WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — GeniPhys Inc., a life science company focused on the development and commercialization of proprietary biopolymer technology developed in the lab of Purdue University professor Sherry Harbin, has been awarded a two-year grant of $974,349 for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) from the National Science Foundation.
The core technology, called Collymer, is a new polymerizable collagen molecule that can be used to design and fabricate custom implant materials to address regenerative and restorative needs. unmet function tissue, including breast tissue, skeletal muscle, cartilage, skin, voice box and more. This Phase II funding will be used to accelerate the commercialization of the company’s initial product, the Collymer Self-Assembly Scaffolding (Collymer SAS).
Collymer materials exploit both the mechanical and biochemical signaling features of natural collagen found in tissues. This allows materials that support the healing process to regenerate and restore without rapidly degrading and causing an inflammatory response or foreign body. This mechanism of action has been confirmed in numerous preclinical proof-of-concept studies. In addition, Collymer is highly customizable, allowing the creation of materials with a wide variety of formats and mechanical properties.
CEO Andy Eibling (left), Chief Scientific Officer Sherry Harbin and Product Development Manager TJ Puls of GeniPhys. (Purdue Research Foundation/Vincent Walter) Image Download
GeniPhys was previously awarded a $225,000 NSF SBIR Phase I grant to conduct preclinical testing to evaluate Collymer SAS prototypes for breast tissue restoration in a porcine tumor resection model. Working in collaboration with members of Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine, and Indiana University School of Medicine, all major project milestones were achieved. Additionally, a peer-reviewed publication in the February 2021 issue of Scientific Reports is the result of this Phase I project, demonstrating the transformative potential of Collymer SAS as a soft tissue filler. ease of use, tailored to specific patient defects, and complex software reproduction. tissues in the absence of inflammation.
GeniPhys CEO Andy Eibling said: “We are honored to have been selected for this grant and are delighted to be able to push Collymer SAS to submit to the US Food and Drug Administration and trademark. further commercialization”. “We believe the Collymer platform will have a tremendous impact on patients globally, and this funding is an important step in the process.”
Harbin, founder and chief scientific officer of GeniPhys, is a professor at Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering with a joint appointment in the Department of Basic Health Sciences at Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Purdue has a long and successful track record in developing and translating innovative biomaterials for tissue regeneration,” Harbin said. “This next-generation technology provides a biopolymer material that can be extensively customized and harnesses the body’s ability to regenerative healing by blocking inflammation and immune mediators. .”
TJ Puls, who trained in Harbin, is currently the director of product development for GeniPhys and is the principal investigator for the Phase II SBIR award.
“This funding will allow GeniPhys to expand its manufacturing capabilities for commercialization and key regulatory submissions,” Puls said.
Initially, GeniPhys will pursue a regulatory profile for the management and rehabilitation of wounds and defects affecting the skin as well as other soft tissues, including breast, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. The company will explore the use of Collymer materials in complementary applications fostering strategic partnerships with innovative, industry-leading companies.
About GeniPhys Inc.
GeniPhys is a preclinical medical technology company based in Zionsville, Indiana, focused on aiding tissue regeneration and recovery. The company’s Collymer technology is based on research done in Sherry Harbin’s lab at Purdue University. Materials formulated from a proprietary collagen polymer promote tissue integration and formation while avoiding inflammation, fibrosis and scarring. The Collymer manufacturing process enables a wide variety of implant formats to be fabricated and has proven to deliver pharmaceutical and cellular therapies.
About NSF’s Small Business Programs
America’s Seed Fund, backed by NSF, awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses that transform scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and social impact . Startups operating in most science and technology sectors can receive up to $2 million to support research and development, helping to eliminate technology risks to achieve commercial success. The American Seed Fund is authorized by Congress through the Small Business Innovation Research program. NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of approximately $8.5 billion that supports basic research and education across all fields of science and engineering. For more information, visit seedfund.nsf.gov.
Contact the Purdue Research Foundation: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org
Source: Andy Eibling, andyeibling@geniphys.com
Sherry Harbin, sherryharbin@geniphys.com
