Biomedical company SpineForm LLC won almost $1 million in funding from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission to continue developing and testing a minimally invasive surgical treatment for scoliosis.
CincyTech, a major investor in SpineForm, also received $2 million from the Ohio Frontier Program to fund its venture capital activities. CincyTech is a public/private group that supports and advances technology companies in the Cincinnati area.
SpineForm’s partners in its project include Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Reynolds Consulting and E-Prime Group, according to a news release.
The Blue Ash-based company, headed by Joe Reynolds, is developing a “spine staple” called HemiBridge, that will allow treatment of scoliosis without spinal fusion surgery. The condition, also known as “curvature of the spine,” affects children and adolescents. The technology was developed by a team of researchers at Cincinnati Children’s.
The company has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin clinical testing of the system this summer, according to CincyTech. It hopes to begin trials at Cincinnati Children’s and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland by August.
SpineForm is a portfolio company of CincyTech. Last year, it raised $1.25 million in seed-stage funding from CincyTech; Queen City Angels, a venture capital group; and Cincinnati Children’s. Fort Washington Capital Partners and others have also contributed funding, according to CincyTech.
Read more: SpineForm, CincyTech win Third Frontier funds – Business Courier of Cincinnati
