OrthoMend Research Takes Technology From Lab to OR

OrthoMend Research, Inc., a start-up company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has just acquired an exclusive license for technology developed by Temple University researchers. The license covers absorbable bone fixation and regenerative repair technologies. OrthoMend, which will develop them for commercial use, has leased space within the University City Science Center.

“OrthoMend Research, Inc. has licensed exclusive commercial rights from Temple University for Nano-Diamond technology in bone fixation which has the potential to evolve current therapies to fix, repair and regenerate bones and orthopedic drug delivery applications, ” OrthoMend CEO Joseph P. Connell said in the December 9, 2016 news release. “It is our desire to commercialize the technology to improve clinical outcomes, reduce costs and alleviate pain and suffering for our patients.”

“OrthoMend Research represents the important role startups have in our commercialization process by bringing together the inventors, technology and business leadership to advance this orthopedic device to patients in need, ” said Stephen Nappi, associate vice president for technology commercialization and business development at Temple.

Peter Lelkes, Ph.D., chair of bioengineering and director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering at Temple, stated, “The licensing of our invention to OrthoMend Research is an important milestone in our efforts to translate our basic research from the bench to the bedside and will, without a doubt, result in commercial products that will benefit patients around the globe.”

Joseph Connell told OTW, “Years ago my son fell and severely broke his arm. Although that was 17 years ago, I can still feel the plate and screws under his skin. All these years I believed that there had to be a better way to help people. Unbelievably, that better way presented itself when I met Dr. Peter Lelkes.”

“I have worked for the past two and a half years finding a technology that would be as effective as present stainless and titanium devices but more patient friendly. For the two million of us who will break bones severely enough to require surgical repair we will now have safe and effective absorbable pins and screws. The timing became right when the materials became scalable, cost effective and as strong as stainless steel.”

“Over the next three to six months we will manufacture and perform mechanical testing on our material. During this time we will seek a strategic partner or partners to get out materials into a fenestrated screw or pin design for further progress toward a commercial launch.”