MIV Therapeutics, Inc., an Atlanta, GA company, is a recipient of this year’s Frost & Sullivan North America Award For Technology Innovation. The company has developed an innovative hydroxyapatite coating that might be rather useful for the next generation of cardiac stents, and, possibly, other implantable medical devices. Hydroxyapatite is a natural mineral occurring in bone and tooth enamel.
The following is a statement from Frost & Sullivan, followed by some info about the company’s technology:
“MIV Therapeutics has innovatively leveraged a polymer-free approach to tackle the present day limitations of first- and second-generation stents to develop a product characterized by excellent biocompatibility, flexibility, and optimal drug delivery,” notes Pramodh Ishwarakrishnan, the Frost & Sullivan analyst who nominated MIV Therapeutics for the award…
At the present time the Company is aggressively pursuing the commercialization of three unique leading edge proprietary technologies:NanoFilm Hydroxyapatite surface modification or coating MicroPorous Hydroxyapatitesurface modification or coating Polymer-free lipid-based drug eluting and encapsulation formulations HAp is naturally found in bone and tooth enamel. Numerous results from clinical tests and surgical practice have shown that in addition to its demonstrated biocompatibility, this new generation of advanced biocompatible coatings is non-toxic and does not trigger adverse reactions of the human immune system. Extensive animal studies performed by MIVT also confirmed that Hydroxyapatite, when applied to vascular applications, does not induce thrombogenicity, allergic or inflammatory reactions commonly associated with polymeric coatings, therefore making it a solid candidate as a potential coating for coronary and peripheral stents, and other implantable medical devices.
MIVT’s HAp coating technology has demonstrated that it can meet the stringent technical requirements set by the regulatory agencies for coatings of cardiovascular stents. MIVT coating technologies completed successfully a comprehensive range of demanding animal and mechanical trials required for CE Mark and FDA approvals in both Europe and the US. These include thrombogenicity (blood clotting), cytotoxicity, and 400-million-cycle fatigue life testing. The results of these extensive tests confirmed exceptional biocompatibility and safety of these coatings and paved the way for human trials.
On May 31, 2007, MIVT announced the first ever human implantation of a hydroxyapatite coated stent and the launch of the MIVT Pilot Trial which will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the VESTASYNC, MIVT’s polymer-free nanoscale microporous hydroxyapatite drug-eluting stent for the treatment of single de novo lesions in native coronary arteries.
MIV Therapeutics Inc…
Press release: MIV Therapeutics Receives 2008 Frost & Sullivan North America Award For Technology Innovation…