Mercury Bio and Lithoz Partner with Himed for Advanced Bone Healing Innovations

Mercury Bio, a biotech company specializing in drug delivery, has joined forces with Himed, a producer of bioceramics and biocompatible surface treatments for dental implants, in a research, development, and licensing agreement. The objective of this collaboration is to develop an osteogenic material that can be utilized in bone cements, coatings for implantable devices, and other applications. 

Himed has also partnered with Lithoz, a global leader in 3D printing, to explore the development of new bioceramic feedstocks. This long-term Materials Research Partnership Agreement will focus on integrating Himed’s calcium phosphate biomaterials with Lithoz’s proprietary ceramic binder.

Mercury Bio’s yEV Technology

Mercury Bio brings its yEV technology to the partnership, which involves engineering natural extracellular vesicles (EVs) to carry specific RNAs and small-molecule drugs, including the protein BMP-9, to targeted cells. These engineered allogeneic particles, when loaded into an organic calcium phosphate-based scaffold created by Himed, will gradually release their contents into the surrounding tissue, promoting bone healing and growth.

Bruce McCormick, CEO of Mercury Bio, believes that combining these technologies will have remarkable benefits for device implants and other bone surgeries. “Loading yEVs with BMP-9 and infusing them into bioactive coatings will provide a highly targeted, controlled release of bone morphogenic protein, which may dramatically speed up healing and reduce the risks of complications from long recoveries after surgery,” said McCormick.

Increasing Demand with Ageing Population 

Calcium phosphates have been utilized in bone repair since the 1920s. In recent decades, their use has rapidly expanded in implantable devices and bone putties, aiming to accelerate hard tissue healing at implantation sites. The growing population of elderly individuals has contributed to the increasing demand for orthopedic surgeries, highlighting the importance of improving surgical outcomes and shortening recovery times.

Dana Barnard, CEO of Himed, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “This agreement marks Himed’s debut into organic materials, building on our long history of supplying top-level bioceramic materials and services to device manufacturers. Mercury Bio’s technology is completely innovative—we think this collaboration has great potential and could chart new directions in bone repair.”

The collaboration between Mercury Bio and Himed aims to advance the field of bone repair through the development of innovative materials and drug delivery techniques. By combining Mercury Bio’s yEV technology with Himed’s expertise in calcium phosphates, the partnership aims to revolutionize orthopedic treatments and provide patients with more effective and efficient solutions.

Himed and Lithoz Collaborate for Additive Manufauring 

Himed‘s collaboration with Lithoz, a medical 3D printer manufacturer, offers new opportunities in the medical additive manufacturing market. While Himed has previously focused on surface coatings for traditionally manufactured titanium implants, Lithoz’s 3D printing technology enables the integration of calcium phosphates as biomimetic materials within the implant structure itself. This approach allows the gradual replacement of the implant with the patient’s natural bone over time, maximizing the advantages of calcium phosphates.

Dr Johannes Homa, CEO of Lithoz, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “This is definitely a big milestone for our partnership and just a first starting point for a mutually beneficial collaboration for additive manufacturing of bone replacement.” 

The collaboration between Himed and Lithoz opens up possibilities for the development of new biomimetic forms and the exploration of various calcium phosphate formulations to enhance the capabilities of 3D-printed implantable structures.