TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 20, 2010) - Interface Biologics Inc. (IBI), a privately held early commercial stage developer of transformative biomedical-polymer technology products, is pleased to announce the signing of an evaluation and exclusive license option agreement with Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s largest integrated provider of dialysis products and services.
Under the agreement, Fresenius Medical Care will evaluate the use and efficacy of IBI’s Endexo™ technology to various components of Fresenius Medical Cares’ dialysis circuits for treating end stage renal disease, including dialyzers and blood lines. Following the completion of this evaluation, Fresenius Medical Care can exercise an option to obtain an exclusive, worldwide license to incorporate IBI’s Endexo™ technology in dialysis circuits used for treatment of chronic kidney disease patients in all patient care settings.
Endexo™ is a self-locating bio-medical polymer additive that results in a passivating surface that reduces platelet adhesion and activation, protein adsorption and thrombus formation on medical devices. As an additive, Endexo™ has significant manufacturing advantages over other anti-thrombogenic coating or impregnation alternatives and does not change the mechanical design parameters or functional properties of the underlying medical device. By enhancing the biocompatibility of medical devices, Endexo™ products ultimately improve their safety and efficacy and advance the quality of care provided to patients.
“We have been impressed with what we have seen of the Endexo™ technology to date. We believe that the Endexo™ technology may further improve the biocompatibility of our products, leading to additional medical benefits. We look forward to working with the Interface Biologics team” stated Conor Curtin, Senior Vice President Research and Development, Fresenius Medical Care North America.
“A commercial agreement like this, with the leading player in the dialysis market, further underscores the capability and viability of the IBI biomedical polymer technology in general and our Endexo™ product platform in particular” commented Tom Reeves, President and CEO of Interface Biologics. “Our primary objective is to bring innovative, safer and more efficacious medical devices to market and we are pleased to be working with Fresenius Medical Care in developing and commercializing Endexo™ enhanced dialysis products.”
About Interface Biologics Inc.
Interface Biologics (IBI) is an early commercial stage privately held company that develops transformative biomedical polymer technology to improve the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. IBI’s primary technology focus areas are anti-thrombogenic devices that reduce thrombosis without the need for heparin, and programmable combination drug delivery devices. For more information about Interface Biologics, please visit www.interfacebiologics.com.
About Fresenius Medical Care
Fresenius Medical Care is the world’s largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1.89 million individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,580 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to 198,774 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care also is the world’s leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit the company’s website at www.fmc-ag.com.
Contacts:
Hageman Communications
Julie Fotheringham
Partner
416-951-7988
Julie.fotheringham@hageman.ca
