Technology

Tepha’s medical device products are based on a novel class of materials known as PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates), a type of absorbable polyester. PHA polymers are naturally occurring thermoplastic polyester biomaterials with structures that resemble existing synthetic absorbable biomaterials. The PHA production technology was originally developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and it has been licensed and developed by Tepha for medical device applications (as well as by its sister company, Metabolix, Inc (NASDAQ: MBLX), for non-medical applications).

Tepha’s lead biomaterial, TephaFLEX material (a.k.a.poly-4-hydroxybutyrate, or P4HB), is a strong extensible polymer that can be extruded into exceptionally strong fibers, among other constructs. The Company believes that these may be one of the strongest monofilament absorbable fibers on the market today. Further, these fibers retain their strength for prolonged periods in vivo and they are also highly flexible. Such strong and flexible fibers could potentially serve as surgical sutures, braids for ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) repair, or fibers for surgical meshes. In addition, the TephaFLEX material may be injection molded, solution cast, compression molded, or processed in other ways to yield products that are strong, tough, and extensible – while maintaining excellent biocompatibility properties. Medical devices developed from TephaFLEX material have been designed to have absorption profiles lasting from a few weeks to approximately one year.

Tepha’s other biomaterial, TephELAST material, is a tough, absorbable elastomeric polymer. Currently there are no medical devices made from an absorbable elastomeric material. Thus TephELAST could lead to the development of a new category of medical devices in the future. Together, the TephaFLEX and TephELAST materials significantly expand the range of mechanical properties available for development of absorbable medical devices, while also offering improved biocompatibility over some of the existing biomaterial options.