Giltech and B1 Medical collaborate to develop biodegradable suture anchor

8 June 2010

Scottish companies Giltech and B1 Medical have signed an agreement to jointly develop a pioneering suture anchor that biodegrades in a controlled fashion.

Giltech has developed biodegradable phosphate glasses with a range of medical applications. Its CorGlaes Pure is uniquely formulated for each bespoke application to ensure the appropriate dissolution profile is achieved.

B1 has a pioneering suture anchor system that enables easy single step insertion, which it plans to develop as a complementary product to its existing portfolio. The combination of this original design and Giltech’s biodegradable glass would provide a much-sought after product in the orthopaedic world — a suture anchor that degrades in the body in a highly controlled fashion.

The collaboration will be the first for the two companies but demonstrates the benefits of combining the skills of two different but equally innovative companies within the Scottish Life Sciences arena. The potential market for this product is over £100m.

Mark Wickham CEO of B1 Medical said: “I am delighted that our two companies have come together to collaborate on the development of this exciting new product. B1 Medical has an exclusive first look and option agreement with the prestigious Institutions of NHS Grampian, the University of Aberdeen and the Robert Gordon University on intellectual property generated in the field of orthopaedics. The novel suture anchor system is an example of the several innovative new orthopaedic products that B1 Medical has in development.”

Gillian Watson, Managing Director of Giltech added: “Our biodegradable glass has been used for many years in medical devices and woundcare products, primarily as a system for the controlled delivery of certain metal ions. We have explored a number of opportunities to enter the orthopaedics market and consider the arrangement with B1 to be the most compelling. Its novel suture anchor design is in itself a potential market leader. We’re very much looking forward to this collaboration and the positive results it will generate.”