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

Thursday, December 07, 2006

FDA Panel Assesses Drug-Eluting Stents and Clotting

Questions about whether the risks of clotting, heart attacks and death are higher for patients with drug-eluting stents compared bare stents are the subject of a two-day panel by the FDA. The questions center on whether and how long patients with the drug-eluting stents should stay on anti-clotting drugs such as Plavix. In a worst case scenario, the elevated risks, which the FDA does believe exists, could ultimately sabotage a $5 billion market for the devices.

Principal players (with a bevy of newcomers waiting in the wings) Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson have different spins on the risk. Boston Scientific "acknowledges a slight increase in clotting associated with its drug-coated stent, the Taxus," but the company asserts that there is no corresponding increased risk of heart attack or death. Johnson & Johnson argues that the risk of clotting, heart attack or death is equivalent for drug-eluting and bare stents.

The question of increased risk of clotting will certainly influence approvals of pending drug-eluting stents from Medtronic, Abbott and others.

Detailed coverage of the drug-eluting stent market is provided in the October 2006 issue of MedMarkets (subscribers).

Tags: medtech, stents

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Orthopedic Biomaterials Global Market

Orthopaedic devices are a major contributor to the global medical device market, accounting for almost $26 billion in 2006, and with a growth rate that reflects growth in the medical sector overall. The table below gives a market growth projection for the five years 2007-2011.


Worldwide Sales
($millions)

Growth
(%)

2006

25,764

--

2007

27,122

5.3%

2008

28,562

5.3%

2009

30,989

8.5%

2010

31,708

2.3%

2011

33,425

5.4%

CAGR
'06-'11

5.3%




Orthopaedic Biomaterials
The current valuation of the orthopaedic biomaterials segment is around $5 billion, representing over 17% of the orthopaedic total. It is also estimated that this market segment will grow at 10-12% a year, that is more than double the rate for the overall orthopaedics market. At this rate the biomaterials segment will achieve a value of $9.5 billion by 2011 and will represent 28% of all orthopaedic product sales.


The global market for orthopedic biomaterials is analyzed in a new report from MedMarket Diligence (www.mediligence.com).

Tags: medtech, orthopedic