PharmaMedDevice Industry Blog

Medical Technologies, Collaboration and the New Entrepreneur

I was recently made aware of a regional education and networking opportunity at Boston University’s School of Management taking place October 29 which I thought some of our readers may be interested in…The program is focused on innovation in the medical device sector and will feature panelists from some leading medical device companies, institutions and venture capital firms.  The evening program’s topic, entitled “Medical Technologies, Collaboration and the New Entrepreneur” incorporates a lot of the same topics that PharmaMedDevice continues to focus on – “Life Science Industry Convergence and Collaboration” – and I’m always open to sharing similar industry resources that may be of value our audience.  For details, see http://boston.tie.org/TGS/otherFiles/tieboston/file_LS_BU_Event%20details2_Oct%2029,200911s37m0810232007.pdf or register at http://www.tie-boston.org/TGS/EM/viewevent/viewEventPT?id_event=1470+.

It’s All About Partnerships…

We continue to hear about various medical device and pharmaceutical companies partnering to create innovative new combination projects and drug delivery devices.   Recently I read about an exclusive, long-term partnership between Baxter Healthcare Corporation
and Spinal Restoration, Inc. to develop and commercialize Biostat BIOLOGX Fibrin Sealant.

The companies are partnering to create the Biostat Disc Augmentation System – a minimally invasive biologic device used for the treatment of degenerative intervertebral discs.  By incorporating a human-based protein polymer (fibrin), these products are expected to stimulate natural tissue growth and wound repair.  Spinal Restoration is preparing for an investigational device exemption (IDE) clinical study in the first quarter of 2008.

Device companies selling pharmaceuticals: BioAssets

I'd like to offer you this free convergence article courtesy of In Vivo: The Business & Medicine Report. Excerpt: Asked whether he (BioAssets President, James Gorman) worries that device companies might not be comfortable selling pharmaceuticals, Gorman says, "show me the company that says that. I haven't run into that yet."

Download the full article here, BioAssets: Convergence as Marketing Play, by David Cassak.