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March 8, 2004
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Source: "The Gray Sheet", Vol. 30, No. 10
Affinergy Exploring BMP Applications for IFBM Device Coating Process
Affinergy's plan to license its Interfacial Biomaterial (IFBM) coating process will allow the start-up to avoid the costs of bringing a combination product to market.
Currently in talks with both device and diagnostic manufacturers, Affinergy expects to ink an initial contract by year-end. The firm plans to apply its IFBM process to catheters, biosensors, bioassays and external fixators, among other products. While Affinergy will seek revenues from royalties, it does not intend to pursue regulatory approval for these products on its own.
By steering clear of potential regulatory hurdles, such as clinical trials for drug/device, biologic/device combinations, Affinergy has been able to keep its start-up costs relatively low thus far. Founded in 2003, the firm expects to raise $1-2 mil. by the third quarter.
The IFBM process uses a biomolecular screen to find a highly selective and discriminating peptide that has an affinity for a specific biologic material and another peptide that binds to a device material. The two peptides are joined together through proprietary linker technology to form a "tunable" surface coating. The coating can be applied by dipping, spraying, brushing or printing a device in a single application, Affinergy explains. A bond between a novel biologic and synthetic material can be developed in four to six months, according to the company.
"In a hip implant we have the ability to coat the device to reduce infection, reduce friction in the acetabular insert, reduce clotting and provide for a much tighter integration of the actual device," CEO Peyton Anderson explained during the Feb. 24 Medtech Insight conference in Irvine, Calif.
IFBM can bind cells, antibodies, proteins, enzymes and pharmaceuticals to synthetic surfaces. Affinergy is conducting animal studies at Tulane University to explore the possibility of controlling the adhesion of bone morphogenic protein to an orthopedic implant. Applications in blood filters to selectively extract cells, bacteria or other pathogens also are being studied.
The result of a technology transfer out of Duke University, Affinergy currently has eight pending U.S. patents. Anderson formerly led biotech material supplier SciQuest, which went public in 1999.
About Affinergy
Affinergy's revolutionary "biological glue" is a platform technology that greatly improves the performance of medical devices by regulating the biology on their surfaces by targeting applications to block biofilm formation, promote specific cell growth, and enable biomolecular immobilization. The coatings technology is highly modular, target-specific, and easy to apply in manufacturing. Affinergy can help medical device suppliers grow sales by differentiating existing devices as well as creating new products. By creating "tunable" bioactive surfaces on medical devices, Affinergy can contribute to the lowering of healthcare costs and improving of patient outcomes.
For more information, visit www.affinergy.com or contact Peyton Anderson at (919) 345-4732.
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