This tissue engineering firm is committed to research and innovation as cornerstones for its future growth
Since 2011, the biotechnology firm Osteophoenix, located at the BIC Bizkaia Ezkerraldea in Barakaldo, has managed to certify various engineering developments for the regeneration of organs and tissues in the dental, maxillofacial and cranial fields.
Its promoter team plans to carry out new rounds of financing to accelerate its research, avoid staying behind in a sector such as biotechnology with strong competition and, in turn, release to the general public the existence of tailored tissue reconstruction techniques. Such techniques prevent patients who have undergone surgery due to accidents or illnesses from subsequently presenting deformities in the treated areas.
Currently, existing bone and tissue reconstruction techniques allow to create tailored to each patient practically any damaged or lost area. Osteophoenix tissue engineering is able to achieve these replacements by creating virtually exact replicas. “We can tailor – indicates Mauricio Lizarazo, founder of Osteophoenix – any replica, among others, spinal, hip, knee, etc. Medicine should no longer be standardised; should be tailored to the needs of each person”.
15 years ago, Mauricio Lizarazo and Ángela Pertúz, both Colombian dentists, began to learn about guided tissue regeneration in dentistry, a periodontal technique that restores the bone and periodontal ligament, and also in the application of CAD-CAM technology (computer-aided design and manufacturing), in that field.
After years dedicated to training and research, they made the decision to dedicate themselves fully to developing their entrepreneurial activity in the world of tissue engineering. In the beginning, with the support of a business angel and within the framework of the Gauzatu program of the Basque Government, they were able to invest in the purchase of the machinery necessary to carry out their project.
Certification
They decided to set up one of the company’s headquarters in Colombia in order to carry out the necessary tests for accreditation at a much lower cost and, in November 2014, with the results obtained in the South American country, they achieved here their first certification in accordance with the ISO 13485 standard; accreditation reinforced one year later, in November 2015, with the obtention of the ISO 9001 certification.
Nowadays, Osteophoenix has several interconnected business lines.
First, the titanium bone replacements, made using a 3-dimensional production machine, and which allows, in coordination with the medical team specialized in the specific surgery, to elaborate cranial, maxillofacial and even spine pieces fully adjusted to the physiological characteristics of each specific patient. This represents an advance compared to “generic” pieces that are not adapted to specific needs.
Secondly, Osteophoenix has patented and commercialises its own bone regeneration system (through the placement of a titanium barrier), which allows, months later, the realization of dental implants in areas where it was previously impossible to repair.
Another line of activity is composed by the regeneration treatments based on the use of extracellular matrix. “We have this line certified in Colombia and now we have to work to achieve the certification in Europe”. By applying these tissue engineering methods, it is becoming possible to regenerate even amputations. “It will undoubtedly be an important milestone regarding regenerative medicine”.
With a promising future
“The developments that we are carrying out, as well as the continuous necessary researches – remarks Mauricio Lizarazo –, require a lot of effort, time and resources”. In this context, the role of institutions such as Seed Capital Bizkaia, which are committed to promoting this kind of projects since their creation, acquires special relevance.
“From our perspective, our research and business commitment has a promising future. In that way, we have to become known not only by doctors, who are our main prescribers, but also by patients so that they can request our services; that is our greatest challenge”.
