Contura
Contura is a privately held UK-headquartered specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes patented 2.5% iPAAG injectable hydrogels for human orthopaedics, female urology, and veterinary therapeutics, manufactured at a dedicated facility in Denmark and distributed globally through direct sales, subsidiaries, and an exclusive Axonics partnership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Contura does
Contura is a privately held, UK-headquartered specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes injectable hydrogels based on its patented 2.5% iPAAG (injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel) platform, a non-degradable bio-scaffold comprising 2.5% cross-linked polyacrylamide and 97.5% water. Founded in 2000, the company manufactures exclusively at a dedicated, state-of-the-art facility in Soeborg, Denmark, using a proprietary automated manufacturing system (ALPH) and holds FDA, EU MDR, MDSAP, and ISO 13485 certifications. Its commercial portfolio spans human therapeutics (Arthrosamid for knee osteoarthritis, Bulkamid for female stress urinary incontinence), veterinary applications (Arthramid Vet for joint lameness, Mictamid for canine urinary incontinence), and aesthetic products (Aquamid, Aquamid Reconstruction), with over 2 million doses delivered globally since 2003.
The company operates a B2B enterprise field-sales model targeting healthcare providers and veterinarians, distributing through a mix of direct sales, wholly-owned subsidiaries (Contura Vet in the US and Ireland), and an exclusive manufacturing and supply agreement with Axonics Modulation Technologies for Bulkamid in the US market. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time medical device product sales, licensing/royalty arrangements with channel partners, and veterinary product sales. Contura completed a management buyout in 2016 to refocus on the iPAAG portfolio, divested Bulkamid to Axonics in 2021 while retaining manufacturing rights, and is currently scaling capacity and headcount (100+ employees) to support an expected 1 million+ doses annually by 2026, alongside expanding the veterinary franchise through the 2024 IMS Vet acquisition.
Contura serves four primary use-case segments: human orthopaedics (knee osteoarthritis), female urology (stress urinary incontinence), veterinary orthopaedics (joint lameness in horses and other animals), and veterinary urology (canine urethral sphincter incompetence). Its products are differentiated by long duration of effect (years rather than months) and single-injection protocols, supported by extensive clinical evidence including randomized controlled trials and multi-year follow-up studies. The company maintains operations in the UK, Denmark, the US, and Ireland, and continues to add indications, geographies, and senior leadership to support its platform expansion strategy.
Contura firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Contura
- Legal name
- Contura Ltd.
- Website
- https://contura.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Contura is a privately held UK-headquartered specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes patented 2.5% iPAAG injectable hydrogels for human orthopaedics, female urology, and veterinary therapeutics, manufactured at a dedicated facility in Denmark and distributed globally through direct sales, subsidiaries, and an exclusive Axonics partnership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Contura industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Pharmaceutical / Injectable Medical Devices (Urology & Orthopaedics)
- NAICS
- Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391), Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tissue Engineering & Biomaterial Scaffolds (HLAMANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Acrylics & Methacrylates (PMMA, Acrylic Resins) (IMAEANAG)
Keywords
Where Contura is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Contura business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Medical Device Product Sales: Sale of injectable hydrogel products (Arthrosamid, Bulkamid, Arthramid Vet, Mictamid) for orthopaedic and urinary incontinence treatments. Products provided in syringe format for clinical use.
- Manufacturing and Supply Agreement: Exclusive manufacturing and supply agreement with Axonics Modulation Technologies for Bulkamid following sale in 2021. Contura manufactures while Axonics distributes.
- Veterinary Product Sales: Sale of veterinary hydrogel products (Arthramid Vet, Mictamid) through Contura Vet subsidiary for animal health market.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B enterprise pricing for medical devices |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Contura product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Contura develops, manufactures and commercialises a portfolio of injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel (2.5% iPAAG) medical devices used as long-lasting bio-scaffolds for human and veterinary indications. Core commercial products are single-injection syringes supplied to healthcare providers and veterinarians for orthopaedic, urological, and reconstructive applications, manufactured at Contura's dedicated facility in Denmark.
Product overview
Contura is a hydrogel development and manufacturing company built around its patented 2.5% iPAAG (injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel) technology. The company offers a portfolio of injectable hydrogel products across human and veterinary therapeutic areas. Key products include Arthrosamid® for human knee osteoarthritis, Bulkamid® for female stress urinary incontinence, and Arthramid Vet® and Mict amid® for veterinary applications. Additional products include Aqu amid® and Aqu amid Reconstruction for aesthetic/reconstructive use, Rect amid for faecal incontinence, and Bulkamid VUR for vesicoureteral reflux. The products share the common 2.5% polyacrylamide/97.5% water composition and are manufactured at Contura's state-of-the-art facility in Denmark.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Arthrosamid: A non-biodegradable 2.5% iPAAG injectable implant for treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The first and only synovial scaffold administered in a single outpatient procedure, approved in Europe in 2021.
- Arthramid Vet
- Bulkamid
- Mictamid
- Aquamid
Products and services
- Arthrosamid A non-biodegradable 2.5% iPAAG injectable implant for treatment of knee osteoarthritis, administered in a single outpatient procedure as the first and only synovial scaffold of its kind; provides long-lasting pain relief and may prevent or postpone the need for knee surgery.
- Bulkamid A non-degradable bio-scaffold injectable hydrogel providing long-lasting symptom relief for stress urinary incontinence in women; used as a urethral bulking agent where the stress component is significant. Axonics Inc is the owner and distributor; Contura International A/S is the legal manufacturer.
- Arthramid Vet A patented non-degradable 2.5% iPAAG injectable for veterinary use, offering long-lasting symptom relief for non-infectious causes of joint lameness in animals, including early and late stages of osteoarthritis; becomes fully integrated into synovial tissue, restoring function and movement to joints.
