Antibacterial bioactive glass for European markets

Two new products have been approved to European medical markets: antibacterial bioactive glass granules for remedying frontal sinus and bone defects and a bioactive glass plate for the repair of the orbital floor.

The products, registered by a Finnish biomaterials company Vivoxid Ltd are aimed at solving medical problems in the head and neck area.

Bioactive glass products hold substantial commercial potential. Bioactive glass offers a number of new application areas in the future in medicine and dentistry. Vivoxid has a wide development programme of new bioactive glass products. Tekes, the National Technology Agency of Finland, has funded Vivoxid’s R&D work.

Long-term achievement

“The first scientific studies with bioactive glass were conducted, as early as the middle of the 80’s at Åbo Akademi University (Turku, Finland) and at the University of Turku. The present achievement has been preceded by thorough clinical research at the University Hospital of Turku for over ten years”, says Vivoxid’s CEO Kauko Kurkela.

Vivoxid’s products can be used for curing frontal sinus and bone defects in the treatment of chronic infections of the frontal sinus. The material enhances the growth of new bone, sustains the formed bone and has antibacterial effects. Clinical experience from the past ten years has been very positive.

One of Vivoxid’s CE approved bioactive glass products is a solid plate for the reconstruction of a bro-ken orbital floor, often caused by sporting injuries, accidents or violence, for example.

Substantial commercial potential

Around 20 000 operations are performed worldwide in both the aforementioned indications. Although the products are currently for a niche market as registered for cranial indications, they hold substantial commercial potential after being further developed for much wider indication areas such as the ortho-paedic area.

After entering the European markets, the company intends to focus on the markets in North America, Japan and other countries.