Healionics Multi-Million Dollar STAR™ Biomaterial Supply Agreement With TR BioSurgical For Veterinary Glaucoma Implant

Main Category: Veterinary
Also Included In: Eye Health / Blindness;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 10 Sep 2008 - 16:00 PDT

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Healionics Corporation, a provider of next generation biomaterial solutions to healthcare manufacturers, today announced that it has entered into a multi-million dollar manufacturing, supply and distribution agreement with TR BioSurgical, LLC (TRBIO) for use of its flagship STAR™ biomaterial scaffold in a veterinary glaucoma implant. Under this exclusive, multi-year agreement, Healionics will provide its STAR biomaterial scaffold for TRBIO's TR-ClarifEYE, an innovative implant for the treatment of glaucoma in animals, which is planned for limited market launch in the first quarter of 2009.

"We are pleased that within two years of launching Healionics our STAR - biomaterial that heals - will be used in its first commercial product for helping pets, and we look forward to working with TRBIO on additional veterinary ophthalmic device applications," said Michel Alvarez, Chief Operating Officer and VP of Business Development of Healionics. "The application of STAR in ophthalmic device implants for humans is our next area of focus as it represents a significantly larger market opportunity."

"TR-ClarifEYE has demonstrated promising results for canine glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness in dogs," said Dr. Craig Woods, CEO of TR BioSurgical, LLC. "This device has the potential to help thousands of dogs each year and provide a substantial advancement in veterinary ophthalmology."

TR-ClarifEYE is a surgically implanted veterinary device that relieves the elevated ocular pressure accompanying glaucoma by restoring outflow of intraocular fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye to the surrounding vascular network. TR-ClarifEYE consists of a special STAR silicone geometry that maintains appropriate drainage by reducing fibrosis and consequent blockage of the flow.

Healionics' proprietary STAR - Sphere Templated Angiogenic Regeneration - is a biomaterial scaffold designed to enhance bio-integration and promote healing of implanted medical devices. In addition to the veterinary ophthalmic market, Healionics currently has numerous research agreements in place evaluating STAR biomaterial in multiple market applications including human aesthetics, obesity, diabetes, wound care, and infusion devices.

About TR BioSurgical, LLC

TR BioSurgical, LLC, founded in May 2007, is a veterinary biomedical development company located in Chandler, Arizona. The company was founded by a group of veterinarians, scientists and business professionals to commercialize the most promising biomaterial technologies for veterinary medicine. For more information about TR BioSurgical, please visit http://www.trbio.com.

About Healionics Corporation

Healionics is a privately held biomaterials company whose mission is to be the leading provider of tissue regeneration and device biointegration solutions to healthcare manufacturers. Their flagship STAR - Sphere Templated Angiogenic Regeneration - biomaterial scaffold is a next generation solution for improving the performance of implanted medical devices. Healionics Corporation is headquartered in Redmond, Washington.

Healionics Corporation