Life|Mater has envisioned a novel method of biomaterials fabrication for tissue regeneration. Through the constant innovation in the materials field for medical applications we will develop a better future for patients. Our products are biodegradable matrices with tubular shape developed to support mainly muscular tissue regeneration. The first product to be developed is the U|Mater, a new biodegradable matrix for the regeneration of blood vessels that will provide an innovative solution for interventional cardiologists.

 

This product was developed considering the heavy burden that cardiovascular diseases inflict on patients life. The World Health Organization predicts that cardiovascular diseases will be the main cause of death in 2030. At least 20 million people survive each year to heart attacks or strokes. The need for continuous medical care and the associated costs are significantly high. In U.S., coronary heart diseases affect more that 16 million people. The estimated direct and indirect costs for 2008 were €118,2 billion. In this country are performed per year about 500.000 aortocoronary bypass (ABC) for treatment of coronary arteries stenosis using grafts.

 

Grafts are usually removed from a leg artery to replace the segment with coronary artery disease. Another solution is the application of synthetic vascular grafts. However, these are usually only applied when there is no other solution. With the U|Mater it will be possible to build a natural and healthy vascular graft for a coronary artery with patient cells. The U|Mater will avoid morbidity associated with leg grafts and risk of failure using synthetic materials. It will reduce the recovery time of the patient, resulting in costs reduction in ABC procedures. Overall, U|Mater technology will permit decreasing about 4% the annual costs related with the current procedures.

 

Since this represents a highly competitive market, with high entry barriers due to the costs related with FDA approval, we would license U|Mater to an established company in the market at the end of the seventh fiscal year. This year regards the period equivalent to our product phase II of clinical trials. Life|Mater believes that partnering with companies and laboratories specialized in the field of stem cell culture is the key to obtain an improved and optimized product. This strategy will also support the financial support required for U|Mater FDA approval as a biological product. The investment required to support this project will be divided in two periods. The first investment is for equipment, facilities, proof-of-concept and prototypes development, and IP filing. The second and larger investment will support continuous product development and FDA approval.

 

Life|Mater is constituted by a multidisciplinary team, highly skilled and committed, with structured knowledge in this field. To complement this team we rely on an advisory panel with extensive expertise in scientific and business areas.

 

We believe in the potential of technology in the tissue engineering area, assessed as one of the biggest trends of the next 50 years. The differentiation factor of our technology is in the combination of an improved fabrication method and biomaterial with the cell exposure and growth. This will overcome the current limitations of scaffolds to promote muscular tissue growth.

 

 

Daniela Couto                 danielascouto@gmail.com

Nina Abreu                   nina_1287@hotmail.com

Paula Nunes           paula_nunes29@hotmail.com

Samuel Rodrigues      samuel.o.b.rodrigues@gmail.com