Please could you give a brief introduction to regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine is a new, exciting field that is based upon the belief that the human body has the inherent power to heal itself, but in some instances it just needs a little help.
The field is based upon the application of tissue engineering, stem cell therapy, medical devices, and other biologic therapies to repair and regenerate damaged or diseased tissues and organs.
Can you describe DSM’s role in the emerging regenerative medicine market?
DSM entered the medical field more than a decade ago, starting with R&D efforts to develop medical application based on Dyneema®, which led to Dyneema Purity® fiber, the most sought after high strength material for use in orthopedic sutures.
Today, DSM’s medical device expertise spans one of the broadest portfolios of medical materials including biostable polyurethanes, ultra high molecular weight polyethylenes, resorbable polymers, ceramics, collagens, extracellular matrices, silicone hydrogels, device coatings, and drug delivery platforms. Millions of products are produced each year for applications in some of the most attractive high growth market including: Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Ophthalmology, General Surgery and Cardiology.
How does regenerative medicine fit with DSM’s mission and core values?
Regenerative medicine fits in with DSM’s purpose to create brighter lives for people today and generations to come. We connect our unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences to create clinically targeted solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance.
We intend to be the leading development partner, trusted by the medical industry to shape the future of biomaterials and regenerative medicine markets. Our mission is supported by our Core Value that everything we do should contribute to a more sustainable world.
DSM has recently acquired Kensey Nash. How will this move affect DSM’s regenerative medicine capabilities? What specific technologies have DSM acquired?
This acquisition provides DSM with an additional pipeline of technologies, including Kensey Nash’s collagen, extracellular matrix, ceramic, and synthetic resorbable polymer technology platforms, among others in the developing field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. It also accelerates DSM’s growth through strong partnerships with leading medical device companies while increasing geographic exposure for Kensey Nash’s products and technologies.
The Kensey Nash Exton, PA production site offers DSM Biomedical the opportunity to expand its manufacturing operations. Further, DSM can now extend in-house competences to manage clinical trials and secure regulatory approvals.
In 2012, Kensey Nash manufactured and sold materials for approximately 3 million resorbable device units to strategic partners and customers. One device containing its materials is inserted in a human body on average every 10 seconds.
Kensey Nash is widely known as a pioneer in the field of arterial puncture closure, as the inventor and original developer of the Angio-Seal™ Vascular Closure Device (Angio-Seal), which is exclusively licensed to St. Jude Medical. Today, the Angio-Seal device (which is manufactured, marketed and sold by St. Jude Medical) is the leading arterial puncture closure product in the world with approximately 17 million Angio-Seal units having been sold since its market introduction approximately 15 years ago.
How does DSM plan to develop these technologies?
DSM will continue to research and develop these technologies to best serve the needs of partners, customers and patients. DSM strongly believes that combining Kensey Nash product development capabilities with DSM’s Research and Material Science knowledge is an industry unique capability that can be leveraged to offer our customers the best possible medical device solutions.
How do you think the future of regenerative medicine will develop?
That remains to be seen, but through DSM’s advanced technology, broader product line, and critical mass in research and development, we are in a position to introduce a new era of product innovation for the benefit of patients and physicians worldwide.
What are DSM’s plans for the future?
DSM will continue to identify unmet clinical needs that can be solved with materials-based regenerative medicine solutions. When these opportunities exist, we will invest in research and development to enable our pioneering work with emerging technologies, including tissue engineering and innovative medical device development.
Future efforts will leverage DSM’s materials sciences and life sciences expertise. We intend to be the leading creator of clinically targeted biomedical materials and products for the benefit of our partners and society.
Where can readers find more information?
For more information, please visit www.dsm.com/medical or www.kenseynash.com.
About Christophe Dardel
Christophe Dardel currently serves as the President of DSM Biomedical, a leading supplier of materials solutions to the medical device and pharmaceutical industries. He is responsible for growing the business’s global activities that included the recent acquisition of Kensey Nash, a leading regenerative medicine company.
Located worldwide, DSM Biomedical currently has offices in both Sittard and Geleen in The Netherlands and both Exton, PA and Berkeley, CA in the USA.
Before joining DSM Biomedical in May 2010, Christophe served for eight years as President of DSM Dyneema, the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. In 2003 he was also appointed board member of Nippon Dyneema Co., Ltd - a joint venture of Toyobo and DSM.
Prior to joining DSM in 2002, Christophe was Global Business Manager for 3M’s PTFE Filled Compounds and Managing Director at Dyneon B.V., a subsidiary of 3M, where he was responsible for the development and execution of the company’s strategic business development efforts. Before joining 3M, Christophe worked at E. I. du Pont de Nemours for twelve years, within the Fluoroproducts Division, holding several positions in technical development, sales, marketing, and business management.
Christophe earned his Masters of Science degree in Computer Science and Electronics from ESIEA in Paris.
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