Contura

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.

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

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

• Injectable hydrogels
• Urology medical devices
• Orthopaedic injectables
• Veterinary pharmaceuticals
• Polyacrylamide biomaterials

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Manufacturing and Supply Agreement: Exclusive manufacturing and supply agreement with Axonics Modulation Technologies for Bulkamid following sale in 2021. Contura manufactures while Axonics distributes.
3. Veterinary Product Sales: Sale of veterinary hydrogel products (Arthramid Vet, Mictamid) through Contura Vet subsidiary for animal health market.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IMS VetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Contura Vet acquired IMS Vet in 2024 to expand veterinary business operations.
• Axonics Modulation Technologies Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Axonics 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 VetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Arthramid 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)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2007In 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

Direct 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

• Xtwitter.com/Contura_Intern
• Facebookfacebook.com/contura.Int
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/contura-inter/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/contura_international_ltd

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Contura