgeons in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
• CORI XT Handheld Robotics Platform Next-generation handheld robotics system for orthopaedic procedures including partial to revision knee, hip, and shoulder surgeries. Features compact footprint suited for hospital and ambulatory surgery center environments. Integrates with the CORIOGRAPH Pre-Operative Planning system.
• CARTIHEAL AGILI-C Cartilage Repair Implant Single-stage, off-the-shelf biphasic scaffold for knee cartilage and osteochondral defect repair derived from aragonite calcium carbonate. Indicated for ICRS grade III+ lesions with treatable area of 1-7cm², KL 0-3. FDA-approved for treatment of knee cartilage and osteochondral defects in patients with or without mild to moderate osteoarthritis (KL 0-3).
• REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant Collagen-based bioinductive scaffold for rotator cuff repair that is resorbed and replaced by new tendon-like tissue within 6 months, increasing tendon thickness and creating an environment conducive to healing.
• Q-FIX All-Suture Anchor Family Market-leading all-suture anchor fixation strength with ultra-low displacement during cyclic loading and consistent deployment. Features 360-degree subcortical radial expansion. Available for shoulder, hip, and foot/ankle repair procedures.
• HEALICOIL REGENESORB Suture Anchor Open architecture suture anchor with REGENESORB Material (beta-TCP and calcium sulfate) designed to promote bone healing and formation through biologic healing pathway.
• WEREWOLF FLOW 90 COBLATION Wand Arthroscopic ablation wand featuring FLOW-IQ technology with significantly faster ablation rate than competing 90-degree wands. Includes SCOPE-SENSING technology for protection of surgical equipment. Operates at approximately 96°C average peak temperature, significantly lower than monopolar electrocautery.
• WEREWOLF FLOW 50 COBLATION Wand Arthroscopic ablation wand with FLOW-IQ technology for controlled resection across multiple soft tissue types. Creates smoother articular surface than mechanical shaving.
• WEREWOLF FASTSEAL 6.0 Hemostasis Wand Bipolar radio frequency wand for hemostasis in open orthopedic procedures. Uses saline and RF energy with average peak temperature of 96 degrees C.
• ULTRABRACE Adjustable Ankle Instability Kit Adjustable ankle instability repair system offering tailored suture tension even after anchor insertion with fewer instruments and simplified bone hole preparation.
• ULTRABRIDGE Adjustable Achilles Reconstruction Kit Adjustable Achilles reconstruction system allowing refinement of suture tension during procedure with HEALICOIL PK anchors and FOOTPRINT ULTRA PK suture anchors.
• MY.INTELLIO Cloud-based Portal HIPAA-compliant cloud storage for patient images and videos captured during surgical cases, enabling secure archiving, organized data groupings, and custom PDF report generation.
• HIP POSITIONING SYSTEM Hip arthroscopy positioning system with ActiveHeel traction boot offering internal and external rotation, small footprint ideal for space-restricted OR environments.
• FIRSTPASS Suture Passer Suture passer with optional suture trap eliminating shuttling step, allowing simultaneous one-handed pass and retrieve with round pre-curved needle.
• Glenoid Bone Loss Advanced Instability System Procedural system for accurate and efficient bone graft placement in shoulder instability with comprehensive instrumentation and novel fixation method.
• LEAF Patient Monitoring System (next generation) Cloud-hosted pressure injury prevention platform using wearable sensors to monitor patient mobility and provide real-time turn status updates, reducing hospital-acquired pressure injuries by up to 73%. Monitors over 150,000 patients annually.
• ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Foam Dressing 5-layer construction foam dressing that blocks >99% bacteria, targeting chronic wound management across hospital and home care settings.
• RENASYS EDGE Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System Negative pressure wound therapy system launched at EWMA 2026 for chronic wound management applications.
• DOUBLEFLO Inflow/Outflow Pump Integrated fluid management system for arthroscopy designed for responsive operation with simplified setup and connection to INTELLIO Connected Tower Solution.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3x reduction in re-tear risk for medium-to-large full-thickness rotator cuff tears with REGENETEN Bioinductive Implant compared to standard repair alone
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SI-BONEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026SI-BONE partnership with Smith+Nephew for U.S. trauma product launch of INTRA Ti. Smith+Nephew serves as distribution partner for trauma-related applications in the U.S. market, expanding SI-BONE's reach through Smith+Nephew's established sales infrastructure.
