The future of healthcare is in how we leverage technology. Since 2015, the team at Implantica has been developing a broad, patent-protected product portfolio and pipeline primarily based on two platform technologies. With innovation and entrepreneurial success at the core of the firm, it’s little wonder we’re recognising their achievements in GHP’s Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Awards 2022, where they were named Most Innovative MedTech Company – Central Europe
The journey to Implantica starts with Dr. Peter Forsell. He’s the firm’s founder, principal shareholder, CEO, a world-renowned specialist surgeon and inventor of most of Implantica’s product pipeline. He is always on the lookout for how fresh ideas and new innovations can serve to improve patient care and drive the business forward.
Dr. Forsell has an excellent track record for successfully launching medical devices into the marketspace. His development of the adjustable gastric band led the way for new innovations, as it took 28% of the global market, excluding the US. Implantica is his latest business, one which is looking to move advanced technology into the body with the bold ambition to potentially transform care for millions of patients around the world.
Healthcare is an expensive business, that will be revolutionised by technology in the years to come. Implantica stands at the forefront of that revolution, with almost 2,000 innovative patents in key markets around the world. Most eHealth technologies are focused primarily on gathering information from outside the body, but Implantica’s unique eHealth platform e-InVivo is designed to change treatment from distance, monitor various health parameters, deliver information to the caregiver and control treatment, all from inside the body.
The eHealth technology platform was the basis for discovering not only how existing treatments could be improved but also developing new treatment options often previously seen as unachievable. Thanks to these improved technological advancements and treatment approach, the Implantica team has been able to drive unimagined innovation and create almost endless potential for improving healthcare.
Such incredible achievements have been the result of a combination of Dr. Peter Forsell’s surgical and medical expertise, his experience gained from running successful medical implant businesses and strategic decision making. He led a talented team of 70 engineers to analyse the over 300 individual inventions which he had created in many treatment fields before 40 implant candidates were selected. This took eight years of development but has put Implantica in an incredible position.
Implantica’s diverse medical technology patent portfolio is carefully designed to address large unmet medical/patient needs as well as to improve quality of life. Often specific disease areas have been underserved for many years, with severe consequences for patients and the healthcare system. By developing specific solutions focused on these areas, the team has ensured that their products will have the maximum impact on society at large.
Implantica’s incredible innovations have proven immensely popular with the public, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of what they offer. It is, however, medical surgeons and professionals who need proven solutions to treat medical conditions. These medical professionals are often looking for new solutions that can transform their patients’ lives and are willing to explore state-of-the-art technology to better their patients’ health and well-being. Implantica’s products have the potential to revolutionise someone’s quality of life, especially those who might feel there is no treatment solution and no way forward at all.
At the heart of much of what the team has been working on recently are two platform technologies. These take the form of an eHealth platform designed to monitor a broad range of health parameters, control treatment from outside the body, communicate to the caregiver on distance and remotely adjust treatment. Furthermore, a wireless energising platform has been developed, designed to power remote-controlled implants wirelessly through intact skin.
It’s little wonder that the team is fiercely protective of their patents, having filed comprehensively with regards to this innovative platform technology. The team’s IP portfolio has grown significantly over the past few months, covering not only the eHealth platform in general, but extending the scope and term of patent protection for the pipeline products. As the industry continues to expand, the Implantica team and technology have secured their place at the heart of it.
Moving forward, however, will depend on the successes of products already on the market or currently under development. The team’s research over the last few years has been focused on two treatment areas, gastrointestinal surgery and urology. Many people suffer from Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes stomach acid to repeatedly flow back into the oesophagus, the tube-like organ connecting the mouth and stomach. More than one billion of the world’s population is affected by GERD, with 400 million suffering every day. Continued patient suffering, speaks of the highly ineffective nature of current treatment options for a large number of patients.
RefluxStop by Implantica is the first treatment of its kind, an implantable device that will treat the root cause of acid reflux. This has the potential to eradicate the suffering caused by reflux, without the side effects typically associated with surgical interventions. Indeed, traditional surgical interventions are only considered in the most extreme cases due to the prevalence of disturbing side effects associated with these traditional surgical options.
The RefluxStop procedure is currently being performed in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the UK at several key hospitals such as University Hospital AKH Vienna, one of Europe’s largest hospitals and Klinikum Friedrichshafen, one of the most prominent anti-reflux centres in Germany.
With such incredible support for this new technology in Europe, it’s of little surprise that the Implantica team is in the process of applying for approval for use in the US. The FDA has agreed to a PMA application for RefluxStop based solely on existing European clinical data, which would allow the firm to enter the US market without premarket US clinical trials, using instead safety and efficacy data from ongoing European clinical investigations.
In many ways, RefluxStop showcases the effectiveness of Implantica’s product selection and design process. RefluxStop not only demonstrated outstanding clinical results so far, but also meets an enormous unmet need. RefluxStop could help millions of patients around the world, as well as save immense resources within healthcare systems as evidenced by a recently completed health economic analysis by the York Health Economics Consortium of University of York. RefluxStopTM validates Implantica’s potential, which is second to none.
This incredible product is only the beginning of the product pipeline. While working on the commercialisation of RefluxStop in Europe, the team is also developing three additional implants in the form of UriControl, UriRestore and AppetiteControl. These devices utilise the team’s innovative Wireless Energising Platform and eHealth platforms, each of them having the potential to revolutionise their respective treatment areas.
UriControl is designed as a wirelessly energised remote-controlled artificial urinary sphincter for the over 200 million people suffering from urinary incontinence. UriRestore in turn is designed for people who lose their ability to empty their urinary bladder, oftentimes due to spinal cord injuries or multiple sclerosis. The device offered by Implantica will allow patients to empty their urinary bladders using a remote control. For the 100 million people worldwide, who are not able to urinate and depend on catheterisation, this technology would be a huge relief and life changing for these patients.
AppetiteControl is designed as a revolutionary treatment for obesity by controlling appetite. This device is supported by a novel food sensor, which monitors a patient’s eating behaviour. When eating and as the stomach becomes full, it stretches and distends the stomach wall. This activates stretch receptors, which send a signal to the brain and results in a feeling of satiety. AppetiteControl uses this natural mechanism of action to create a feeling of fullness by stretching the stomach wall. The stretching is activated by reaching a pre-programmed food intake, programmed individually for each meal. The food intake allowances can be changed remotely on distance by the healthcare provider using the eHealth platform.
The team’s incredible IP portfolio showcases the potential for some of the biggest innovations made in the medical industry in recent years. From this amazing resource, a range of lifechanging products are being prepared for use in the market at large.
We celebrate the team’s success with this Most Innovative MedTech Company – Central Europe Award. Congratulations Implantica!
For further information, please contact Nicole Pehrsson via email at [email protected]
