Medical Device Startup Biolectrics Raises Nearly $1M To Eliminate The Pain Of Gum Disease
CLEVELAND, OH--(Marketwired - October 15, 2015) - Dental device startup, Biolectrics, has raised nearly $1 million, about half of its targeted series A fundraise. Biolectrics plans to use the funding to commercialize its pain-free, at-home treatment device, OraFlow®, designed to aide dentists in combatting periodontal disease.
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, half of US adults aged 30 and older suffer from periodontal disease. Currently, periodontal disease is treated with in-office dental procedures that can be costly and painful. Due to the expense and pain of current procedures, many patients refuse treatment. Untreated periodontal disease often leads to tooth loss and has recently been associated with atherosclerosis, diabetes, and other systemic health issues.
To lead the OraFlow commercialization efforts as CEO, Biolectrics hired dental industry veteran, Steve Cornelius. Mr. Cornelius brings to Biolectrics thirteen years of leadership experience at DENTSPLY International, the world's largest dental products manufacturer, where he was the Vice President and General Manager of the periodontal treatment division.
"The OraFlow is a game-changer in the periodontal world. I spent many years at DENTSPLY looking for technologies like OraFlow -- those that could provide dentists a way to help their patients painlessly treat periodontal disease in the convenience of their own home," an energized Cornelius said.
The OraFlow is a patented dental device similar in form to an athletic mouth guard and attached to an electronic controller via a cord. The OraFlow provides tiny, painless electrical stimulation to non-invasively kill bacteria associated with periodontal disease. While the exact treatment would be prescribed by a dentist, a typical treatment would only last twenty minutes per day for a few months.
Biolectrics has conducted a pilot clinical test on the OraFlow's safety and effectiveness at the Center for Clinical Dental Studies at the University at Buffalo, under the supervision of Dr. Sebastian Ciancio, a Distinguished Service Professor in the School of Dental Medicine. Also, Dr. Ciancio is past president of both the American and International Academies of Periodontology and has authored more than 100 publications on periodontal disease.
"Non-surgical periodontal disease treatments haven't changed significantly in recent years. The benefits OraFlow may offer to both dentists and patients are exciting -- a painless device to kill bacteria and improve clinical outcomes in the comfort of the patient's own home," said Ciancio.
A pivotal clinical study, again under the direction of Dr. Ciancio, is scheduled to commence later this year. Data from this upcoming study will be used to submit to the US FDA for marketing clearance.
For more information on Biolectrics and OraFlow, its innovative oral care device, OraFlow, and the upcoming OraFlow pivotal clinical study please visit biolectrics.net.
About Biolectrics
Biolectrics is an Ohio limited liability company combining medical, biological, and electrical research to develop a pioneering new treatment for moderate-to-severe gum disease (periodontal disease) with an oral care device called OraFlow. The OraFlow will be sold through dental offices as a take-home, adjunctive treatment for periodontal disease. Biolectrics has tested the OraFlow® clinically and anticipates seeking a marketing clearance from the FDA as early as late 2016. See biolectrics.net for more information.