Log in
A new class of synthetic self-assembling peptides has been developed at Leeds into a product that allows the enamel in the dental cavities to be regenerated. The peptides assemble to form gels that have been shown to be promising biocompatible materials with applications in regenerative medicine, for example in the regeneration of bone. Credentis AG (Switzerland) was founded in January 2010 to commercialise the technology in the dental care domain. Its first product Curodont™ Repair - the first product of its kind in dental care - has completed first-in-man safety trials (also at Leeds); has received regulatory approval for clinical use in Switzerland, Europe and Australia; and was launched in Switzerland and Germany in Q1/2013. The product has tremendous promise because most adults suffer from dental caries which often go untreated because of patients' fear of the dental drill. A second product Curodont™ Protect, approved in April 2013 and regulated as a cosmetic, has been launched in 2013 for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity. Credentis has established a UK base in Leeds and has engaged a UK company as distributor of its products from October 2013.
Novel biological scaffolds that regenerate with the patient's own cells have been researched, and patented and since 2008 developed, taken through successful clinical trials and commercialised. Economic impact within the REF period has been delivered through the University of Leeds spinout company Tissue Regenix plc, which has received £32M private investment, employs 35 people and is AIM listed, with a capital value of £70M. Health impact has been delivered through licensing and development by NHS Blood & Transplant Tissue Services. The biological scaffolds have demonstrated five years' successful clinical use in heart valve replacement and three years' clinical use as a commercial vascular patch.