| 1999 |
- Smith & Nephew enters a ten-year agreement with Seikagaku of Japan to market its joint lubricant, SUPARTZ◊ (hyaluronic acid).
- Smith & Nephew sells its Bracing & Support business for 124m Smith & Nephew acquire EXOGEN◊ Inc., a US developer and manufacturer of devices for the non-invasive treatment of musculoskeletal injury and disease.
- Smith & Nephew acquires 3M Corporation's shoulder and hip implant and instrumentation business.
- Smith & Nephew announces that Chairman John Robinson is to retire at the end of the year. Dudley Eustace, formerly Vice-Chairman of Dutch electronics company Philips NV, will succeed him. Smith & Nephew lists its shares on the New York Stock Exchange in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADR), each ADR being equivalent to 10 ordinary shares.
- Smith & Nephew announce the results of the planned interim analysis of data from the US clinical trial of DERMAGRAFT◊ which showed a significant improvement in DERMAGRAFT◊'s healing rate over control for ulcers with a duration of six or more weeks.
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| 1998 |
- Smith & Nephew expand DERMAGRAFT◊ joint venture with ATS to include all other wound indications. New state-of-the-art wound management product factory opened in Hull by the UK Deputy Prime Minister.
- Group acquires EXU-DRY◊, a US burns and chronic wound dressings manufacturer. Smith & Nephew announces the Group Strategy changes involving a major reshaping of the group, a focus on 3 key businesses - Orthopaedics, Endoscopy and Wound Management - and a new management structure.
- Smith & Nephew signs with EXOGEN◊ Inc., a US developer and manufacturer of ultrasound fracture healing devices, to market their devices in the US.
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| 1997 |
- DERMAGRAFT◊ launch in the UK. Smith & Nephew announce that interim data from the pivotal clinical trial of DERMAGRAFT◊ was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons held in Palm Springs, California.
- Smith & Nephew Inc. announce the formation of a new Healthcare Division, headed by Brian Splan based in Memphis, Tennessee combining sales teams of the orthopaedic and endoscopy divisions, and corporate managed care functions under one operating umbrella. It is also the beginning of a movement to consolidate all Smith & Nephew's US sales and distribution functions.
- Chris O'Donnell takes over as Chief Executive replacing John Robinson who moves up to the position of Chairman.
- Smith & Nephew/ATS announce that approval has been received from the Canadian health Protection Branch to market DERMAGRAFT◊. Smith & Nephew announce the UK launch of DERMAGRAFT◊.
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| 1996 |
- Smith & Nephew sign a joint venture agreement with Shanghai Industrial Rubber Products, a leading manufacturer of specialist rubber products for the medical and other industries, as well as a centre of technology on adhesives, and the Shanghai Songjiang Economical and Technical Development and Construction General Corporation, the developers of the estate where Smith & Nephew's operation will be based.
- Smith & Nephew acquire its Swiss distributor of surgical products, Medizintechnik Konrad Ludi AG for a cash consideration of £1m. The new subsidiary will trade as Smith & Nephew AG.
- Smith & Nephew announce the establishment of a joint venture with ATS to produce, market and sell the world's first 'off the shelf' bio-engineered human skin replacement product. Called DERMAGRAFT◊, it will be targeted at the $2.5 billion worldwide market for the treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers. Smith & Nephew open office in Finland, called Smith & Nephew OY.
- Smith & Nephew announce the acquisition of the Fracture Splinting business of Parker Medical Associates Limited Partnership (Parker) for a cash consideration of £28 million.
- Smith & Nephew announce the acquisition of a Plaster of Paris manufacturing facility, Watson Phillips, in Mexico City, Mexico.
- Smith & Nephew and The University of Massachusetts announce the formation of a research centre to develop new endoscopic procedures and instrumentation in order to revolutionise treatment through minimally invasive surgery. Smith & Nephew have devoted four full-time engineers to the centre, as well as funding and other support, totalling approximately $2 million per year.
- Smith & Nephew announce the acquisition of its South Korean distributors.
- A new Smith & Nephew-funded laboratory in the University of York's biology department was officially opened. The Human Tissue Repair Research Laboratory is run by Professor Tim Skerry.
- Assets of the Puerto Rican-based distributor Life Assist Orthopaedics were purchased to create a wholly-owned business.
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| 1995 |
- Smith & Nephew acquired Homecraft Holdings Ltd who specialise in the manufacture and marketing of aids for daily living in the UK.
- Smith & Nephew acquired ACUFEX◊, a subsidiary of American Home Products Corporation.ACUFEX◊, is one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of handheld surgical instruments, soft tissue fixation devices, drill guide systems and related instruments and accessories used in minimally invasive surgery procedures.
- Smith & Nephew acquired the business of Professional Care Products Incorporated (ProCare), a Californian-based orthopaedic accessories company. This business has been integrated with Smith & Nephew DonJoy.
- Smith & Nephew acquired the remaining 50% of the shares in its Swiss and German joint venture, B Braun-Smith & Nephew (BSN), from B Braun Melsungen AG (Braun). The company will trade as Smith & Nephew AG.
- Smith & Nephew purchased a 60% interest in the medical division of its Portuguese distributor, Inibsa. The new venture will be named Smith & Nephew Lda which will become a fully owned subsidiary in 1998.
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| 1994 |
- Austrian Division opened.
- Sales office opened in Korea.
- Formed new medical businesses in Thailand and India.
- Office opened in China.
- Smith & Nephew announced its funding of a Chair and a new research unit in Cellular and Molecular Biology of Tissue Repair at the University of York.
- Acquisition of German Joint Venture Collaboration agreement with Advanced Tissue Sciences to improve cartilage surgery.
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| 1993 |
- Sales office opened in Taiwan.
- Smith & Nephew Research Centre opened in York.
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