Foundation Venture Capital Group Invests in Company Developing Plaque-Reducing Dental Hygiene Products

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., June 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Affineti Biologics has received a commitment of up to $500,000 from Foundation Venture Capital Group (FVCG) to advance its research in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic products based on new discoveries in oral biology and dental medicine.

According to James M. Golubieski, president of FVCG, the company invested in Affineti because positive results from studies for anti-caries and periodontal therapy look promising in their ability to affect plaque reduction, influencing dental hygiene and systemic medicine.

Affineti founder Dr. Daniel Fine, also a professor and chair, Department of Oral Biology at UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School, believes the development of products based on his research will prove more effective than others currently available.

His group uses biological principals to create hybrid or fusion proteins that adhere to tissues with potent but non-toxic antimicrobial effects.  He hopes to use these proteins to deliver effective substances locally, avoiding systemic complications. In the short term, Dr. Fine plans to use these proteins in conditions related to the oral cavity and then expand to include mucosal infections in other sites throughout the body.

"We are focused on anti-caries, periodontal disease therapy and dry mouth treatment," Dr. Fine explained. "Additional testing for yeast and bacterial overgrowth will allow us to bring our product for an effective mouthwash for anti-caries, periodontitis and dry mouth to clinical trials shortly."

In addition to the adverse effect of plaque on dental health, current research supports the idea that dental plaque buildup also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

"The link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease is strong enough for us to consider that Dr. Fine's research will impact health on many levels," said Dr. George F. Heinrich, vice chair and CEO of Foundation Venture Capital Group. "We look forward to helping him reach the clinical trial level."

For more information, contact James M. Golubieski, president of FVCG, at (908) 731-6601 or at [email protected].

About Foundation Venture Capital Group

Foundation Venture Capital Group, an affiliate of New Jersey Health Foundation, was founded in 2006 to invest in commercially viable new start-up companies developing technology by faculty at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In addition to Affineti, it has invested in:  

• Actinobac Biomed Inc., developing a therapeutic agent targeting blood cells for the treatment of hematological malignancies;
• CellXplore, Inc., engaged in the development of biomarker-based in vitro diagnostic assays for cancer;
• Celvive, Inc., working to develop technology to treat patients with chronic spinal cord injuries with their own adult stem cells;
• Durin Technologies, working to develop a blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease;
• Longevica Pharmaceuticals, Inc., developing a chemoprotective agent that may keep normal cells healthy during cancer treatments (FVCG's equity interest in Longevica was recently sold to Rostock International, LTD, a subsidiary of a Moscow (Russia) based global investment firm);
• Snowdon Pharmaceuticals, a drug discovery company focused on several major therapeutic areas.

SOURCE Foundation Venture Capital Group, LLC