EATONTOWN, N.J., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Osteotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSTE), a leader in the emerging field of biologic products for regenerative healing, announced today that Plexur M® (moldable), a bone-polymer biocomposite built upon the Company’s proprietary Plexur® technology platform, has been approved for use by 50 U.S. hospitals to date. The Company expects to receive additional approvals as Plexur M continues to gain mindshare among surgeons.
“Since the advent of the controlled release in the U.S., Plexur M has been used in a range of surgical procedures and is building a reputation as a go-to biologic for orthopedic surgeries requiring tailored solutions,” said Sam Owusu-Akyaw, Osteotech’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As we have continued to communicate the differentiating advantages that Plexur M offers, we have gained mindshare among orthopedic surgeons focused on orthopedic trauma, joint replacements, and oncology-related procedures. As a result, 50 hospitals have approved Plexur M for use in surgery to date, and we expect to exit the year with a total of 75 or more hospital approvals. These approvals are driven by surgeon use of Plexur M and as our proprietary product continues to gain traction within the surgical community, we believe procedural usage and hospital approvals should continue to increase.”
Plexur M is a bone-polymer composite of bioresorbable polymer and cortical bone fibers used in a variety of orthopedic procedures. One of Osteotech’s proprietary biologics, Plexur M is highly differentiated from competing products by being the only radiopaque, moldable, settable and machinable bone graft implant that completely remodels into new bone. Since its launch in a controlled release in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2009, Plexur M has continued to gain traction with leading surgeons and has been recognized for its unique properties.
“Plexur M is a moldable and settable bone graft substitute, has very good handling characteristics and when it hardens, it holds its shape very well,” stated David Lewallen, M.D., chair of orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “Plexur M has been very helpful in procedures involving uncontained defects where restoration of bone and avoidance of soft tissue impingement against the underlying implant is wanted. Short-term radiographic appearance is gratifying and long-term follow-up is ongoing.”
