PERTH, Australia – Perth-based regenerative medicine company Orthocell Ltd. has submitted a 510(k) application to the U.S. FDA for its Celgro collagen medical device for dental guided bone and soft tissue regeneration applications. The submission follows positive results from an FDA-guided bone regeneration study, which is a key component toward the goal of gaining U.S. marketing approval.

The pandemic-driven FDA guidance for device shortages addressed a topic that has been discussed for devices for some time despite lack of congressional action, but shortages may be ordinarily interpreted as a consequence of reduced or terminated production that crimps supplies. That interpretation has been expanded for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, to include circumstances in which demand exceeds supply even when the manufacturer sustains normal production levels, in which case the manufacturer is liable for reporting the shortage to the FDA.