Press Release

Urmond, NL, 13 Jan 2011

Partnership to advance orthopaedic treatments announced in concert with opening of Orthopaedic Research Society conference

DSM Dyneema, the inventor and manufacturer of the world’s strongest fiber, Dyneema Purity®, today announced a partnership with Proxy Biomedical. The alliance encourages further research and production of ExtreMESH, a durable surgical mesh made from DSM’s Dyneema Purity®high-performance polyethylene fiber technology.

“With new access to Proxy Biomedical’s proven expertise in high performance materials research, development and manufacturing, our ability to help those needing tissue repair or regeneration is expanding,” said Carina Snijder, Business Manager for DSM’s Dyneema Purity® fiber. “We are always excited when we get the chance to provide Dyneema Purity® fiber for new uses.”

“Proxy Biomedical is very pleased to be aligned with DSM Dyneema and to be able to offer ExtreMESH” said Peter Gingras, Managing Director of Proxy Biomedical Ltd. “We believe that our partnership will allow the development of new biomedical meshes and scaffolds where the demand for high strength, fatigue and abrasion resistance and low elongation is paralleled by the availability of virtual unlimited flexibility in mesh pore size, fiber diameter and weight.”

The partnership, which is aimed at the development by Proxy Biomedical of innovative technologies to advance orthopaedic treatments, precedes the opening of the annual Orthopaedic Research Society conference where DSM’s Dyneema Purity® fiber will be referenced in a clinical presentation and Proxy Biomedical is exhibiting.

ORS conference attendees are encouraged to visit Proxy Biomedical’s booth, #1527 to learn more about ExtreMESH and Dyneema Purity® fiber. In addition, the efficacy of cables made with Dyneema Purity® fiber in fusionless posterior spinal instrumentation in an ovine model will be the subject of a clinical presentation, Poster No. 0825.

In the spirit of open innovation, DSM Dyneema actively explores licensing opportunities of its knowledge on the use and applicability of its Dyneema Purity® fiber. DSM Dyneema is a trusted partner with its quality system certified to the ISO 9001 and ISO 13845 standards, providing its partners with an expertise in quality and regulatory compliance.

About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™ and Dyneema Purity®. Dyneema® and Dyneema Purity® are ultra strong polyethylene fibers that offer maximum strength combined with minimum weight. They are up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® and Dyneema Purity® float on water and are extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods as well as in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel. In addition, Dyneema Purity® is used in medical implant applications. Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands), Flaach (Switzerland) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). Dyneema Purity® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com and www.dyneemapurity.com.

About DSM Biomedical

DSM Biomedical develops novel materials-based solutions to meet the present and future needs of the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries. Building on the expertise and strengths of DSM, the company’s product portfolio includes coatings, drug delivery platforms and a wide range of biomedical materials for use in short- and long-term implantable medical devices. Key product brands include Bionate®PCU and CarboSil® TSPCU, two of the most extensively tested biomedical polymers ever developed. Both polymers have excellent biostability, high strength and abrasion resistance, making them candidate materials for load-bearing orthopedic implants. ComfortCoat® hydrophilic and antimicrobial coating technology for catheters, guidewires and stent delivery systems; and Dyneema Purity®, a high-performance polyethylene fiber technology developed specifically for use in medical applications, such as orthopedic implants. The company also markets the Trancerta™ family of bioresorbable materials for drug delivery. This portfolio is based on DSM’s core strengths in materials science combined with its extensive in-house library of synthesis methods, formulation and processing techniques. For more information, click here. 

About Proxy Biomedical Group

Founded in 2002, Proxy Biomedical Group, located in Cleveland, Ohio and Galway, Ireland is a privately held, life science company engaged in design service and commercializing proprietary surgical mesh biomaterials for the repair and regeneration of tissue. Proxy Biomedical's proprietary surgical mesh products include MotifMesh and VitaMesh, which are FDA approved for distribution within the United States and CE marked for distribution within the European Community. For more information, click here. 

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