Orthocell Ltd (ASX:OCC) has received the first purchase orders for its flagship collagen medical devices from its new distribution partners.
The regenerative medicine company will fill dockets for its Striate+™ dental bone regeneration product after inking an exclusive global licence and distribution agreement with BioHorizons Implant Systems.
In addition, Orthocell will ship its Remplir™ nerve repair products under an exclusive Australian distribution deal will Device Technologies (DVT).
Ultimately, OCC believes these purchase orders will be the first of many: it’s just scaled up its Striate+ and Remplir manufacturing capacity to meet the current and forecast demand.
Big-picture, the facility upgrade and distribution deals position Orthocell to gain commercial traction with Striate+ in the US and Remplir in Australia, as well as expand into global healthcare markets.
Leveraging “specialist capabilities and market reach”
Orthocell managing director Paul Anderson said these first orders represented a “significant commercial milestone” for the company.
“We are delighted to be working with our Striate+ and Remplir distribution partners to grow adoption and establish our products as best-in-class medical devices for dental bone regeneration and nerve repair procedures,” he explained.
“BioHorizons and DVT have the specialist capabilities and market reach to lead the promotion and distribution of Striate+ and Remplir.”
BioHorizons and Striate+
Orthocell recently handed over the exclusive global licence and distribution rights for Striate+ in a deal worth A$21.4 million.
It believes the product is in safe hands: BioHorizons is part of Nasdaq-listed healthcare distributor Henry Schein Inc (NASDAQ:HSIC), and in its own right, BioHorizons is a leading global provider of dental implants and tissue regeneration products.
The company has developed a broad product offering, including dental implants, guided surgery, digital restorations and tissue regeneration solutions to help replace missing teeth.
Thanks to this scale, the company’s products are available in 90 markets worldwide.
Ahead of its first Striate+ purchase orders, Orthocell has been preparing the BioHorizons’ sales and marketing team for US market entry.
BioHorizons will also promote Striate+ for use in dental-guided bone and tissue regeneration procedures at the American Academy of Periodontology Annual Meeting in October, followed by an active US sales representation of the product in November.
Device Technologies and Remplir
DVT was recently named as exclusive distributor of Remplir for peripheral nerve repair across Australia and New Zealand.
As an established healthcare distributor, the company is focused on providing access to innovative, high-quality medical devices and solutions from around the world, making it a synergetic fit for the OCC team.
All products distributed by DVT must comply with quality and regulatory requirements, with in-servicing, education and ongoing clinical and technical support provided as part of the partnership between DVT and healthcare professionals.
In the lead-up to the Remplir dockets, Orthocell has been working with the internal sales and marketing team at DVT to prepare for Australian market entry, leading in-person product training sessions and participating in marketing workshops.
It is scheduled to exhibit and promote Remplir for use in peripheral nerve repair procedures at:
- the South Australian Hand Society Meeting on October 24;
- the 2022 Royal North Shore Shoulder Symposium on October 21; and
- the Australian Orthopaedic Association in Christchurch, New Zealand from October 30 to November 3.