Before creating LDR at the end of 2000, they worked together for a French company specialized in Spine called JBS, the company who designed the Prodisc technology with Dr Thierry Marnay.

Christophe, Herve and Patrick are much more than business partners; they are friends for over 17 years, sharing the same passion for research and innovation in the spine domain. In the early days of the company, when L, D and R were the only employees of LDR in a very small office in Troyes, France, just a few people believed in their endeavor. Their vision was clear: “To compete against big companies with more resources and more people than LDR will ever have, LDR must provide unique solutions that make sense to spine surgeons worldwide and have a reproducible surgical technique. LDR will not be a ‘one product company’ or a ‘me too product company’, but a new global spine company providing real innovation in both fusion and non-fusion applications.”

To achieve these goals, the three founders of LDR built an organization around 4 key values that defines their business philosophy: Competence, Humility, Dedication and Reproducibility

1- Competence
With more than 55 years of cumulative experience in the spine industry as designers, marketing and sales directors, and general managers, Christophe, Herve and Patrick know how critical it is to understand surgeon’s needs. They spent time in the OR with them to understand, discuss, and challenge their ideas in order to provide efficient technical solutions.

2- Humility
If you have ever met Christophe, Herve or Patrick, you understand why this value is important to them. They believe that humility does not mean that you are not ambitious. In fact, they believe that you will grow stronger if you always remember that you have to learn every day, improve yourself, and always respect the people you work with. LDR is one piece of the solution for the patient and is committed to excellence to provide this part of the puzzle. That’s our job and we do it well.

3- Dedication
We are dedicated in our passion to help surgeons be successful in their difficult mission 365 days and year throughout 30 countries in the world. For that purpose, Christophe, Herve and Patrick are the primary examples for LDR employees.
Being responsive, professional, and providing the best service and the best product everyday is our mission.

4- Reproducibility
Reproducibility is a key word in the LDR story. In contrast to many companies, LDR decided to be a worldwide company from the beginning. Selling surgical implants in more than 30 countries is a challenge and cannot be achieved without reproducibility: reproducibility of the surgical technique and reproducibility of the clinical results are what matters. LDR concentrates a lot of resources and energy to satisfy this mission. Reproducibility may be in fact the key value of the LDR philosophy.

From 2001 to 2002, Christophe, Herve and Patrick financed the company themselves and dedicated their time to research, working on different projects such as the new concept of an integrated polyaxial locking mechanism with a flat rod (Easyspine ), a posterior inter-somatic open cage with a unified fusion chamber (ROI ), the first zero-profile self-locking cervical cage ( MC+ ), the unique Mobile bearing technology for the lumbar spine (Mobidisc ) and the cervical application (Mobi-C ).

Joined by ex-JBS people who wanted to participate in their new adventure, LDR started to sell their products in France in mid 2002. Their success was immediate. The French market is very well known for its ability to validate innovation in the spine domain. France is the country where Roy Camille, Cotrel, Dubousset, Louis, Onimus and others pioneered spine surgery, designing the first pedicle screws and deformity correction concepts.

The success of LDR in the French market was the first step in LDR’s worldwide success. Having clinical experience in one of the most recognized market in the world has dramatically helped LDR to build its international distribution network.

In 2003, the first Mobidisc (lumbar) was implanted in France and one year later, the first Mobi-C (cervical). This was a new giant step for LDR, positioning the company amongst the 5 companies in the world having performed human implantation in this field. Since this date, LDR is recognized worldwide as a spine specialist, providing the latest technology in both fusion and non-fusion applications.

In 2005, Christophe, Herve and Patrick decided to enter the US market in order to prepare an IDE for their non-fusion technology. Even though at this time lumbar discs were the topic of the times, LDR decided to conduct the first 1 and 2 level IDE studies in the USA for their Mobi-C cervical artificial disc. LDR was the first company approved for these 2 IDE studies and started to enroll patients in 2006. Both enrollments have been completed in 23 centers across the United States. The one level IDE enrollment was completed in October 2007 and the 2-level was completed in March 2008. This was another giant milestone in the LDR story. LDR is at this time the only company along with Medtronic Sofamor to have completed enrollment for 1 and 2 level artificial disc applications in the United States. LDR could potentially be the first or second player in the multi-level cervical disc market in the USA, an estimated $1 billion market.

