Medical Device Alliances from Elsevier Business Intelligence

[Nextran] and [Cytel] in xenotransplant collaboration

Tue, 01 Oct 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Baxter Healthcare]'s [Nextran] (organ transplant technology) division will collaborate with [Cytel] (immunotherapeutics) to develop a carbohydrate column for xenotransplantation (animal organs transplanted into humans). Nextran funding will consist of an upfront payment including an equity investment and milestones. Cytel will exclusively supply its enzymatic sugar nucleotide cycling technology (SNC) (permits mass production of bioactive carbohydrates) for Nextran to incorporate into its xenotransplant product; a column that filters the organ recipient's blood to remove carbohydrate-attacking antibodies that would cause organ rejection.

[DePuy ] in distribution agreement with [Haemonetics]

Tue, 01 Oct 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[DePuy] (orthopedics manufacturers) will exclusively distribute in the US and Canada, [Haemonetics]'{CollectFirst} automatic blood processing system. Haemonetics will be responsible for manufacturing the product and distributing it outside the US and Canada. The {CollectFirst} system, FDA-approved in 1995, enables continual collection, filtration and reinfusion of recycled blood. Haemonetics develops systems for blood processing that focus on the following markets: surgical blood salvaging, blood component therapy, red cell and plasma collection.

[LocalMed] catheter delivers {Palmaz-Schatz} stents for [Cordis]

Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[J&J]'s [Cordis] subsidiary will fund development of [LocalMed]'s {StentaSleeve} stent delivery system meant for use with the Cordis {Palmaz-Schatz} coronary stent. The deal includes an exclusive licensing and supply agreement. LocalMed, a private interventional cardiology company formed four years ago by MDs and a scientist, has developed a technology platform for transforming standard angioplasty balloon catheters into systems that can deliver stents and drug delivery catheters for treatment of coronary artery disease. Mounted with {Palmaz-Schatz} stents, the {StentaSleeve} device tracks over a standard PTCA balloon catheter, shuttling stents to the lesions; the same balloon that has been used for lesion dilatation also deploys the stents. LocalMed also uses the over-the-balloon technology in its marketed {InfusaSleeve} drug delivery catheter.

[Medeva] licenses its albuterol inhaler to [Apothecon]

Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Medeva PLC] subsidiary, [Medeva Pharmaceuticals] has granted an exclusive license to [Bristol-Myers Squibb]'s multi-source generic pharmaceutical division [Apothecon] to market its albuterol metered dose inhaler (MDI) in the US. Medeva will manufacture and supply for Apothecon the FDA-approved MDI, a generic albuterol (formulation of bronchodilator, salbutamol) inhaler for treating asthma. The MDI will enter a market with an estimated worth of more than $800mma year. Apothecon has over $350mm in annual sales.

[Molecular Technologies] licenses DNA fragment sizing technology.

Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Molecular Technologies Inc.], the DNA detection and diagnostics arm of [Silicon MicroDevices Inc.], licensed exclusive worldwide rights to a DNA fragment sizing technology from [Los Alamos National Laboratory]. The technology, the fruit of a 1993 development agreement between MTI and Los Alamos, sorts and sizes DNA fragments via laser induced fluorescence. It is said to be faster, more accurate, and more quantitative than current electrophoretic methods, especially for larger fragments (up to 200 kbp). The technology is covered by a 6/95 US patent filing entitled

[PolyMedica] to market {Mitraflex} in Japan through [Kuraray]

Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[PolyMedica Industries] (specialized health care products) signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Japan's [Kuraray Co.] to market PolyMedica's {Mitraflex} polymer-based wound dressings in Japan. Kuraray will be responsible for obtaining approval for the product under the Japanese Health Insurance Reimbursement System. Once approved, Kuraray will pay license fees to PolyMedica. {Mitraflex} wound care dressings are highly flexible and have the moisture vapor transport capacity of thin film dressings. Moist healing promotes faster healing with less scarring than traditional cotton and gauze.

[BioTransplant] uses [Activated Cell Therapy]'s stem cell device

Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[BioTransplant] (anti-rejection drugs and organ transplant systems) acquired exclusive worldwide rights, in the field of organ transplantation, to use [Activated Cell Therapy]'s bone marrow stem cell isolation device. BT will use ACT's bone marrow purification devices to process and isolate human and porcine bone marrow cells for its {AlloMune} system, for human-to-human solid organ transplantation, and {XenoMune} system, for pig-to-human organ transplantation. The systems promote transplant tolerance by re-educating the recipient's immune system to accept the donor organ. ACT's device recently received FDA approval.

[Alpha Pro Tech] & [VWR Scientific] in 5-year distribution deal

Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[VWR Scientific Products] (supplier of lab equipment and chemicals) signed a five-year distribution agreement with [Alpha Pro Tech] (disposable protective apparel) worth approximately $25mm to APT. In exchange for exclusive worldwide rights to market APT's product line of medical and clean room protective wear, VWR must purchase at least $5mm of APT's products annually for five years. VWR, which has a worldwide network of over 130,000 customers, will supply APT's lines of face masks, eye shields and protective apparel to the pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical and electronic industries.

[Siemens Medical] distributes [Intraop]'s {Mobetron} system

Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Oncology Systems Group] of [Siemens Medical] formed an alliance to distribute and service [Intraop Medical]'s cancer treatment system, {Mobetron}, in the US, Europe, Latin American, Russia, Australia and most of Asia. Intraop's {Mobetron} is a mobile, self-shielded electron beam system designed for treating cancer using intraoperative radiotherapy, which is the direct application of radiation to a tumor and/or tumor bed while a patient is undergoing surgery.

