Wool proteins for bone repair targeted to $3 billion market

Wool biotech company Keratec says its new trans-Tasman venture with Australian Biotechnologies, will develop a new product to treat a specific medical condition and will "fulfil unmet treatment needs".

But it's not giving away much detail about the project, which builds on years of research from its joint venture signed last year with an American company, Keraplast Technologies Ltd.

Keratec will use a $1 million Government grant over the next three years in the project with Australian Biotechnologies, putting in another $1 million of its own to match an Australian contribution.

Keratec is using protein from wool for a range of applications, including bone graft and fixation devices, wound dressings, adhesives, bioplastics and fibres.

Keratec's executive in charge of business development, Fertram Sigurjonsson, told NZPA that the global market in which the company is operating -- for implants and equipment -- is worth US$2.2 billion ($3.6 billion).

But it would be inappropriate to comment on Keratec's market share, and "commercial sensitivities" meant he could not detail the commercial collaborations with Keraplast.

Mr Sigurjonsson said Keratec had intellectual property on three levels: production, products and treatment methods: "Our agreement with Keraplast is to jointly commercialise our combined patent pool in orthopaedics and wound care".

Some developmental work had been outsourced to Keratec's sister company, Canesis Network, at Lincoln near Christchurch, some to Otago University and some to other partners.

Keratec and San Antonio-based Keraplast held patents that related to the manufacture of soluble keratin.

Some of the specific "functionalised" soluble keratin fractions are sold to the cosmetic industry, others are sold to the dietary supplements sector.

In addition the company was developing medical devices or components for them using keratin.

The original inventions in the field of soluble keratin were made by the Wool Research Organisation (WRONZ) and Keraplast, and when WRONZ was devolved to companies including Keratec, Otago University was asked to develop the use of specific materials in an animal model.

Mr Sigurjonsson said that use of keratin-based implants/pins/and other fixings inside the body will revolutionise the invasive medical device industry.

Bones were a composite containing protein and calcium-based minerals, and keratin could provide a protein structure to aid repair to bone, with additional minerals such as calcium incorporated in the repair.

The goal of the technology was to assist a patient's own bone to heal, by occupying a space, providing support or assisting with bonding at a particular injury site.

"We are not aiming to develop artificial bones, rather we are aiming to supplement areas of bone at sites of injury and provide better alternatives for orthopaedic surgeons," he said.

- NZPA