A Cork-based company which has pioneered a product that could reduce the healing time of broken bones and fractures by up to 20 per cent has treated its first patient in clinical trials at Cork University Hospital.
OrthoXel, an orthopaedic trauma company that is partially funded by the Cork City Local Enterprise Office (LEO), developed the “Apex Tibial Nailing System” which, due to the enhanced fixing ability of its surgical nailing system, encourages bone cell growth and enhances bone regeneration. It was implanted in its first patient earlier this month.
Professor James Harty, Head of the Department of Orthopaedics at Cork University Hospital, successfully completed the first clinical use of the system. Commenting on the development, he stated: “It was a major milestone to use the Apex Tibial Nailing System from OrthoXel in a live trauma case. As was expected, the surgical procedure was smooth and uncomplicated and barring any extenuating circumstances, I expect the patient recovery to be full and swift.”
OrthoXel received funding under Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) fund. It has been working closely with the Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility, Cork (CRF-C) a collaboration with UCC, to initiate these clinical trials at CUH. Another Irish hospital is to be added to the clinical trial later this spring.
In the past nine months, OrthoXel has doubled in size and overall has received investment of almost €3 million to date. The current focus is on opening-up the commercial market in the United States.
