Pharmaceutical Business review

Syntacoll receives European patents for wound care products

The first patent is for an advanced wound care product comprised of a collagen or other natural polymer layer adhered to a synthetic polymer foam in a non-occlusive, ready-to-use format. The product is considered suitable for the treatment of deep wounds that penetrate the middle and deepest layers of skin, or dermis. These deep wounds occur in second- or third-degree burns and in a variety of acute and/or chronic dermal wounds, such as diabetic ulcers and pressure sores.

The second patent describes a novel, fully biodegradable and resorbable collagen-based material with improved mechanical, physical and functional properties that has application as a wound covering or surgical implant for the purpose of tissue augmentation and repair where mechanical strength is especially desirable. The material may optionally contain drugs and other bioactive substances for local delivery to the site of implantation or tissue defect.

Michael Myers, president and CEO, said: “The grant of these two patents will both broaden and strengthen the intellectual property covering our core CollaRx platform technology and particularly its applications in wound healing, biosurgery and local drug delivery.

“Having now secured both European and US patent rights for our advanced wound care product, DermaSIL, we are intent on scaling-up the proprietary manufacturing process and commercializing this product in 2008 through our CollMed Laboratories joint venture in the US and in collaboration with distribution partners in Europe.”