Serica Expands Facilities For Silk Protein-Based Biomaterial R&D, Production
Serica Technologies Inc., a Medford, Mass.-based growth-stage medical device company, has expanded
its headquarters to include 22,000 square feet of research and development (R&D),
controlled-environment manufacturing space and administrative offices. The company develops and
manufactures natural silk protein-based biomaterials using cutting-edge textile engineering and
biomedical manufacturing technologies, with the goal of using those materials as short-term,
bioresorbable scaffolds to stabilize ligaments, tendons and other connective tissues following
surgery to repair damaged or diseased structural tissue.
President and CEO Dr. Gregory H. Altman, who founded Serica in 1998 under the name Tissue Regeneration Inc., became interested in developing the biomaterials after he injured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while playing football for Tufts University, also located in Medford, and suffered the side effects of reconstructive surgery. Upon graduation, he began graduate studies at Tufts and earned a doctorate in biotechnology engineering. Serica continues to have a collaborative research and development relationship with the university.
The company’s principal product, a graft for use in ACL repair and trademarked SeriACL™, will undergo clinical trials in Europe beginning this year, and US trials will begin in 2008. The overall scope of the company’s work includes a range of applications including plastic surgery, orthopedic medicine and other structural tissue repair, as well as drug delivery. Other products include surgical meshes and gels, all made using the fiber protein of the Bombyx mori silkworm.
“We are entering an exciting new phase in the company’s history, expanding our facilities and research programs to advance our technology platforms in orthopedic and reconstructive surgery, as well as a broad range of other applications in tissue repair,” Altman said. “Serica is one of the few start-up companies committed to manufacturing — we specialize in the proprietary processing of raw material to the packaging of finished product, combining state-of-the-art textile engineering and biomedical manufacturing capabilities.”
“Serica’s commitment to manufacturing our silk-based products from start to finish gives us a strategic advantage in that we have the flexibility and control to rapidly scale up our manufacturing to meet market needs and optimize our full product portfolio, while maintaining the highest standards of quality,” added David Horan, the company’s vice president of operations.
September 18, 2007
President and CEO Dr. Gregory H. Altman, who founded Serica in 1998 under the name Tissue Regeneration Inc., became interested in developing the biomaterials after he injured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while playing football for Tufts University, also located in Medford, and suffered the side effects of reconstructive surgery. Upon graduation, he began graduate studies at Tufts and earned a doctorate in biotechnology engineering. Serica continues to have a collaborative research and development relationship with the university.
The company’s principal product, a graft for use in ACL repair and trademarked SeriACL™, will undergo clinical trials in Europe beginning this year, and US trials will begin in 2008. The overall scope of the company’s work includes a range of applications including plastic surgery, orthopedic medicine and other structural tissue repair, as well as drug delivery. Other products include surgical meshes and gels, all made using the fiber protein of the Bombyx mori silkworm.
“We are entering an exciting new phase in the company’s history, expanding our facilities and research programs to advance our technology platforms in orthopedic and reconstructive surgery, as well as a broad range of other applications in tissue repair,” Altman said. “Serica is one of the few start-up companies committed to manufacturing — we specialize in the proprietary processing of raw material to the packaging of finished product, combining state-of-the-art textile engineering and biomedical manufacturing capabilities.”
“Serica’s commitment to manufacturing our silk-based products from start to finish gives us a strategic advantage in that we have the flexibility and control to rapidly scale up our manufacturing to meet market needs and optimize our full product portfolio, while maintaining the highest standards of quality,” added David Horan, the company’s vice president of operations.
September 18, 2007
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