Regenerative Medicine Leader Strengthens Scaffold-Engineering Capabilities
with Electrospinning Platform Technology & Team
CANTON, Mass. and BATON ROUGE, La., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ --
Organogenesis, Inc., the world's most successful regenerative medicine
company, announced today the strategic acquisition of Baton Rouge-based
NanoMatrix, Inc.
NanoMatrix's platform technology develops "designer scaffolds" for the
purposes of regenerative medicine, based on the fabrication technique known
as electrospinning. Electrospinning is a novel method of producing and
assembling nano-scale fibers into three-dimensional scaffolds, which mimic
the structure and biochemical environment of the human body's tissues.
NanoMatrix's core technology makes it possible to mimic the
three-dimensional architectural structure that is essential for the body's
natural growth and repair processes.
"This acquisition strengthens Organogenesis' position as the leading
innovator in developing three-dimensional regenerative medicine
constructs," said Geoff MacKay, CEO of Organogenesis. "The technology
platforms of Organogenesis and NanoMatrix are highly complementary. Our
innovative electrospinning techniques enable researchers to develop the
most cell-friendly scaffolds and physiologically-realistic tissues to date,
translating into greater clinical benefit for the patient."
William C. Fioretti, Ph.D., Chairman of NanoMatrix, said, "We are very
pleased with the acquisition by Organogenesis, which has the team,
experience in cellular therapy, and the vision to maximize the platform
technology's potential. Our technology can be used to have a significant
impact on biomatrix materials and patient care, and this transaction
assures that it will come to market. "
Organogenesis is the first company to successfully mass-produce living
regenerative medicine products, reaching hundreds of thousands of patients.
Its signature product, Apligraf(R), is the first bio-engineered cell
therapy to have received FDA approval, and is used by doctors successfully
in treating patients with diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers in the
U.S. and other markets across the world.
In addition to acquiring NanoMatrix's platform technology, intellectual
property and commercial-scale equipment, Organogenesis gains NanoMatrix
veteran talent, including Gary Cadd, Ph.D. Gary brings with him more than
17 years of biomaterials research, and has already assembled a team within
Organogenesis' Research & Development department to adapt the technology to
the Company's core business.
Originally developed by scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University,
NanoMatrix's electrospinning capabilities are broad and versatile.
Scaffolds can be fabricated from both natural and synthetic polymers
(anything from collagen to polypropylene) and can even be manufactured into
different sizes and shapes, including tubes, mats and coatings, among
others. The fibers comprising the scaffold can be custom-engineered to a
specific orientation (parallel / perpendicular) or thickness, including on
the "nanometer" scale (a thousand times thinner than a human hair). What
results from these capabilities is an implantable scaffold with the correct
fiber diameter, orientation and architecture, rendered virtually
indistinguishable from native tissue and recognized as "self" by the body.
However, electrospinning is not limited to polymers. Other elements of
regenerative medicine, including cells, drugs and bioactive factors, can be
combined into the scaffold. In fact, electrospinning is an area of intense
focus for academic biomaterials research, validating the importance of this
technology platform. While the collagen nanofiber is the core of
NanoMatrix's proprietary technology, its patents also cover many different
synthetic bioabsorbable polymer types and blends.
"Researchers have used electrospinning techniques to produce a variety
of material, including vascular grafts, nerve guides, tendon and skin,"
continued MacKay. "With such expansive capabilities, the list of applicable
indications for electrospinning is vast."
About Regenerative Medicine
A new frontier in healthcare, regenerative medicine is an evolving
therapeutic approach that utilizes living cells to repair or replace body
tissue damaged by injury, disease or the aging process. It is a
multidisciplinary field involving biology, medicine and engineering.
Regenerative therapies rely on the body's own natural ability to repair
and regenerate, and enable the body to heal itself Regenerative medicine
also empowers scientists to grow living cells, tissues and organs in the
laboratory, and to safely implant them into the human body for the purposes
of healing.
About Organogenesis, Inc.
Massachusetts based Organogenesis, Inc. is the world's most successful
regenerative medicine company and is focused in areas of bio-active wound
healing, bio-surgery and bio-aesthetics. Organogenesis delivers living
tissue "on demand," and its mission is to bring the medical marvel of
regenerative medicine products to patients and to standardize their use in
everyday medical care. For more information, visit
http://www.organogenesis.com.
SOURCE Organogenesis, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.organogenesis.com
CONTACT:
Angelyn Lowe of Chase Communications,
+1-858-273-1805, alechman@chasepr.com, for Organogenesis, Inc.
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