Eighth Patient Treated with Sealantis Novel Alga-Mimetic Sealant

HAIFA, Israel, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Sealantis Ltd., a private start-up from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, reports that an eighth patient was treated with Seal-V, its alga-mimetic vascular sealant, as part of the company's first clinical study. Seal-V is a protein-free sealant, designed to resolve current limitations and challenges in control of surgical bleeding. It is expected to receive CE Mark within the year.

The clinical trial, taking place in Israel, is evaluating the safety and efficacy of achieving hemostasis in large peripheral blood vessels using the Seal-V protein-free sealant.

Sealantis is a 6-year-old startup, located on campus of one of Israel's leading academic centers - the Technion. It was founded by Prof. Havazelet Bianco-Peled, a world renowned expert in biomedical polymers.

Since the early 2000s, Prof. Bianco-Peled had been researching the adhesion mechanism of algae to rocks underwater. The research unveiled the chemical composition of the algae adhesive, but it was the professor's invention of a synthetic, alga-mimetic adhesive that enabled harnessing nature's power for practical and commercial uses.

In 2007, the invention was embraced by the Alfred Mann Institute at the Technion, which is funding the company. While having potential uses in a variety of industrial applications, Sealantis chose to focus on urgent medical needs - controlling leakage of body fluids through surgical or traumatic wounds. Such leaks can be fatal since sutures or staples are not fully leak-proof. "Sealing surgical incisions requires sticking to wet or moist surfaces, which is a challenge that most known adhesives can't usually meet," explains Prof. Bianco-Peled.

Surgical sealants represent a market of over $1.0 billion which grows 14% annually. "When I look at the market, it's clear to me that there is no single winning solution," says Dr. Zeev Gilkis, AMIT CEO and Sealantis Ltd. Chairman, "There are some good products, but each one has drawbacks or is limited to a specific application. Sealantis brings a versatile yet simple technology, addressing unmet clinical needs…"

"Seal-V is overcoming a clinical need with its unique features, which offer simultaneous sealing and hemostasis for native and synthetic vascular fields," explains Prof. Vincent Riambau, Chief of Vascular Surgery Division, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, and Past President of the European Society of Vascular Surgery (ESVS), who serves on the Clinical Advisory Board of Sealantis. "It is accomplishing valuable qualities for vascular surgery, being quick, easy to use, effective and safe. It will surely be most welcome to the vascular community."

Sealantis Ltd. is currently planning its next regulatory steps toward a PMA study and FDA approval of Seal-V and is working on strategic partnerships towards the coming market launch.

About Sealantis Ltd.

Sealantis Ltd. is developing a proprietary platform of alga-mimetic tissue adhesives, for a variety of applications and clinical needs in surgical leakage control, tissue adhesion and drug delivery. The Sealantis adhesives are protein-free, and have an extraordinary ability to adhere strongly to internal tissues even in wet environments. Sealantis Ltd. was founded in 2007 by Prof. Havazelet Bianco-Peled, and is supported by the Alfred Mann Institute at the Technion (AMIT). http://www.sealantis.co.il

About AMIT

The Alfred Mann Institute at the Technion - AMIT supports the development and commercialization of biomedical innovations conceived by Technion researchers. Established in 2006 by the Technion and Dr. Alfred E. Mann, an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, the institute aspires to bridge the well-known gap between academic research and commercial success. AMIT currently manages four ventures, including Sealantis Ltd.

SOURCE Sealantis