A Medical Device Daily

Novation (Irving, Texas), a healthcare contracting services company, has awarded a new supplier agreement to Aesculap (St. Louis) for its Histoacryl tissue adhesive products.

In February 2007, the FDA approved for sale in the U.S. two versions of the topical skin adhesive that has been widely-used in Europe and the rest of the world — Histoacryl and Histoacryl Blue.

The adhesives are composed of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate monomer and differ only by the inclusion/non-inclusion of blue dye to allow improved visualization of the otherwise colorless liquid during its application.

Both formulations polymerize in seconds, require only a single-layer application, and provide the highest bond strength of all FDA-approved topical skin adhesives. As a result, surgeons are able to close wounds and incisions with a precise, single-application adhesive that offers great cosmetic results as well as faster application without compromising the strength of the wound closure.

Histoacryl is manufactured by B. Braun (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) and has been marketed outside the U.S. for more than 30 years. In the U.S., it is distributed by the Aesculap subsidiary of B. Braun in partnership with TissueSeal (Ann Arbor, Michigan).

In other agreements:

• Med1Online (Golden, Colorado), a provider of new, used and reconditioned capital medical equipment, said it has entered into an agreement with the MedAssets Supply Chain Systems (Atlanta) group purchasing organization, a division of MedAssets (St. Louis) representing more than 30,000 healthcare providers.

The multi-year agreement enables Med1Online to present various cost-saving opportunities to MedAssets Supply Chain Systems’ extensive and diverse customer base, which encompasses hospitals, clinics, hospital-based physicians and long-term care facilities, among many others.

Services to be provided by Med1Online include asset recovery solutions; new and used equipment sales; equipment warranties, servicing and repairs; an internal equipment exchange program via a customized, online Extra-Net system; inventory and appraisal services.

• Cryo-Cell International (Oldsmar, Florida) reported it has formalized a research and development agreement with Saneron CCEL Therapeutics (Tampa) that represents an important milestone in efforts to develop regenerative therapies using Cryo-Cell’s C’elle menstrual stem cell technology.

Cryo-Cell and Saneron will collaborate on research involving C’elle stem cell technology in preclinical models for certain neurological diseases and disorders. C’elle stem cells are derived from menstrual flow, which results from the shedding of the uterine lining (endometrium) during menstruation and contains millions of stem cells that have many properties and characteristics similar to those of both bone marrow and embryonic stem cells.

On Nov. 1, 2007, Cryo-Cell reported its discovery of breakthrough menstrual stem cell technology and launched the C’elle service, a service allowing women to cryopreserve their own menstrual stem cells.

The company will provide C’elle menstrual stem cells along with methodology associated with the technology. Saneron will provide study materials and develop research methodology for potential therapeutic applications associated with designated pre-clinical applications. Intellectual property resulting from this research collaboration will be jointly owned by the parties.

Cryo-Cell owns an approximate 38% equity interest in Saneron.