1st July 2011

Othos: July’s MediWales featured member

Orthos Limited operates in the field of Regenerative Medicine and specifically in the regrowth of bone. Based in the Technium Springboard in Cwmbran, the company’s products are used by surgeons in many countries to assist reconstructive and trauma procedures in orthopaedics. The company has a range of products which are used by Orthopaedic and Spinal surgeons when carrying out both complex procedures and more common operations like hip replacements. 

Often in orthopaedic surgery there is a requirement for bone grafts. These can be derived from the patients’ own bone (but this requires another incision and a collection procedure) or from a donor (but this bears a risk of contamination). Orthos’ products are made using a very pure synthetic material (ßTriCalcium Phosphate or ßTCP), comprising the mineral elements of healthy bone. This material is relatively cheap, easy for surgeons to use, carries no risk of contamination, and results in no further procedures for the patient. 

For simpler procedures, such as replacement hips and knees, the granular product (ßGran) is often used, combined with the patient’s own bone marrow to enhance the healing process. 

Orthos also provides a device for obtaining bone marrow that makes the procedure simpler for the surgeon and more comfortable for the patient – Osteoboost. For more complex procedures, including treating young patients suffering from scoliosis, the gel-based ßGel is used. This uses the same ßTCP but in the gel it is suspended in a carrier medium, allowing the surgeon to inject the product right at the point of greatest need. The gel hardens at body temperature to ensure that the bone is treated in exactly the right place and that new bone grows to restore function to the patient.

The distinct feature of Orthos’ products is that as new bone is forming at the operation site the Orthos product is being re-absorbed by the body as part of the natural healing process. This means that after 12 weeks there is almost no Orthos material left as it has been replaced by strong, healthy bone.

Surgeons have become used to using synthetic substitutes in a variety of areas of surgery and Orthos is seeking to build on this experience by developing new, safer and more effective treatments for future use. We are committed to developing our research and development in collaboration with leading UK universities and are delighted Finance Wales has invested over two rounds in our development. The long term future of the company is very exciting as there are numerous opportunities both in the UK and abroad for us to increase the number of patients that we help, whilst providing surgeons with the best possible materials.