ZygoFix and the EIC Accelerator: Screwless Spinal Fusion Cleared

Spinal fusion usually means screws in the vertebrae joined by rods, placed through several incisions. ZygoFix, an Israeli company founded in 2017 in Misgav and part of The Trendlines Group's portfolio, took a different approach. Its zLOCK is a small 3D-printed implant placed inside the facet joint at the back of the spine, locking the joint's motion from within, with rigid and bendable elements that conform to the patient's anatomy.

The European Innovation Council granted €2,220,050 towards a €3.18 million project to prepare zLOCK for market. During the project the implant was studied in Germany and Italy and cleared by the FDA. After the project closed in March 2025, the public record goes quiet, and Trendlines now lists ZygoFix as "exited" without saying how.

Where ZygoFix Stands Today

The Trendlines Group's portfolio page lists ZygoFix at the "revenue" stage and with the status "exited". We found no announcement of an acquisition, a sale of assets or a closure, and no company news since the FDA clearances of 2024. Whether "exited" means a sale, a write-off or something else is not explained.

The last public milestones are regulatory. ZygoFix announced FDA 510(k) clearance for the zLOCK Lumbar Facet Fixation System in May 2024, saying it "paves the way for us to introduce our transformative solution to the US market". The CORDIS report adds a special 510(k) for a shorter screw variant in September 2024 and "multiple in-human cases in the United States".

The Technology: Locking the Joint From Inside

Conventional lumbar fusion stabilises vertebrae with pedicle screws and rods. zLOCK instead sits in the facet joint, the small joint between neighbouring vertebrae, and uses the spine's own anatomy for stability. The company says the procedure needs two incisions instead of six, avoids the risk of misplaced screws and suits outpatient surgery. The 2021 CE announcement called it a screwless implant; the US product is cleared as a lumbar facet fixation system, and the 2024 special clearance covered a screw variant.

What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows

The project aimed to complete the upgrades and validation needed to speed zLOCK to market. The CORDIS report says ZygoFix ran a pivotal clinical trial in Palermo, Italy and Güstrow, Germany, with "16 in-human trials" in the first reporting period, redesigned surgical instruments based on surgeons' feedback, and won the two FDA clearances. It gives no total patient numbers, sales or US launch details.

1. European clinical studyDeliveredTwo sites in Italy and Germany; results not published.
2. US regulatory clearanceDelivered510(k) in April 2024, special 510(k) in September 2024.
3. Improved instrumentsDeliveredRedesigned from surgeon feedback, per CORDIS.
4. Market launchNot shownFirst US cases reported; no sales or launch data.

What Has Happened Since the Award

The Money

ZygoFix's only disclosed private round was $2 million in March 2021, led by Agriline and Trendlines, with private investors and the Israel Innovation Authority. The EIC grant was larger than that round. The award was blended finance, and ZygoFix is listed in the EIC Fund portfolio; the amount and date of the EIC Fund investment are not public.

Why Europe Should Care

The EU paid for a clinical study at European hospitals of a device that went on to win its approvals, first in Europe and then in the US. If the product lives on with a new owner, European patients may still benefit. If the company has closed, the evidence generated with EU money may be lost with it.

The Verdict

ZygoFix has not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records, company statements and EU project data, linked throughout.