Osstem Developed Synthetic Peptide and Completes Patent Registration

Korean dental implant manufacturer, Osstem, has completed the development and pre-clinical test of “Synthetic Peptide,” a new material that enhances the performance of dental implant. 

According to the company, the synthetic peptide is “a bone-promoting protein; any implant surface-treated with this material will promote bone formation in gums with insufficient bone volume”. The practice by dentists currently is to  transplant additional bone or insert bone-like materials in the gum to place the implant when there is not enough bone surrounding the implant. 

The company said that once implants that have been surface-treated with synthetic peptide are released, even patients with insufficient volume of gum bone will have no problem undergoing an implant operation and one that will drastically shorten the treatment period.

While other bone-promoting proteins are available, the cost of such products are more expensive and they have to be stored at -5℃. In contrast, Osstem’s synthetic peptide can be stored at normal temperature. The company can also lower the cost to 1/1,000 that of existing products, hence easily commercializing the product. The company has already registered the patent for synthetic peptide in January and is scheduled to start clinical test in 2010, and the product will be released commercially in 2012. By the company’s estimates, synthetic peptides could provide the backbone for 4th generation implant technology and is expected to replace products capturing more than 50% of the world’s dental implant market, which is valued at KRW 4 trillion as of 2012.

Abano Healthcare plans to grow in Dental Practice

New Zealand based Abano Healthcare Group announced last friday that it has entered the Australian dental market through a partnership with Dental Partners, an Australian-based dental company owned by experienced dental sector executives, dentists and management. Abano will acquire up to 70% of Dental Partners and the remaining 30% will be held by the founding shareholders, headed by Mike Timoney and David Garofalo.

With a vision to create a new professional network of dental practices in Australia, Dental Partners will commence operations over the next fortnight with the acquisition of nine initial practices, concentrated mostly in the Queensland area.

The initial investment of approximately $10 million will be funded through equity from the founding shareholders and Abano as well as a stand alone, five year separately secured debt funding facility with Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

According to the company, the Australian dental market is estimated to be worth more than A$4 billion – over eight times bigger than the New Zealand market. Managing director of Abano, Mr Alan Clarke, said: “By May 2009, the end of the current financial year, we plan to have over 40 practices in New Zealand, and over 15 practices in Australia, with a number of acquisitions for both dental businesses to be finalised over the coming months.“