Press Release

Berkeley CA, US, 07 Nov 2011 04:15 CET

Amino acid based, bioerodible drug carrier platform enhances effectiveness of stent implantation and drug delivery.

DSM, a global leader in biomedical materials, and Svelte^® Medical Systems, Inc., a privately held company developing next generation endovascular therapies, today announced they have entered into a license and supply agreement granting Svelte the right to use DSM’s proprietary bioerodible amino acid based drug carrier in the design of a non-thrombogenic, non-inflammatory drug-eluting stent.

DSM’s innovative, biocompatible drug carrier changes the way active compounds are delivered locally to the body via unique enzyme-mediated bioerosion. Svelte and DSM have been working under a joint collaboration and development agreement since November 2010 and execution of this agreement further validates the innovative properties of DSM’s polyesteramide (PEA) biomaterials and the potential of DSM’s drug delivery technology.

“Our coronary stent platform currently provides the lowest profile and most deliverable balloon expandable coronary stent technology in the market. By collaborating with DSM, we can expand our technology platform and introduce our much anticipated second generation product. The combination of DSM’s drug delivery technology and the well-established sirolimus drug has the potential to improve patient safety and minimize the need for dual anti-platelet therapy,” said Mark Pomeranz, President and CEO at Svelte Medical Systems, Inc.

“Our proprietary bioerodible drug carrier is suitable to deliver a range of active pharmaceutical agents including preventative blood clotting agents, immunosuppressants and a variety of other drugs, while degrading in controlled, biocompatible, natural and nontoxic fashion. This drug carrier markedly improves the way active compounds are delivered from stent systems,” said Donato DiBiase, Global Business Director, Drug Delivery, DSM Biomedical.

“DSM’s ability to create groundbreaking drug carriers offering innovative applications to improve the efficacy of medical devices and clinical outcomes for patients continues to differentiate us in the biomaterials space,” said Christophe Dardel, President of DSM Biomedical. “As the drug delivery market continues to be a strategic focus for DSM, we are thrilled to be working with Svelte Medical Systems as they expand their interventional cardiology technology platform.”

This announcement precedes the start of TCT in San Francisco, CA, where Svelte Medical’s first generation All-in-One stent system will be featured.