Cohera Medical, a Pittsburgh, PA, company that makes biodegradable surgical adhesives, has been awarded a U.S. patent and a $130,000 NIH grant for its adhesive technology, which provides a platform for strong, resorbable adhesives for use inside the body.
Cohera’s first product to utilize the technology is TissuGlu, currently in pre-clinical testing. Unlike super-glue products, TissuGlu is biocompatible and biodegradable, which makes it safe for internal use. And unlike fibrin-glue products, it is strong and easy-to-use, and contains no human or animal product derivatives.
Seroma formation is among the most common post-surgical complications, occurring in up to 50% of certain surgical procedures. The goal with TissuGlu is to reduce fluid accumulation after surgery by eliminating dead space in the wound and keeping tissues in position for natural healing.
The NIH grant, a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Award, is for the design and development of a bioresorbable bone adhesive for orthopedic use. The grant is Cohera’s second in one year from SBIR. The first came in April, when the company was granted $180,00 for the development of a sprayable formulation of TissuGlu.
In August 2006, Cohera raised $6.79 million from private investors in a Series A financing. The company is predicting break-even status within 18 months of launching TissuGlu, which is projected for 2009.