Exclusive license signed by CMI and OrthoMimetics

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Tuesday, May 30, 2006

A revolutionary technology to help reduce the need for joint replacement surgery has been developed by a team of surgeons, scientists and engineers from the University of Cambridge and MIT.

An exclusive licence to commercialise the resulting products has been signed by the Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) and OrthoMimetics Ltd, the first technology company to emerge from the collaboration between the two universities.

By guiding and supporting the body’s natural repair mechanisms, the multi-layered, sponge-like technology encourages cartilage, ligaments or tendons to regenerate concurrently with the bone that anchors them in place. By helping surgeons treat damage to cartilage, ligaments and tendons when it first occurs, the technology prevents damage from spreading and allows patients to either postpone joint replacement surgery until their first implant can last the rest of their lives or avoid it altogether.

With over 2 million joint replacement surgeries every year at a cost of $30 billion, this technology could save many people from joint replacement operations, and revolutionise the care of these patients.

People with joint replacements can expect between 15 and 17 years before their implants fail. While 15-17 years is likely sufficient for patients in their 70s and 80s to live out a healthy, pain-free life, those receiving their first implant in their 40s and 50s must face the prospect of one or sometimes several more painful operations to repair their damaged joint replacements.

Developed as part of a four-year, £2.0M project funded by CMI, the joint venture between the University of Cambridge and MIT, the products resulting from the new technology can be easily sculpted and inserted into an area of cartilage, ligament or tendon damage, bonding to the site without screws, sutures or glue. The sponge-like devices then wick up blood and/or other cell-containing fluids, using their unique zonal structure and composition to encourage the swift regeneration of natural tissue that is both healthier and more durable than is possible using existing treatments alone.

Andrew Lynn, Founder and CEO of OrthoMimetics said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to help this technology realise its full potential. The feedback that we have already received has shown that the technology directly addresses many of the key concerns of patients, surgeons and healthcare insurers in this field. We look forward to building on the work already accomplished at the University of Cambridge and MIT to bring our first product, ChondroMimetic, to market.”

Professor William Bonfield, biomaterials innovator and leader of the CMI project at the University of Cambridge commented: “The beauty of this technology is its simplicity – it converts a single, large defect that the body cannot heal on its own into a series of smaller, more manageable defects that can be healed more effectively.”

Professor Lorna Gibson, who headed the MIT side of the project adds: “A key aspect of this new technology is that it combines the most important features of two technologies that have been proven to be safe and effective clinically, and allows them to be applied at more complex anatomical locations.”

"Revising failed total joint replacements can be extremely difficult both for the patient and the surgeon," says respected orthopaedic surgeon and researcher Professor Neil Rushton of Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. "The more often a patient's joint has to be revised the more difficult the operation becomes. Sometimes a revision to an artificial joint is not possible," he adds, referring to the fact that damage to tissue surrounding the implant and loss of bone stock generally prevents a failed joint replacement from being revised more than twice.

Of OrthoMimetics' flagship product, Professor Rushton observes: "One of the most sensible things about this product is that it works to improve procedures with which surgeons are already familiar and use regularly. That makes it very easy to understand how it will improve the standard of available treatment. This product clearly has the potential to help a lot of people."

Cambridge Enterprise, University of Cambridge, helped Andrew Lynn get OrthoMimetics going, and on behalf of CMI facilitated and negotiated the licence. Miranda Weston-Smith of Cambridge Enterprise said, “We wish the energetic transatlantic team of OrthoMimetics every success for this important contribution to healthcare.”

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

1. OrthoMimetics (OM) specialises in the design, development, and manufacture of biological scaffolds that support tissue regeneration in the field of orthopaedics and regenerative medicine. These products improve the outcome of treatments for trauma, sports injuries, and early osteoarthritis. OM's products provide surgeons and patients a unique way of helping the body heal itself. OM's website was designed by upcoming integrated communications agency Mobas and can be accessed at www.orthomimetics.com
2. Cambridge Enterprise provides a comprehensive knowledge and technology commercialisation service for University staff and students. In collaboration with researchers, Cambridge Enterprise manages intellectual property protection, carries out bespoke marketing, negotiates technology licences, consultancy contracts and other business agreements. For people interested in forming a company, there are start-up clinics, one-to-one mentoring, and access to investors and experienced management. Please visit www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk.
3. The Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) is the joint venture between the University of Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It was set up in 2000 to explore novel ways in which universities could work with each other, and with industry and government, to contribute to the economy through enhanced entrepreneurship, productivity and innovation. For more information about CMI, please visit: www.cambridge-mit.org/

For more information, please contact:

1. Genevieve Maul, University of Cambridge Office of Communications, tel.: 01223 332300, e-mail: Genevieve.Maul@admin.cam.ac.uk
2. Andrew Lynn, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, OrthoMimetics Limited, tel.: +44 (0)7944 248150, e-mail: andrew.k.lynn@orthomimetics.com

 

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