Nexilis: The Venture Leader Medtech advancing bone reinforcement

22.09.2025 09:00, Rita Longobardi

Meet Leanna Caron, CEO of Nexilis. The Medtech startup develops proprietary device products for fixation of implants in poor bone quality. Next week, Leanna and the other nine Swiss National Medtech Team members will fly to Boston on a business development and investor roadshow.

Name: Leanna Caron
Location: Liestal
Nationality: Canadian
Graduated from: University of Toronto / Concordia & Cornell Universities
Job title: CEO, Chair of the Board
Number of employees: 4
Money raised: CHF 5,2M


Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
Our Immediate Stabilization System (ISS) helps spine surgeons and their patients by solving a persistent challenge in spinal fusion: screw loosening. Every year, nearly 2 million pedicle screws are implanted in the U.S. alone. A significant percentage of these become loose due to poor bone quality or inadequate screw purchase. In seconds, the ISS reinforces and strengthens the bone before screw placement, creating an immediate and durable interface that enhances fixation of pedicle screws—without disrupting surgical workflow. This leads to better outcomes, fewer complications, lower revision rates, and healthcare cost savings.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
We are addressing the spinal fusion market, which continues to grow with an aging patient population. Our initial focus is the U.S. market, where 30–40% of spinal fusion patients are at risk of compromised fixation due to poor quality bone.  NX+Spine has the potential to become a standard of care for bone reinforcement, impacting hundreds of thousands of procedures annually. Our scalable platform also opens opportunities in trauma and other orthopedic applications.
 

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How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
Credit for the idea goes to my predecessors at Nexilis who understood the challenges associated with fixation of implants in poor quality bone.  My own experiences also supported their conclusion including the recognition of the meaningful safety and application limitations of existing solutions like PMMA (“bone cement”), particularly in the US where the indications for use are limited. Through the development history of the ISS, the guiding principle has been to develop a safer, simpler, and more cost-effective way to reinforce bone without asking surgeons to change their implant systems of choice. 

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
We’re looking to build strategic relationships with investors and partners who share our vision to meaningful impact orthopedic outcomes. The Venture Leaders roadshow offers a powerful platform to connect with U.S.-based VCs, medtech leaders, and innovation hubs who could not only support our first application in spine, but also future applications where a high medical need also exists. We hope to gain visibility, further validate our value proposition, and accelerate fundraising to support regulatory clearance and market entry. Exposure through this program would be instrumental in building momentum toward U.S. FDA submission and clinical adoption.
 

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What are your team’s key achievements to date?
Our team has:
>    Developed a proprietary Immediate Stabilization System and secured IP in multiple jurisdictions.
>    Executed preclinical and in vitro testing showing significant biomechanical improvement in screw fixation.
>    Initiated a preclinical study to support FDA submission.
>    Secured initial funding and built a robust development and regulatory roadmap.
>    Deepened understanding of reimbursement and market access approach to support pricing and adoption of the technology.

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
Our purpose is clear, we are focused on improving orthopedic implant stabilization to improve patient outcomes for individuals undergoing orthopedic surgical procedures involving screws. We are committed to ensuring that these solutions are easy to implement, cost-effective, and safe for patients thus contributing to improved outcomes. 

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Resilience is everything. Building a medtech startup is a marathon of hurdles, funding cycles, and technical refinement. Staying focused on the mission—helping surgeons to help patients—while adapting to feedback and setbacks has been essential to moving the company forward. Also, timelines are usually longer than planned ;-)

What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
I really don’t have one, but am open to suggestions!

What was your dream job when you were a child?
I didn’t have a specific dream job as a child, but I’ve always been deeply motivated by two areas: healthcare and sport. Orthopedics—where improving mobility directly impacts quality of life—represents the perfect intersection of both. I've been fortunate to live out this dual passion throughout my personal and professional journey.