Burdica launches first product before second birthday.

14 May 2009

A recent injection of funding has enabled Scottish biotech company Burdica Biomed to launch its first product on the market less than two years after the company's formation - a notable achievement in the biotech sector. Burdica is also now in a position to start work on development of a novel technology platform for a future generation of therapeutic applications.

Burdica's core expertise is in the development of therapeutic applications of hyaluronic acid. HA is a substance which occurs naturally in the matrix between the cells of many types of body tissue in all animals. It may be described as a natural lubricant, and has a number of important functions in different types of tissues. For example, it contributes to the lubricating properties of the fluid in joints, it is involved in the repair processes of skin tissue and it has a role in creating the elastic properties of cartilage.

Burdica's recent development work has focused on the use of HA in enhancing fertility for couples trying to conceive. Its Zestica™ product is the first fertility lubricant to use the properties of HA in supporting the motility and fertilising capacity of sperm. The company was recently granted CE mark approval for Zestica™, and has just taken the product to market in Europe. "The response so far has been remarkable", says Burd. "Early sales have been beyond expectations, and we're working hard to meet demand. We're also about to address the USA and other major international markets."

The company's recent six-figure funding injection consisted partly of equity investment by a number of private individuals and partly of grant funding under a Scottish Government SMART award.

The SMART grant will fund a development project focusing on a novel HA technology. Burdica believes that this project will lead to enhanced therapeutic effectiveness and flexibility, and enable it to develop a new generation of HA products over the next three to five years. It is anticipated that these products will target applications ranging from reproductive health through dermatology, wound healing and tissue engineering to aesthetic and anti-ageing preparations.