SpineSmith Partners and GenOsteo Announce Collaborative Product Development Agreement

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- SpineSmith Partners has signed an initial agreement with GenOsteo, Inc. to co-develop a unique scaffold that mimics the structure of natural cancellous bone. Following evaluation of several commercial products by SpineSmith's Research and Development Department, the company believes the GenOsteo scaffold represents a significant advancement in technology that creates a unique and ideal environment for the delivery of adult stem cells for skeletal repair and regeneration. Focused initially on developing fusion applications in conjunction with the use of SpineSmith interbody spinal spacers, SpineSmith believes that the proprietary GenOsteo process is unique and has the potential to provide an optimal cell carrier for several applications in spine, general orthopedics, trauma and plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. James Poser, Vice President of Regenerative Medicine for SpineSmith, and his team will work closely with GenOsteo to bring this product to the market.

"GenOsteo has created an elegant and highly effective material that can be combined with adult stem cells for promoting bone formation. We look forward to collaborating with the scientists at GenOsteo to produce the next generation point-of-care adult stem cell product that will become the preferred fusion product of orthopedic and neurosurgeons," said Poser.

GenOsteo scientists developed the technology and have licensed the rights from the University of Texas at San Antonio. The GenOsteo process produces a calcium phosphate scaffold with uniform porosity, surface and resorption characteristics.

"GenOsteo is delighted to partner with SpineSmith to develop hydroxyapatite-based scaffold technology for optimal delivery of cell-based spinal implant therapies. It represents an ideal marriage of implant design, cell therapy and advanced material science," said Daniel Oh, president of GenOsteo and co-inventor of the technology.

Both companies will be attending the North American Spine Society (NASS) on November 11-14 in San Francisco. Members of the development team will be there to demonstrate and discuss how this unique scaffolding can revolutionize the presentation of cells in spinal fusion. SpineSmith and GenOsteo expect to bring this product to market in late 2010.

About GenOsteo
GenOsteo has developed a bone-like scaffold that is similar to the composition and structure of the inorganic portion of the natural cancellous bone. GenOsteo scaffolds allow the formation or regeneration of functional bone tissues and can be adapted to fit into implants such as with interbody spacers used in spinal fusion. In addition, bony defects resulting from trauma or disease in long bones can be regenerated to provide aesthetics as well as functional restoration by the use of the GenOsteo scaffolds.

About SpineSmith Partners, LP
SpineSmith Partners, LP is dedicated to creating better ways to facilitate and accelerate the healing of spinal disorders through integration of innovative medical devices and biologic technologies. SpineSmith designs, develops, and markets implants and biologics for surgical fixation, correction, and tissue regeneration of the spine. SpineSmith's dedication to a collaborative approach between scientists, engineers and spine surgeons results in the development of truly innovative biological and hardware technologies.

www.spinesmithusa.com