NonWoTecc Medical GmbH, based in Cologne, Germany, has received a substantial grant from the European Union and the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia to develop a nanoparticle covered coronary bypass graft based on NonWoTecc’ s proprietary technology platform.

 

The total grant of € 1,75 million is shared with the Cardiovascular department of the University Hospital of Aachen, Germany, the IMCAR (Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research) institute in Aachen, and MagnaMedics in Aachen.

 

The project focusses on the replacement of autologous graft material in CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft) patients. Eventually, NonWoTecc expects that 15% of all CABG patients will benefit from an effective vascular coronary graft, which represents a multi-billion € market.

 

NonWoTecc develops vascular grafts based on a novel technology platform that mimics the human extracellular matrix. The first graft is currently in a multicenter clinical trial and the first patient that has been implanted reached the 20 months period. A first product approval (vascular patch) is expected by the end of this year, with a worldwide launch expected in the middle of 2012.

 

“We are excited that we have been awarded this important grant, and we are looking forward to our cooperation with the cardiovascular department from the University hospital Aachen (Head: Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Autschbach), the IMCAR institute (Head: Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Schober) and MagnaMedics (Head: Prof. Dr. Paul Borm)” according to Frank Willems, one of the founders of NonWoTecc Medical GmbH.

 

About EFRE (European Fund for Regional Development)

This European fund is established to stimulate regional developments in the area of technology in distinctive regions of the European Union, and is financed through funds of the EU and local states (North Rhine-Westphalia)

 

About NonWoTecc Medical GmbH

NonWoTecc Medical GmbH was founded in 2007. The goal of the company is to develop vascular grafts and covering of vascular stents. It is financed through venture capital (Among others Rheinland Venture Capital, High-Tech Gründerfonds, KSK Wagniskapital, KfW Bankengruppe, NRW Bank, and several private investors)

 

About the Klinik für Herz- Thorax- und Gefäßchirurgie (THG) , Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen

Prof. Dr. Autschbach has been in charge of the department of cardiac and thorax surgery since August 2001. He studied human medicine in Bonn and later on worked in Düsseldorf, Göttingen and Leipzig. In Leipzig he was promoted to professor in the field of cardiovascular surgery and was lastly assistant medical director there at the Heart Centre Leipzig. His medical expertise lies in heart valve reconstruction and endoscopic surgery.

 

About the IMCAR, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen

The Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (or as a brief acronym IMCAR) has been established at the RWTH Aachen University in April 2006 and is dedicated to pursuing scientific excellence in the field of vascular biology and atherosclerosis research. The Institute is located in the University Hospital Aachen and is headed by its director Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Schober, a cardiologist and internationally recognized expert in basic cardiovascular research

 

About MagnaMedics

MagnaMedics develops and commercializes products for Life Sciences, and more specifically for in vitro diagnostics, medical imaging and drug delivery. It also provides a business-to-business service for those trying to develop sustainable nano-materials and responsible stewardship of nano-products. Prof. Dr. Borm, CSO/CEO of MagnaMedics GmbH he has combined his know-how on (nano)particles, toxicology and pharmacology to develop new products for Life Sciences based on (magnetic) nanoparticles.