The success of this project in Chile will put Osteopore at the forefront of technology development, and would be considered the ‘holy grail’ of bone regeneration.

Osteopore (ASX:OSX), has just received a total of US$360,000 in non-dilutive grant funding to develop an alternative and improved implant that accelerates bone regeneration.

The funding was received from the Government of Chile’s Scientific and Technological Development Support Fund (FONDEF) which provided US$225k, and the University of Chile which provided US$135k toward the project.

The funds will be used to develop a novel 3D-printable implant that accelerates bone regeneration, which if successful, would be a world-first breakthrough.

Speeding up bone growth is widely considered the ‘holy grail’ of bone regeneration technology.

Currently, Osteopore’s implants enable the natural stages of bone healing, and are superior to other traditional bone regeneration procedures.

However, by incorporating materials and compounds that speed up bone growth, a patients’ recovery could be accelerated further.

“We are extremely excited about this partnership, as it comes with non-dilutive funding and could see enormous potential commercial opportunities if successful,” said Osteopore executive chairman, Mark Leong.

 

Speeding up bone growth

The research will focus on developing breakthrough materials and compounds that can be incorporated into Osteopore’s implants to stimulate cell and tissue growth.

Osteopore products are made from polycaprolactone (PCL), a polymer that’s already extensively used in many US FDA approved devices.

PCL is bio-resorbable, malleable, slow-degrading and possesses mechanical strength similar to trabecular bone.

The rate of resorption of PCL is very much in tandem with the natural stages of bone healing, making it a predictable material for matching to the natural stage of bone healing.

In this study, Osteopore and its research partners will aim to incorporate elements into its implants that could further improve and stimulate cell and tissue growth.

If successful, this will provide an alternative and improved version of Osteopore’s regenerative implants – speeding bone growth for patients and lowering their overall healthcare costs.

“Developing materials that can speed up bone regeneration would have far reaching positive clinical outcomes for patents globally, and we continue to see scientists and clinicians around the world take an interest in the Osteopore technology for this reason,” said Leong.

 

What’s next

The grant was awarded to Osteopore from the Scientific and Technological Development Support Fund (FONDEF), a program that is part of the National System of Public Funds for Scientific and Technological Research in Chile.

Established in 1991, FONDEF aims to advance development of innovative projects that can improve Chile’s competitiveness and the quality of life of its population.

The project was presented to FONDEF by the Universidad de Chile (University of Chile), in association with Osteopore, and it was ranked 6th out of 111 projects granted.

In addition to FONDEF’s contribution of US$225k, the University of Chile has also agreed to provide non-incremental expenses totalling US$135k towards the project.

The research will begin in October and will take place at the University of Chile.

IP ownership from the program is to be discussed based on each party’s contributions to the said IP. At this point, terms have not been negotiated.

The project forms part of Osteopore’s strategy to improve existing commercial products, refine the manufacturing process, and expand its portfolio of patents and trade secrets.

“We will continue to collaborate with industry stakeholders to improve our technology and develop new applications that improve patient care now and in the future,” said Leong.

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Osteopore, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.