Beijing Tianxing Achieves Multiple Domestic Firsts, Offering Comprehensive Sports Medicine Solutions

“Five years ago, there were fewer than 1,000 doctors in China capable of performing arthroscopic surgery, but now there are at least three to four thousand. This growth rate is very rapid.”

Chang Xi, Sales Director at Beijing Tianxing Bomaidi Medical Device Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Beijing Tianxing”), told VCBeat that, in his view, the domestic sports medicine market has been growing rapidly in recent years, a trend reflected in the rapid increase in the number of sports medicine physicians.

As the domestic sports medicine market begins to grow rapidly, the underlying industrial landscape is also undergoing changes. China’s sports medicine market was previously dominated by imported brands such as Smith & Nephew, Arthrex, Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, and ConMed; however, in recent years, numerous domestic brands have come into view.

As a leading domestic brand in sports medicine, Beijing Star Sports Medicine Co., Ltd. has successively obtained NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) approval for the market launch of over 100 products and secured CE certification from the European Union, becoming the only Chinese enterprise capable of providing comprehensive clinical solutions for sports medicine. Its products are utilized in more than 500 hospitals across 23 provinces and municipalities in China, with some products even outperforming imported alternatives.

How Did Star Achieve Zero-to-One Breakthroughs in Multiple Domestically Produced Products and Provide Comprehensive Sports Medicine Solutions? How Will Star Promote the Nationwide Adoption of Sports Medicine Surgeries in China in the Future? VCBeat Interviewed Chang Xi, Sales Director at Star.

Compared to the three major fields of trauma orthopedics, joint surgery, and spinal orthopedics, sports medicine is relatively unfamiliar to many people. Sports medicine primarily focuses on the treatment and rehabilitation of injuries related to joints and soft tissues. Although sports medicine holds a small market share within the specialized segments of orthopedics, it exhibits the highest growth rate.

In 2018, the total value of China’s orthopedics market was RMB 26.2 billion. The three largest segments were trauma orthopedics, joint orthopedics, and spinal orthopedics, each with a market size exceeding RMB 7 billion. In 2018, China’s sports medicine market was valued at RMB 2.12 billion. Compared to traditional orthopedic sectors such as trauma and spine, the scale of China’s sports medicine market remains relatively small; however, it registered a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.3%, making it the fastest-growing segment within the orthopedics industry. (Data source: Research Report on Market Supply and Demand Scale and Investment Strategy for Joint Repair Equipment in China’s Sports Medicine Industry, 2020–2026)

In addition to its high growth rate, another prominent feature of the sports medicine sector is the significant market share held by imported brands. Smith & Nephew, Arthrex, Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, and ConMed collectively account for 86% of the market share.

In recent years, domestic enterprises have begun to lay out in the field of sports medicine, and import substitution in the field of sports medicine is starting. Among domestic sports medicine brands, Beijing Tianxing has the most complete product line that has been launched. From the perspective of product line coverage, Beijing Tianxing's product line covers arthroscopic surgical equipment, such as radiofrequency ablation, shaving power systems, imaging systems, as well as implants such as interface screws, anchor nails, meniscus sutures, and loop plates, and a full set of more than 200 kinds of shoulder joint, knee joint and other surgical instruments. Multiple products have achieved breakthroughs from 0 to 1 in China, filling many gaps in domestic sports medicine.

In terms of performance, Star’s products have also gained recognition from clinicians. Star’s PEEK material anchors, interference screws, and screw-sheath fixation systems are not only the first domestically produced products in China, but Star also adopts a fully threaded porous structure design. This design increases the pull-out strength of the anchors, facilitates bone integration, and significantly enhances the maximum failure torque of the anchors through an internal drive mechanism, with axial pull-out force superior to that of imported products.

“Another example is the braiding technique, which is crucial in the field of sports medicine. The fixation loop plates, adjustable loop plates, and UHMWPE flat tapes developed by Star were also the first to be launched in China. It can be said that 90% of our products are the first to be launched in China.”

Beijing Star has filled multiple domestic gaps with its products, encountering numerous challenges along the way. Chang Xi stated that the primary challenge stemmed from high technical barriers. Clinically, sports medicine is a subspecialty of orthopedics; however, there are significant differences between sports medicine and orthopedic manufacturing, with sports medicine products being far more complex and diverse.

