|
April 26, 2005
|
Affinergy Receives SBIR Grant to Accelerate Research on Medical Device Materials
Affinergy's "site-specific biological delivery system" will be developed and validated for improved cell attachment to metal implant surfaces.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 26, 2005 - Affinergy, Inc., a Duke University spinout with a proprietary site-specific biological delivery system, was recently awarded a $214,000 Phase 1 SBIR Grant (Small Business Innovation Research) from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). The funds will be used to accelerate activities to promote cell attachment to surfaces used in areas such as orthopedic implants, cartilage repair, and growth factor delivery. The Phase 1 project will include both laboratory and preclinical studies. Affinergy plans to file for a Phase 2 award, pending successful completion of Phase 1.
"Affinergy looks forward to accelerating its work in the fast growing field of orthopedics through this SBIR Grant," said Jonathan Gindes, vice president of finance & operations of Affinergy. "This project directly builds on our strong competencies in cell and growth factor delivery across the surfaces of interest to corporate partners. Affinergy's success on this Grant Award validates our active and ongoing efforts to secure funding from these types of sources. This Grant should help our shareholders, new customers, and most importantly future patients who might clinically benefit."
"Affinergy has a unique capability to improve the integration of implanted medical devices with surrounding tissues," said Paul Hamilton, Ph.D., director of research and development at Affinergy, who will serve as Principal Investigator for the Grant. "Our internal scientific team looks forward to collaborating with an excellent group of Partners, particularly Dr. Lyndon Cooper, the Stallings Distinguished Professor of Dentistry and Director of the Bone Biology and Implant Therapy Laboratory at UNC. We are excited to complete a focused set of milestones for this project."
About Affinergy, Inc.
Affinergy develops site-specific biological and drug delivery systems using biofriendly binders that selectively adhere to proteins, drugs, cells, and other biomaterial surfaces in order to kickstart biology toward an intended outcome. Affinergy is focused in the orthopedic and biologic drug delivery markets with a growing interest in cardiovascular applications. Affinergy's technology was patented at Duke University and has been incubated at Becton Dickinson's research center in Research Triangle Park. Affinergy was awarded 2005 Innovation of the Year by Frost & Sullivan in the category of Medical Device Coatings.
For more information, visit www.affinergy.com or contact Peyton Anderson at (919) 597-6227.
|