• Veeva SystemscoreTechnology or Integration · 11 May 2026Smith+Nephew implementing Veeva Quality Cloud to unify quality management systems worldwide. Platform consolidation includes Veeva QualityDocs for managing quality content, Veeva QMS for centralizing processes, and Veeva Training for over 500,000 annual trainings. Veeva MedTech stated the quality transformation will help fuel growth and advance innovation.
• Integrity OrthopaedicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Smith+Nephew acquired Integrity Orthopaedics for up to $450 million to strengthen orthopedic division with robotics-enabled solutions. Deal completed in Q1 2026. The acquisition expands shoulder portfolio and adds capabilities to address orthopaedic reconstruction market.
• CartiHealcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2023Smith+Nephew acquired CartiHeal, developer of cartilage regeneration technology including Agili-C implant for knee cartilage repair. Deal involved $180 million initial payment with potential additional payments up to $150 million based on performance milestones. Acquisition enhances Smith+Nephew's sports medicine portfolio with cartilage regeneration technology targeting knee repair.
• Nuo TherapeuticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmith+Nephew serves as exclusive private label distribution partner for Nuo Therapeutics' Aurix wound care product. This relationship positions Smith+Nephew as the exclusive distributor for Nuo's regenerative wound care therapy in specified markets.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Stryker Corporation: Direct competitor across orthopaedics, sports medicine, and surgical robotics. Stryker's Mako robotic platform is the primary competitive threat to Smith & Nephew's CORI system, and both companies compete in joint reconstruction and sports medicine implant markets with similar surgeon customer bases.
• Johnson & Johnson (DePuy Synthes): Major direct competitor through DePuy Synthes in orthopaedic reconstruction and sports medicine. J&J's VELYS robotic platform competes directly with CORI in knee arthroplasty, and the companies compete across joint reconstruction implants and trauma fixation products.
• Zimmer Biomet: Direct competitor in orthopaedic reconstruction, particularly hip and knee implants. Zimmer Biomet's ROSA robotic platform competes with Smith & Nephew's CORI system, and both companies serve the same hospital and ASC customer base for joint replacement procedures.
• Arthrex: Direct competitor in sports medicine, particularly in shoulder, knee, and hip arthroscopy. Arthrex is a privately held leader in suture anchors, COBLATION alternatives, and sports medicine implants, competing head-to-head with Smith & Nephew's REGENETEN, Q-FIX, and WEREWOLF product lines.
• Conmed Corporation: Direct competitor in sports medicine and ENT surgical devices. Conmed competes with Smith & Nephew's COBLATION technology in ENT and sports medicine ablation procedures, and also competes in arthroscopic instrumentation markets.
• Integra LifeSciences: Direct competitor in orthopaedic reconstruction and wound care. Integra's extremity orthopaedics business (divested to Smith & Nephew in 2020) and regenerative tissue technologies compete with Smith & Nephew's sports medicine portfolio, and both companies serve the wound care market with skin substitutes and grafts.

Broad incumbents

• Medtronic: Broader medical device incumbent with ENT and surgical robotics presence. Medtronic's Mazor robotic spine surgery platform and Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system overlap with Smith & Nephew's CORI robotics, and both companies serve ENT surgeons with related technologies.
• Becton Dickinson: Broader medical device incumbent with surgical and wound care presence. BD competes in advanced wound care dressings and surgical instruments, overlapping with Smith & Nephew's wound management portfolio and serving similar hospital customers.

Emerging players

• Organogenesis: Emerging player in regenerative medicine and wound care. Organogenesis competes with Smith & Nephew in advanced wound management through skin substitute and regenerative tissue products, with particular overlap in chronic wound treatment markets.

Regional players

• Mölnlycke Health Care: European-headquartered wound care and surgical solutions competitor. Mölnlycke's Mepilex dressings and surgical products compete with Smith & Nephew's ALLEVYN and other wound care portfolio, with strong presence in European markets where Smith & Nephew also operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smithnephewplc
• Facebookfacebook.com/SmithNephewplc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A29 records

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smith & Nephew