Medtronic Signs Distribution Deal With Merit Medical for ViaVerte Back Pain Device

Medtronic plc entered into a distribution agreement with Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MMSI) to offer the FDA-cleared ViaVerte, a minimally invasive and implant-free basivertebral nerve ablation (BVNA) system. The deal, announced March 24, puts the medical device giant squarely into a BVNA market that competitors have already been building — and hands it a device with a feature none of its rivals currently claim.

ViaVerte is the first and only BVNA system with a physician-controlled steerable mechanism for precise basivertebral nerve targeting for treating chronic vertebrogenic lower back pain. BVNA is a rapidly growing therapy option for patients suffering from chronic low-back pain caused by damaged vertebral endplates, and the ViaVerte system offers patients a minimally invasive, same-day outpatient procedure. The American Chronic Pain Association estimates one in three Americans suffer from chronic pain.

Paolo Di Vincenzo, president of Medtronic Neuromodulation, which is part of the Medtronic Neuroscience Portfolio, said: "For 50 years, we have advanced how chronic pain is treated. Adding ViaVerte Basivertebral Nerve Ablation expands our world-leading pain interventions portfolio and gives patients and their physicians another meaningful option for lasting relief."

Michael Blackham, executive vice president, Global OEM at Merit Medical Systems, added: "We are thrilled to expand our ongoing business relationship with Medtronic by providing Merit's proprietary articulating technology. We believe ViaVerte represents a significant advancement in the BVNA market." Martha G. Aronson, president and chief executive officer of Merit Medical Systems, said: "This agreement underscores our mutual dedication to providing innovative therapies to support physicians and their patients."

The agreement deepens a commercial relationship that predates this deal. Merit currently supplies Medtronic's Kyphon Xpander Inflation Syringes used in balloon kyphoplasty procedures and Kyphon KyphoFlex unipedicular steerable balloon catheter for treating vertebral compression fractures. That earlier supply arrangement was formalized in June 2024, when the two companies announced Merit would handle quality controls, regulatory activities, and lifecycle management on the KyphoFlex catheter while Medtronic took responsibility for all sales, marketing, and distribution.

The Medtronic portfolio of pain therapies includes spinal cord stimulation, vertebral augmentation, nerve ablation, bone tumor ablation, and targeted drug delivery. The ViaVerte agreement slots a steerable BVNA capability into that lineup at a moment of intensifying competition. Boston Scientific offers the Intracept BVNA system, which it acquired through its 2023 purchase of Relievant Medsystems. Stryker also won FDA clearance for its own BVNA system in May 2025.

BTIG analysts characterize BVNA as a "relatively small market" at around $200 million, but consider it a fast-growing segment, given the growth displayed by Boston Scientific and Stryker's entry. The analysts wrote that they were "pleased to see Merit enter this fast-growing and under penetrated market" and viewed Medtronic as a sensible partner given its Neuromodulation portfolio.

The companies expect to make the ViaVerte BVNA system available later this year.