Accentus Medical, a leading UK medical technology company that supplies
advanced coatings and surface treatments to the medical device industry,
announced today that it has signed a Licence and Services Agreement with
Zimmer Holdings, Inc., a global market leader in musculoskeletal care.
This agreement will enable the use of Accentus Medicals Agluna
anti-infective technology on a potentially broad range of Zimmer
products.
“Applying the Agluna technology to our implants could lead
to reductions in the occurrence of post-operative infections in joint
replacement procedures, said Cheryl R. Blanchard, Ph.D., Senior Vice
President and Chief Scientific Officer at Zimmer. We look forward to
exploring these opportunities provided by Accentus Medical.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Zimmer will acquire exclusive global
rights to utilize Agluna for joint reconstruction and trauma
products. In addition, the company will have an 18-month option to
acquire additional exclusive rights for spinal devices, dental implants
and sports medicine products. As part of the agreement, there will be an
initial period of further development of Agluna. Accentus
and Zimmer will collaborate to secure regulatory approval for products
treated with the Agluna technology in both the E.U. and U.S.
Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Agluna is a novel, patented surface modification technology
applied to medical devices manufactured from titanium and its various
alloys. The goal of the technology is to reduce infection rates
following surgical procedures. Medical device materials have been shown
to be susceptible to rapid colonisation by bacteria, which then produce
a plaque or biofilm as protection against the bodys defences. Implants
treated with Agluna technology have been shown to remain
clear of such biofilm formation. In vitro testing has
demonstrated that Agluna surface technology has bactericidal
effects against bacteria known to cause post-operative, device-related
infection, including drug-resistant strains.
Philip Agg, Chief Executive of Accentus Medical, said: This agreement
represents a significant step forward for Accentus Medical, and we are
very pleased to be working with a company as prestigious as Zimmer.
Having invested significant resources in developing the technology and
in generating a large amount of evidence supporting its safety and
efficacy, Accentus Medical is now in a position to fully commercialise
and exploit the Agluna technology.
Martin Pickford, Senior Vice-President of Business Development for
Accentus Medical, said: One of the most intransigent problems with
orthopaedic implants is infection. It can be very difficult, costly and
time consuming to treat these cases. The most effective approach is to
ensure that infections do not occur in the first place. All of our data
to-date demonstrates that treating orthopaedic implants with the Agluna
process can contribute towards achieving this goal. If successful
in the long term, Agluna will help significantly reduce the
estimated $5 billion in annual costs associated with infections
resulting from primary joint replacement.
Applying the Agluna technology to our implants could lead
to reductions in the occurrence of post-operative infections in joint
replacement procedures, said Cheryl R. Blanchard, Ph.D., Senior Vice
President and Chief Scientific Officer at Zimmer. We look forward to
exploring these opportunities provided by Accentus Medical.
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About Accentus Medical
Accentus Medical is a leading medical technology company that combines a
long history of expertise in surface coating and modification
technologies with dedicated research and development of new technologies
for the medical device industry. With roots in the United Kingdom Atomic
Energy Authority, and based at the historic Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Accentus Medical has provided expertise in surface
technologies to the orthopaedic device industry since the 1970s, serving
major orthopaedic and medical device manufacturers worldwide.
The company works closely with industry partners to develop new surface
technologies that address unmet market needs, and is renowned for its
experienced staff and track record for responsive, high quality service.
The services offered include hydroxyapatite and metal alloy coating
using a plasma spray process at Accentus Medicals ISO 13485:2003 and
ISO 9000:2000 accredited facility. Accentus Medical is also very well
known for the medical device testing programmes offered by its in-house
test laboratories. Manufacturers have been utilising test results
provided by the company for many years as part of device homologation
files all over the world.
For further information, please visit: www.accentus-medical.com
About Zimmer
Zimmer is a worldwide leader in joint replacement solutions for knee
pain and hip pain, and provides comprehensive spine care solutions for
acute and chronic back pain. The company also provides a broad range of
trauma, dental implant, and orthopaedic surgical products. Founded in
1927, Zimmer is committed to providing effective techniques in hip
replacement and knee replacement for orthopaedic surgeons who restore
mobility and relieve the pain of osteoarthritis and traumatic injuries.
Zimmer has operations in more than 25 countries around the world and
sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmers 2009 sales were
approximately $4.1 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of
more than 8,000 employees worldwide.
For further information, please visit: www.zimmer.com
Source: Business Wire