- Mictamid A veterinary medical device consisting of a non-resorbable, injectable, transparent, hydrophilic gel (2.5% cross-linked polyacrylamide and 97.5% non-pyrogenic water) for urethral bulking in canines with urinary incontinence due to Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incompetence (USMI); currently only available for sale in US and Canada.
- Aquamid Polyacrylamide hydrogel injectable for facial augmentation, CE-marked in 2001 and supported by extensive clinical studies including 5-year and 10-year safety follow-ups.
- Aquamid Reconstruction Polyacrylamide hydrogel formulation for larger volume corrections including rhinoplasty and lipoatrophy, CE-marked in 2004.
- Rectamid Injectable bulking agent based on 2.5% iPAAG for passive faecal incontinence treatment via transanal submucosal injection.
- Bulkamid VUR Polyacrylamide hydrogel bulking agent for endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux, with long-term results and safety studies published.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2 million doses delivered globally since 2003
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Contura
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Contura technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Contura partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- IMS VetminorContura Vet acquired IMS Vet in 2024 to expand veterinary business operations.
- Axonics Modulation Technologies Inc.coreAxonics acquired Bulkamid from Contura in 2021 and now serves as owner and distributor. Contura entered into exclusive manufacturing and supply agreement with Axonics. Bulkamid is FDA-approved for treatment of stress urinary incontinence in adult women.
- Contura VetcoreArthramid Vet licensed to Contura Vet for sale in the veterinary market. Contura Vet established as subsidiary to commercialize veterinary products. US office set up in 2022, Ireland office also established.
- Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon)minorIn 2007, Contura signed agreement with Johnson & Johnson granting Ethicon (J&J's women's health subsidiary) exclusive worldwide distribution rights for Bulkamid. In 2013, Contura took back worldwide distribution rights and commenced direct sales.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Contura competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Axonics Modulation Technologies: Acquired Bulkamid from Contura in 2021 and serves as the owner/distributor of the product in the US for female stress urinary incontinence. Operates an exclusive manufacturing and supply agreement with Contura, making it both a channel partner and the principal commercial vehicle for one of Contura's flagship products in the largest healthcare market.
- Anika Therapeutics: Specialty medical device company focused on hyaluronic-acid-based viscosupplementation therapies for knee osteoarthritis (e.g., Monovisc, Orthovisc), directly competing with Contura's Arthrosamid in the same orthopaedic injection segment for treating joint pain.
- Bioventus: Orthobiologics company offering joint preservation therapies, including injectable treatments for knee osteoarthritis. Sells and develops products targeting the same clinician audience (orthopaedic specialists and sports medicine physicians) as Arthrosamid.
Broad incumbents
- Coloplast: Global leader in urology and continence care with a broad portfolio covering incontinence management and surgical urology. Overlaps with Contura in the female SUI/continence treatment category where Coloplast is a dominant supplier of devices to urology practices.
- Boston Scientific: Large diversified medical device company with a significant pelvic health and urology franchise including mid-urethral slings and incontinence therapies. Competes with Bulkamid and other Contura urology offerings as part of its broader women's health and urology portfolio.
- Laborie Medical Technologies: Specialty medical device company focused on urology and pelvic health diagnostics and therapeutics. Sells injectable bulking agents and other urology products addressing similar patient populations to Contura's Bulkamid and Aquamid product families.
- Sanofi (Genzyme/Synvisc franchise): Global pharmaceutical company whose Synvisc line of hyaluronic acid viscosupplements is the dominant injectable treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Direct substitute competitor to Arthrosamid across European and global markets.
- Dechra Pharmaceuticals: Specialty animal health pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio covering companion animal therapeutics. Competes with Contura Vet (Arthramid Vet, Mictamid) in the veterinary joint health and urology prescription market.
Emerging players
- Ferring Pharmaceuticals: Specialty pharmaceutical company with a presence in orthobiologics and joint preservation therapies, including products for osteoarthritis. Targets the same orthopaedic injection market as Arthrosamid with a complementary portfolio approach.
- Palette Life Sciences: Specialty medical company with bulking agent and tissue augmentation products including those used in urology (e.g., Deflux). Directly comparable to Contura's polyacrylamide-based tissue bulking agents across urology indications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Contura social profiles
Digital presenceContura compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Contura financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Contura leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Contura subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Contura funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Contura M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Contura
What does Contura do?
Contura develops, manufactures and commercialises a portfolio of injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel (2.5% iPAAG) medical devices used as long-lasting bio-scaffolds for human and veterinary indications. Core commercial products are single-injection syringes supplied to healthcare providers and veterinarians for orthopaedic, urological, and reconstructive applications, manufactured at Contura's dedicated facility in Denmark.
Is Contura a public or private company?
Contura is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Contura founded?
Contura was founded in 2000. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Contura based?
Contura is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Contura make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Medical Device Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are manufacturing and Supply Agreement and veterinary Product Sales.
Who are Contura's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Axonics Modulation Technologies, Anika Therapeutics and Bioventus. Broad incumbents are Coloplast, Boston Scientific, Laborie Medical Technologies, Sanofi (Genzyme/Synvisc franchise) and Dechra Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Palette Life Sciences.
Does Contura have an API?
No public API is recorded for Contura.
What industry is Contura in?
Contura's product category is Specialty Pharmaceutical / Injectable Medical Devices (Urology & Orthopaedics). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAMANAC, Tissue Engineering & Biomaterial Scaffolds, with a secondary code of IMAEANAG, Acrylics & Methacrylates (PMMA, Acrylic Resins). Its NAICS code is 339113 and its SIC code is 3841.