Polyganics recently announced that it has received €1.2 million (approximately $1.3 million) in funding from the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRO) through the Northern Netherlands Alliance (SNN) and the city and province of Groningen to support clinical validation of its liver and pancreas sealant patch. The grant will support a safety and performance study that is scheduled to take place later this year in multiple clinical centers across Europe.

Polyganics reports that its easy-to-use device is made of the company’s synthetic and safe bio-resorbable polymers. It is optimized to effectively adhere to and seal off the surgically treated tissue throughout the critical healing period after hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery. The patch functions both as a sealant (withstanding the impact of aggressive bile and pancreatic fluids) and as a hemostat (controlling mild-to-moderate bleeding). It is being developed in close association with the surgical department of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany, and with MercachemSyncom, a contract research organization located in Groningen.

“We are proud to be able to support innovative companies that provide and inspire future investment in our region,” said IJzebrand Rijzebol, member of the Provincial Executive of Groningen. “Polyganics is an exemplary candidate for this grant, having enjoyed continued success in R&D, manufacturing and commercialization of medical devices, and provided attractive employment opportunities in Groningen for over 20 years. We congratulate the team and wish them luck with the upcoming study.”

“We are grateful to the EU, SNN and city and province of Groningen for their support towards progressing our Liver and Pancreas Sealant Patch into the next phase of development, particularly in the current unprecedented climate resulting from COVID-19,” said Rudy Mareel, CEO of Polyganics. “The grant is testament both to the quality of the preclinical data for this product, and to Polyganics’ strong growth outlook. As demand for products throughout our existing commercial portfolio continues to increase, we are pleased to be expanding into the challenging area of General Surgery, as we strive to provide unique bioresorbable medical devices to address unmet clinical needs.”

The patch is the first product in Polyganics’ General Surgery portfolio and was designated as a Breakthrough Device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018. It is currently under pre-clinical development, in close association with the surgical department of UKE.

Additional details are available at www.polyganics.com.