Going direct in key markets is also part of the LDR story: 2001 in France (LDR Medical), 2005 in the US (LDR spine), 2006 in China (LDR China), 2007 in Brazil (LDR Brazil) and 2009 in Germany (LDR Germany). Direct access to these strategic markets is a part of LDR’s global strategy. Being present in the countries with the same initial philosophy and values that have driven LDR’s success since the beginning is critical to LDR. As of today, direct entities represent around 70% of LDR’s global revenue, providing direct control of LDR activity.

The US Market
Following the international success of LDR and completion of the IDE enrollment in the USA for Mobi-C, the focus has turned to the creation of a US distribution network in 2008. LDR had to prepare for the potential introduction of Mobi-C in the US market at the end of 2010, and to position itself at the same level as outside the United States.

To reinforce how critical the US Market was for LDR’s future, Christophe Lavigne decided to move to the US with his family in June 2006. President and CEO of LDR holding, CEO of LDR spine (US entity) and President of LDR medical (France), Christophe decided to restructure LDR Spine in the same fashion as LDR Medical, applying the same LDR values: Competence, Humility, Dedication and Reproducibility. His 2 partners, Herve and Patrick stayed in France as LDR Medical’s general managers to manage the growing business in Europe.

Supporting Christophe, a top US executive team has joined LDR spine to embrace his vision, dedicated to the LDR philosophy and sharing the same values.

The introduction of the lumbar application of the VerteBRIDGE™ technology in mid-2008 has been another giant step for LDR in the US. VerteBRIDGE is another demonstration of LDR’s capacity to innovate. From LDR’s beginning, Christophe has said that providing innovation which makes sense will make the difference: VerteBRIDGE is the demonstration – a new minimally invasive technique for anterior fusion (lumbar and cervical) - no screws – zero profile – direct access to the disc.

In 3 months, LDR signed up more than 40 distributors in the US representing approximately 200 reps. Top US distributors decided to join LDR and take the opportunity to be part of LDR’s future success. 2008 revenue in the US grew by 110% and by 65% globally for LDR. The hybrid distribution model (direct and indirect) is the LDR model in the US. VerteBRIDGE lumbar (Roi -A) is an outstanding open-the-door product for LDR direct reps or distributors. VerteBRIDGE cervical (Roi-C), launched in April 2009, will be the first zero-profile cervical technology available without screws using a MIS approach. VerteBRIDGE, lumbar and cervical, addresses the huge MIS anterior fusion market with a unique patented technology.

LDR’s story would have never existed without key investors who believed in the L,D and R vision from the beginning. LDR raised 65 million US from 2002 to the end of 2008 to finance its projects.

The key partners of LDR are : Rothschild Group (Pierre Remy ), Austin Ventures (Joe Aragona – Kevin Lallande), PTV Sciences (Matt Crawford) and THP (Bob Shepler – Tom Raffin)

LDR Founders

Christophe Lavigne

Christophe is the president and CEO of LDR holding, CEO of LDR spine (USA) and President of LDR Medical (France). He has 17 years of experience in the spinal field working as sales and marketing director for JBS and Aesculap/JBS. Christophe has international connections with key surgeons and distributors in more than 30 countries. He graduated from the IUT Dijon,France (genie mecanique), ESARC Paris (business school) and has a DEESMA (European Master in Marketing). Christophe also won the French prize of “Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 “

Herve Dinville

Herve is the general manager of LDR Medical and the head of research and development for LDR. He has more than 20 years of experience in the spinal field working for JBS and Aesculap/JBS in France. Herve has participated in more than 1’000 spinal surgeries and more than 100 cadaver labs to improve the surgical procedure with top spine surgeons. Herve has been critical in designing approximately 50 new spine products in the last 20 years, implanted in thousands of patients worldwide.

Patrick Richard

Patrick is the general manager of LDR Medical and the European sales manager for LDR. He has more than 17 years of successful experience selling spinal implants in Europe, working for JBS and Aesculap/JBS. Patrick has successfully introduced new technology in the French market such as minimal anterior spine surgery, sequential loading reduction for scoliosis applications, articificial disc technology and is recognized as a spine specialist in the surgeon spine community.