Wednesday, January 31, 2007

This blog has moved

The "advanced medical technologies" blog of MedMarket Diligence's Patrick Driscoll has moved to a new address in the blogosphere: http://mediligence.com/blog.

Please visit us, and thank you Blogger.

Tags: medtech

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Amniotic stem cells good, but not embryonic replacement

As reported in the Washington Post and other sources, researchers at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University and Children's Hospital (Boston) have shown that stem cells from amniotic fluid can be differentiated into brain cells, bone cells, muscle, fat, blood vessels and liver cells, demonstrating the kind of pluripotentiality that has previously marked one of the real distinctions between embryonic and adult stem cells. Moreover, the amniotic stem cells demonstrated a kind of stability (resisting formation of tumors) that is better than embryonic stem cells.

Quick to pounce on and deflate the balloon of embryonic stem cells as the only solution, some opponents of embryonic stem cell research (e.g., Richard Doerflinger of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who notes,"This is wonderful news," for offering the benefits of stem cells without destroying embryos). They have a valid point, but one that is limited by the fact that no stem cell type is likely to be perfect for all applications and that in reality a continuum of stem cell types exists, with a comparable spectrum of advantages. George Daley of Harvard, notes that amniotic stem cells "are not a replacement for embryonic stem cells."

As Charles Darwin said, "a scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, -- a mere heart of stone." The science of determining the clinical application of different stem cell types needs to be carried out in a way that is less fraught with hope and expectation of specific outcomes for or against the value of embryonic stem cells for specific applications. The field remains characterized more by wishes and affections than science.

Tags: medtech, embryonic, stem-cells

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Medtech Startups: Stealth, Location, and Platform Tech

Medical Technology Startups Identified in the December 2006 MedMarkets (subscribers only).

In the December 2006 issue of MedMarkets, I note in my MedMarket Outlook column the common tendencies in the formation of medical technology startups in 2006. It should come as no surprise that central to many (though certainly not all) were the premises of stealth (staying under the radar), location (where are startups concentrated, as if it should be any surprise), and platform technologies, among others.

Here, for reference (or late Christmas present), are the companies identified in the December issue.


Company
Principal(s)
Location
Product/Technology
Founded
Carticept Medical, Inc. (Domain Associates, New Enterprise Associates) Alpharetta, GA Development and sales of therapeutically related medical devices 2005
Forcept, Inc.
John Maroney
Menlo Park, CA
Assisted cautery/cutting systems for performing transvaginal hysterectomy
2005
Internal Fixation Systems, Inc. Steve Hernandez Medley, FL Orthopedic implants (e.g., bone screws) 2006
I-Therapeutix, Inc.
William H. Ransone II
Waltham, MA
Hydrogel sealant for use in ophthalmic surgery
2006
iCardiac Technologies, Inc.
Mikael Totterman, CEO
Rochester, NY
ECG-based cardiac diagnostics and medical devices 2006
NBI Development, Inc. Undisclosed Chicago, IL Spinal neuromodulation devices 2006
Optmed, LLC
Alain Klapholz
New York, NY
Developing "innovative medical technologies"
2006
Safe Surgery Technologies LLC
David Michelson Cheyenne, WY
Capsulotomy cutting device 2006
TriReme Medical, Inc. Eitan Constantino
Pleasanton, CA Apparatus and methods for delivering prostheses to luminal bifurcations 2005
Vertebral Technologies, Inc.
Jeffrey Felt, CEO
Minnetonka, MN
Biocompatible polymers for joint restoration in the spine
2005



Carticept Medical, Inc. (Alpharetta, GA; http://carticept.com [under construction])
Forcept, Inc. (Menlo Park, CA; no URL)
Internal Fixation Systems, Inc. (Medley, FL; no URL)
I-Therapeutix, Inc. (Waltham, MA;
http://itherapeutix.com)
iCardiac Technoloigies, Inc. (Rochester, NY;
http://icardiac.com)
NBI Development, Inc. (Chicago, IL;
http://nbidevelopment.com [under construction])
Optmed, LLC (New York, NY;
http://optmed.net)
Safe Surgery Technologies LLC (Cheyenne, WY; no URL)
TriReme Medical, Inc. (Pleasanton, CA; no URL)
Vertebral Technologies, Inc. (Minnetonka, MA; no URL)

Tags: medtech, startups