Polymer Technology Group (PTG) in-licenses bioresorbable polymers from Bezwada Biomedical

Ronald Trahan Associates Inc. Ronald Trahan, 508-359-4005, x108 APR The Polymer Technology Group, Inc. (www.polymertech.com), a preeminent biomaterials company, announced today that it has in-licensed a family of bioresorbable polymers from Hillsborough, N.J.-based Bezwada Biomedical L.L.C., whose founder and president, Rao Bezwada, Ph.D., will also serve as a consultant to PTG. Terms of the agreement
were not disclosed. Polymers specifically designed to degrade under physiological conditions are often referred to as "absorbable", "biodegradable" or "bioresorbable" polymers. With this in-licensing event, PTG will now be able to offer a wider range of new and generic bioresorbable polymers to the medtech industry for use in medical devices, drug delivery and tissue engineering. "We are very happy to be working with Dr. Bezwada, who has more than 25 years of research experience in the medical device industry, including 20 years of service at Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson) prior to establishing Bezwada Biomedical in 2003," said Bob Ward, CEO of PTG. "He has been a prolific inventor (72 issued U.S. patents), has published extensively and presented frequently at both national and international meetings, including the American Chemical Society and the Society for Biomaterials," added Ward. Ward and Dr. Bezwada will make a joint presentation--"A vertically integrated approach for tailoring bioresorbable polymers: from monomers to implantable devices"--at a "Corporate Lunch Forum" on Friday, May 30th, during the upcoming 8th World Biomaterials Congress (May 28-June 1) in Amsterdam.

The polymers will find applications in:

• Minimally invasive surgery as absorbable tissue adhesive and sealant


• Drug delivery and wound care


• Medical devices
  
• Tissue engineering

HemCon Medical Technologies Leverages Sangui Technology to Expand its Wound Care Products Line

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HemCon Medical Technologies Inc. today announced it will use Witten, Germany-based SanguiBioTech GmbH’s ChitoSkin technology platform to help further innovations in hemostatic bandages and wound care dressings for the acute care market.
Under the terms of the agreement, HemCon will leverage Sangui’s technology platform to enhance and expand its product offerings for surgical and wound care. HemCon developed the chitosan-based hemostatic HemCon® Bandages and ChitoFlex® dressings that are used by military and medical first responders as well as health care professionals around the globe.
“We explored a wide variety of technology platforms to add to our new surgical and wound care offerings and feel that the Sangui chitosan platform offers great opportunities to enhance our solutions,” said John W. Morgan, president and CEO of HemCon. “We’re committed to continuing our investment to develop new choices for medical professionals and consumers. This agreement is an important step forward in realizing the full potential of chitosan-based products.”
SanguiBioTech GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sangui BioTech International, Inc. Sangui BioTech International focuses on vascular and hemostasis products. The firm specializes in developing oxygen-carrying agents to treat blocked arteries, anemia or acute blood loss through SanguiBioTech GmbH.
“We are proud to enter into an agreement with HemCon and offer our chitosan platform to help innovate new surgical and wound care products,” said Sangui Managing Director Hubertus Schmelz. “There is definitely a demand for products that can adapt to specific medical needs, especially as it relates to wound care.”
HemCon retains exclusive worldwide market and distributing rights for products developed under this structured financial agreement. HemCon will submit developed products for U.S. approvals to the FDA, while Sangui will prepare documentation for registration in the European Union.