Groningen, The Netherlands, 15 March 2016 – Polyganics, a privately held medical technology company focused on the commercialization of proprietary products and technologies for peripheral nerve repair, neurosurgery, general surgery, as well as ear, nose & throat surgery, today announced it has appointed Dr Jan K. Öhrström to its Supervisory Board. The appointment is effective immediately.
Dr Öhrström’s industry experience spans 25 years working at public and private biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, both in the US and Europe, including over 15 years in senior leadership and Board member positions focused on medical development and business operations.
Dr Öhrström was instrumental in the US$240M acquisition of ProFibrix BV by The Medicines Company in August 2013.
Rudy Mareel, CEO of Polyganics, commented: “Jan’s impressive international experience in senior leadership roles, together with his clinical expertise and strong track record of bringing medical technology products to market, further strengthens the Supervisory Board of Polyganics. We welcome Jan to our team as we continue to adapt our proprietary technology for a variety of clinical applications.”
Dr Öhrström added: “Having spent much of my career working in biotech and pharmaceutical companies, I look forward to adding to the excellent work that Polyganics has already done in developing multiple versatile polymer platforms for use in medical technology and achieving international commercial success.”
Additional background on Dr Jan Öhrström:
Dr Öhrström was responsible for the incorporation of ProFibrix Inc and ProFibrix BV, which included a full private fundraising and development through Phase III of a product/device combination (Fibrocaps/Raplixa) as well as securing product approval in US and EU. He has also held executive positions including Senior Vice President at ZymoGenetics, Seattle, WA, USA, and CEO at ProFibrix BV, The Netherlands, and is currently Chairman of the Board & President at Biomup SA, Lyon, France, and a board director at Blaze Bioscience inc, Seattle, WA, USA. Dr Öhrström began his career as a clinician and held a number of clinical positions at Novo Nordisk before moving into business orientated positions. Dr Öhrström is a Danish citizen and resident in the Netherlands.
Polyganics recently received CFDA approval for its bioresorbable nerve conduit NEUROLAC® and received FDA 510(k) clearance for its nerve capping device NEUROCAP.
About Polyganics
Polyganics is a medical technology company with multiple versatile polymer platforms. The Company develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative bioresorbable medical devices that facilitate tissue repair and regeneration.
Polyganics’ portfolio includes products developed in-house and in collaboration with leading medical technology companies and academic centers of excellence. In the Peripheral Nerve Repair (PNR) and neurosurgery field, the portfolio includes three marketed products: VIVOSORB® for minimizing unwanted tissue adhesions after surgery; NEUROLAC® for supporting PNR following hand surgery; and NEUROCAP for the management of symptomatic neuromas. Products in development include a sealant for the dural membrane, for use post brain surgery.
In 2014, the Company sold its Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) surgery business unit (the NASOPORE® product family including HEMOPORE®, SINUPORE® and OTOPORE®) to US Company Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies. NASOPORE®, a reliable, easy-to-use, nasal wound care dressing made of biodegradable foam, has been used in over 2.5m procedures globally.
Polyganics has a supportive shareholder base, including the investment agency of the Northern Netherlands (NOM), and the University of Groningen. The Company has a research partnership with the non-profit organization the Brain Technology Institute, an international group of neurosurgeons.
Polyganics is profitable and privately held. The Company is based in Groningen, The Netherlands, a center of biomedical engineering excellence, in an ISO 13485-certified manufacturing facility. The Company’s polymer platform technologies are protected by a broad portfolio of patents and its products have received clearance from FDA, CE-approval, approval from CFDA, and from other international authorities.
For more information, visit: www.polyganics.com
