Yorkshire Forward Grant for Development of Urinary Catheters
London, UK, 12 February 2007 - Lombard Medical Technologies PLC (“Lombard Medical”) announces that its Polymer Coatings Division has received a research and development grant from the Regional Development Agency Yorkshire Forward to develop a novel hydrophilic coating for urinary catheters. Yorkshire Forward is providing £88,000 towards the total cost of the project of £197,000, which is expected to take 18 months to complete.
Although intermittent urinary catheters remain inside the body for a relatively short time, there is a tendency for the coating to dry out in situ, which causes the catheter to stick, often causing considerable discomfort to the patient. This phenomenon is due to osmotic exchange between body fluids in the mucous membrane and the hydrated coating on the catheter. Water extracted from the coating through osmosis into mucous membrane causes the coated surface to dry and stick to the membrane.
Lombard Medical has formulated a novel and durable lubricious hydrophilic coating for urinary catheters which overcomes this problem. The coating is highly lubricious when it is wet with a very low coefficient of friction. There is also the potential for loading an antimicrobial agent into the coating to reduce the risk of infection.
The purpose of the project is to produce production prototype coated catheters, which meet all the regulatory requirements that can be licensed out to commercial partners.
Alistair Taylor, Executive Chairman, said:
“We are thankful to Yorkshire Forward for their support to this project that could bring a valuable advance in the large market for urinary catheters and adds to our Polymer Coating Division’s rapidly growing product pipeline.”
Jim Farmery, Head of Innovation at Yorkshire Forward, said:
“Yorkshire Forward is committed to supporting businesses of all sizes in our region to undertake innovative research programmes. Lombard Medical is a good example of a growing business that is investing in research and development to further develop the company.”
Enquiries:
Lombard Medical Technologies PLC Tel: 01235 750 800
Alistair Taylor, Executive Chairman
Brian Howlett, Chief Executive Officer
Tim Hall, Finance Director
Financial Dynamics Tel: 020 7831 3113
David Yates / John Gilbert
Notes to editors:
About Lombard Medical
Lombard Medical Technologies PLC is a medical devices group developing stent grafts and other medical products for use in the treatment of vascular disease. The Company’s lead product, Aorfix™, is a stent graft for the treatment of aortic aneurysms, a balloon-like enlargement of the aorta which, if untreated, may rupture and cause death. Abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms are the 13th largest cause of death in the US and the market is estimated to be worth approximately US$2 billion by 2010. Aorfix™ is currently being commercialised in the EU, with US clinical trials having commenced during 2006. The Company’s Polymer Coatings Division primarily develops polymer coatings for use in drug eluting stents and has a number of research collaborations developing novel products for this $6bn market.
Lombard Medical has recently successfully completed its initial public offering on AIM and was admitted to listing in December 2005, raising £23.9 million, net of expenses. The Company, based in Oxfordshire, Yorkshire and Boston, USA, employs over 90 people.
Further background on the Company can be found at www.lombardmedical.com.