Trident Biomedical, Inc. to Commercialize Rutgers’ Polymer Technologies for Advanced Medical Applications
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Rutgers University and Trident Biomedical, Inc. (Trident), have announced an extensive license agreement covering a portfolio of more than 50 biomaterial patents and patent applications.
The portfolio is based on the inventions of Professor Joachim Kohn and his students at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, over the past 20 years. These polymer-based biomaterials safely degrade predominantly into naturally-occurring nutrients and metabolites within the body. These new biomaterials have the potential to provide dramatic improvements over existing therapies in a broad range of medical applications including orthopedics, tissue regeneration, surgery, infection prevention and drug delivery.
To fund the development of these second-generation polymer technologies, Trident has raised $1.26 million in its first round of financing from a group of private investors. Trident was assisted in this endeavor by Conexus Capital Advisors, Inc., a New Jersey-based financial advisory firm focusing on mergers, acquisitions and capital raisings. Robert Marcus, chairman of the New Jersey law firm of Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, will serve as the chairman of Trident’s board of directors.
Michael Pazzani, Rutgers’ vice president for research and graduate and professional education, said that the establishment of Trident and the successful completion of the company’s first round of financing is a significant achievement, considering the dramatic downturn of the economy. “Rutgers is very pleased with this development,” Pazzani said. “It demonstrates our commitment to contribute to New Jersey’s economic development and the growth of the state’s high-tech job market.”
Kohn, a professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and director of the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials (CBM) at Rutgers, emphasized the continued need to develop novel medical technologies to address the rising cost of the nation’s health care. “The emerging field of regenerative medicine requires new biomaterials technologies such as tissue regeneration scaffolds,” Kohn said. “Our biodegradable polymers combine excellent engineering properties with proven biocompatibility and no toxicity, and provide a promising platform for tissue regeneration and advanced drug delivery. In the long run, products being envisioned by Trident will alleviate human pain and suffering and may contribute to restoring the quality of life for many patients suffering from traumatic or aging-related tissue toss.”
Trident is currently working closely with CBM to conduct the initial research and development activities necessary to successfully commercialize Professor Kohn’s polymer technologies. CBM and Trident have designed their collaboration to accelerate the development of the polymers toward specific products. The technologies will have clinical applications in bone repair and regeneration, periodontal and dental uses, soft tissue repair and drug delivery.
In the next few years, permanent orthopedic implants that use metals and ceramics, such as those used in fracture repair, are expected to give way to fully degradable devices. These will lead to a more natural recovery with fewer follow-up visits and less discomfort to the patient.
Trident plans to systematically evaluate the patents through scientific and commercial market assessments. After product concepts have been demonstrated in preclinical models, Trident will seek further funding and/or enter into corporate partnerships to advance the commercialization process.
To fund the development of these second-generation polymer technologies, Trident has raised $1.26 million in its first round of financing from a group of private investors. Trident was assisted in this endeavor by Conexus Capital Advisors, Inc., a New Jersey-based financial advisory firm focusing on mergers, acquisitions and capital raisings. Robert Marcus, chairman of the New Jersey law firm of Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, will serve as the chairman of Trident’s board of directors.
Michael Pazzani, Rutgers’ vice president for research and graduate and professional education, said that the establishment of Trident and the successful completion of the company’s first round of financing is a significant achievement, considering the dramatic downturn of the economy. “Rutgers is very pleased with this development,” Pazzani said. “It demonstrates our commitment to contribute to New Jersey’s economic development and the growth of the state’s high-tech job market.”
Kohn, a professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and director of the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials (CBM) at Rutgers, emphasized the continued need to develop novel medical technologies to address the rising cost of the nation’s health care. “The emerging field of regenerative medicine requires new biomaterials technologies such as tissue regeneration scaffolds,” Kohn said. “Our biodegradable polymers combine excellent engineering properties with proven biocompatibility and no toxicity, and provide a promising platform for tissue regeneration and advanced drug delivery. In the long run, products being envisioned by Trident will alleviate human pain and suffering and may contribute to restoring the quality of life for many patients suffering from traumatic or aging-related tissue toss.”
Trident is currently working closely with CBM to conduct the initial research and development activities necessary to successfully commercialize Professor Kohn’s polymer technologies. CBM and Trident have designed their collaboration to accelerate the development of the polymers toward specific products. The technologies will have clinical applications in bone repair and regeneration, periodontal and dental uses, soft tissue repair and drug delivery.
In the next few years, permanent orthopedic implants that use metals and ceramics, such as those used in fracture repair, are expected to give way to fully degradable devices. These will lead to a more natural recovery with fewer follow-up visits and less discomfort to the patient.
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For additional information:
Joachim Kohn (science matters)
Phone: 732-445-3888
E-mail: kohn@rutgers.edu
Robert Marcus (Trident Biomedical matters)
Phone: 908-722-0700 ext. 215
E-mail: grmarcus@nmmlaw.com
Yair Harel (Rutgers Office of Technology Commercialization)
Phone: 732-932-0115 ext. 3006
E-mail: harel@ocltt.rutgers.edu
Media Contact: Joseph Blumberg
732-932-7084 ext. 652
E-mail: blumberg@ur.rutgers.edu