Gecko Biomedical’s first product may be a surgical sealant, but has eyes on much more. The sealant, dubbed Setalum, is based on a proprietary polymer can be used in a variety of ways to reconstruct tissue.
The polymer is flexible, biocompatible and bioresorbable, and has a tunable structure, which allows it to be customized for different applications. For example, the polymer may be deployed in its liquid state and cured using light inside the body, or it may be used as a resin in 3D printing, said CEO Christophe Bancel.
In March last year, Gecko picked up €22.5 million ($26.4 million) in series A2 financing, pegged for fleshing out its technology in cardiovascular reconstruction and to explore other areas, including localized drug delivery.
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In addition to its use as a sealant, alongside sutures, the polymer may also be used as an adhesive to anchor devices within the body, or as a barrier, to delimit tissue, Bancel said. It may also be used as a scaffold to guide new tissue as it grows.
The Paris-based company scored a CE mark for its Setalum sealant in September. It is designed for vascular surgery, where it is used alongside sutures to prevent leakage. With this clearance, Gecko will boost its manufacturing capabilities for the European market and advance development in the U.S.
Gecko is investigating the use of the technology in ophthalmology, lung surgery and urology, as well as in bone and peripheral nerve reconstruction. The company is working to build out its platform into these areas, but it wants to open up innovation around its technology. It is looking for partners “where we would co-develop new solutions for them and answering specific needs they would have,” Bancel said.