“In sports medicine, given the extensive involvement of soft tissues, many key technologies—such as injection molding with ultra-high-temperature materials, braiding of high-strength sutures, and the preparation and processing of absorbable materials—have not yet been mastered by many domestic enterprises. Import substitution is not merely simple imitation; it requires deep engagement in clinical practice, close communication with clinicians, and collaboration with material scientists and process engineers across various fields to understand physicians’ true needs and the shortcomings of existing products, thereby overcoming technical barriers and challenges.”

As an emerging company, Star Sports Medicine Co., Ltd. (Beijing Star) can rapidly cover a broad range of product lines and launch numerous products. Chang Xi stated that one of Beijing Star’s major advantages is its robust R&D capabilities and dedicated focus on this field.

From the perspective of Beijing Star’s team DNA, the founder of Beijing Star possesses extensive experience in the sports medicine industry. Its R&D technology is sourced from overseas, with strong expertise in sports medicine product development. Throughout the R&D process, Beijing Star has maintained close collaboration with clinicians and engaged in technical discussions with research institutes both domestically and internationally.

“When collaborating with overseas research institutions, we also recognize that both parties must deliver tangible value to earn recognition and respect. Many cutting-edge technologies are not simply purchasable with money.”

In recent years, sports medicine has developed rapidly in China, with a major driving force being the increasing number of physicians proficient in arthroscopic surgery.

Chang Xi stated, “Five years ago, fewer than 1,000 physicians were capable of performing arthroscopic surgery. Today, a single subspecialty session on hip arthroscopy at an academic conference can attract over 1,000 attendees. One reason is that younger physicians demonstrate stronger learning abilities and rapid professional growth, allowing them to quickly master this field.”

However, overall, sports medicine in China is still in its early stages of development, and many hospitals across the country are not yet capable of performing sports medicine surgeries. The field has developed robustly in coastal regions, such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Shanghai. Star Sports Medicine aims to enable more primary-care physicians to master sports medicine surgical techniques by developing products better suited to Chinese clinicians, reducing product costs, and providing enhanced market education for doctors.

During the product development phase, Beijing Star has consistently maintained close collaborations with domestic Grade A tertiary hospitals and renowned research institutions to study the anatomical structures of Chinese patients and the usage preferences of Chinese physicians. Chang Xi stated that this is a holistic, macro-level, and systematic R&D process, and Beijing Star will continue to invest in research and development.

It is reported that Star Sports Medicine Co., Ltd. (Beijing Star) is developing high-definition arthroscopic surgical equipment with 5G wireless transmission capabilities. This portable system enables physicians to carry it easily, facilitating consultations and treatments across various locations. Chang Xi revealed that Star Sports Medicine is also collaborating with leading domestic internet companies on a remote consultation system. By leveraging internet and digital technologies, the company aims to extend the reach of sports medicine surgeries to more hospitals and patients.

Chang Xi stated, “In the past, the high cost of imported arthroscopy equipment, with a single set priced at least two to three million yuan, placed a significant financial burden on primary-care and small hospitals. We aim to substantially reduce costs through import substitution, enabling more hospitals to afford complete arthroscopy systems.”

Beijing Star is also strengthening market education. Since the Spring Festival this year, Beijing Star has hosted the “Beijing Star Grand Lecture Series,” inviting experts in the field of sports medicine to share their insights online. To date, 23 sessions have been successfully held, with cumulative participation exceeding 5,000 attendees.

Since April this year, Star has also launched the “Star Sports Medicine Expert Showcase” online conference series, inviting renowned industry experts to share technical insights and case studies, as well as to answer questions, focusing on the shoulder, knee, hip, and ankle joints. The second session, which just concluded last week, has already accumulated a total of 11,268 participant views, surpassing the 10,000-mark.

Currently, Star’s products are used in hundreds of hospitals, including many leading sports medicine institutions in China. “As attention to this field continues to grow, more companies are entering the sports medicine sector, which is a positive trend reflecting increased interest in the area.”

In the future, Star Sports Medicine Co., Ltd. will continue to uphold its quality policy of “treating products as if for our own use,” focusing on R&D, design, and innovation in the field of sports medicine. Committed to providing comprehensive clinical solutions, we aim to enable more sports medicine physicians and patients both in China and abroad to access more suitable and convenient sports medicine products, thereby helping more patients achieve a higher-quality active lifestyle and enjoy superior services.