[LXR] & [Perkin-Elmer] develop digital imaging laser

Sun, 01 Sep 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Perkin-Elmer] has signed an exclusive agreement to license [LXR Biotechnology]'s scanning laser digital imaging (SLDI) technology initially for use in hybridization-based assays but which include broader applications. PE will have exclusive worldwide rights and will pay LXR royalties on the sale of equipment based on the technology. SLDI can provide the foundation for new products which can rapidly image fluorescent-tagged biomolecules over a wide surface, such as a microscope slide. The technology was originally developed at Ohio State University and licensed to Optical Analytic which LXR acquired in 1993. PE may explore applying SLDI to clinical diagnostic instrumentation.

[ResMed] and [Local Silence] enter R&D alliance for sleep apnea

Thu, 01 Aug 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[ResMed] (sleep disorder diagnostic devices) will co-develop [Local Silence]'s (Los Altos, CA-based device company) digital signal processing technology for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea. The companies say the technology is suitable for unattended home monitoring. ResMed was formed in 1989, the result of a management buy-out of a project from the [Baxter Centre for Medical Research in Australia]. The company manufactures sleep disorder monitors and markets them worldwide under the {Sullivan} brand name (named for its inventor Professor Colin E. Sullivan of the University of Sydney). Obstructive sleep apnea, a breathing disorder accompanied by loud snoring and the cessation of breathing for up to 90 seconds, affects about 5% of the adult population, and has been linked to hypertension, stroke and heart disease.

Laser makers [Big Sky] and [Cell Robotics] sign alliance

Thu, 01 Aug 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Big Sky Laser Technologies] (OEM medical laser manufacturer; also develops lasers for scientific, military, and industrial markets) and [Cell Robotics International] (laser-based medical and research equipment) are allying to develop new medical lasers. Using some of its patented technology, Cell Robotics will determine market applications and feasibility of products, develop prototypes, and handle FDA regulatory submissions. Big Sky is responsible for final product development and manufacturing. The agreement allows both companies to continue developing and manufacturing certain product lines independently. The first joint project will speed international introduction of Cell Robotics' {Lasette} laser finger perforator for nearly painless capillary blood sampling. Blue Sky pays for design enhancement and completion of pre-production prototypes; Cell Robotics takes care of marketing, hoping to launch the first commercial units in '97.

[Edap] grants [Boston Scientific], [Urologix] rights under patent

Thu, 01 Aug 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Edap International SA] has granted [Boston Scientific] and its partner [Urologix] (MIS devices for urology) separate non-exclusive worldwide licenses to its intellecutal property in the field of microwave treatment of the prostate. The agreement will permit BS and Urologix to go ahead with their plans to market Urologix's {Thermo-Ablation Therapy} ({T3}) device for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. In June, BS had licensed marketing rights outside the US and Japn for the {T3}, which is to be submitted for FDA approval later this year; but Edap's Cambridge, MA subsidiary had received approval for its {Prostatron} BPH device in May. Both {T3} and {Prostatron} treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate non-surgically, using transurethral application of microwaves. The licensees will pay an initial license fee and make prepaid and ongoing royalty payments up to an agreed maximum.

[HemoCleanse] & [VivoRx] to develop bioartificial liver device

Thu, 01 Aug 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[HemoCleanse] (liver assist devices) will develop a bioartificial liver device utilizing [VivoRx]'s (biodegradable biocompatible materials for drug delivery) porcine liver cell product {HepatoRx} for the treatment of acute liver failure. HemoCleanse's novel liver-assist device {BioLogic-DT System} (510k clearance) uses absorbent chemicals to remove liver toxins while balancing blood chemistries. Its second generation device {BioLogic-DTPFC} will feature an

[Biomira] licenses MAb for [Neoprobe]'s {RIGS} for breast cancer

Thu, 01 Aug 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Biomira] (diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer) has exclusively licensed worldwide rights to its monoclonal antibody, MAb-170, to [Neoprobe] for use in its {RIGS} technology for the surgical detection of breast cancer. The MAb is in Phase II/III trials now in BIOMF's {Tru-Scint} imaging agent for recurrent breast cancer; NEOP will conduct Phase I trials in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery. NEOP will pay an upfront fee, milestones, and royalties upon commercialization of a MAb-170-incorporating {RIGS} product. BIOMF has granted NEOP an option to use the MAb in other indications, such as ovarian cancer, and an option on another BIOMF antibody, MAb-174. In NEOP's surgical procedure, the antibody is injected into the patient where it binds to cancerous tissue. The surgeon, using a handheld gamma-detecting probe, can identify and remove diseased tissue which might otherwise have gone undetected.

[Becton Dickinson] to exclusively sell [SHPI]'s {Safety Cradle}

Thu, 01 Aug 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Becton Dickinson] in an exclusive agreement will market [Specialized Health Products International]'s {Safety Cradle} sharps container line. SHPI will exclusively manufacture and supply the containers for BD. SHPI develops health care safety products to help prevent accidental needlesticks. Its {Safety Cradle} line allows for the safe disposal and transporting of contaminated sharps.

[Cook] licenses [BCM]/[MD Anderson]'s technology

Thu, 01 Aug 1996 00:00:00 -0400

[Cook] (surgical products) gets a worldwide exclusive license to [BCM]/[MD Anderson Cancer Center]'s technology for impregnating catheters and other implants with an antimicrobial agent; co-developed by BCM's Rabih Darouiche and MD Anderson's Issam Raad.

[Medtronic] and [Regeneron] in R&D collaboration for CNS drugs