Written by Kathryn Moore
"AN INNOVATION in surgical adhesives has been pioneered in Bradford which could improve the lives of thousands of patients.
Prosthetic adhesive Zeflosil – the first of its kind to be launched in the UK – is used to attach devices such as artificial body parts to the skin.
Zeflosil comes with a cleaning kit enabling patients to remove the adhesive easily.
Other products on the market are currently difficult to remove and the chemicals involved make them unpleasant for patients to handle.
The product can also be used on patients who have had reconstructive surgery and on patients undertaking colostomy treatments.
Zeflosil will be sold through Prosthetic Solutions, a company established by Professor Alan Roberts, a former director for research and development for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Prosthetic Solutions is based in the Bioscience Business Incubator at the University of Bradford's Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation (IPI).
Currently, adhesives used in the plastic and reconstructive surgery field are supplied by the American market. Zeflosil should prove to be considerably cheaper than its American alternative and is already being trialled by several NHS Trusts.
Professor Roberts said: "Using Zeflosil gives the patient ease of application, other benefits include durability and cost effectiveness compared with other products available in the market place.
"Like all drugs and devices it is their performance on the market which will prove their worth and I am confident Zeflosil will be a success."
During clinical trials Zeflosil exceeded all expectations and has recently achieved quality standards such as CE marking (EU approval), and approval by MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency).
This should make the product easier to launch in the international market and the company has already received several expressions of interest from overseas.
Dr Kevin Adams, Bioscience Business Incubator manager, said: "The IPI incubator provides new companies with laboratory and office space and a support system during their early development.
"It is really exciting to see Prosthetic Solutions get their first product to market. It's even better when you know that there are more significant developments in the pipeline."
The IPI Bioscience Business Incubator is keen to support pharmaceutical entrepreneurs who are looking to develop innovative ideas. For further information visit www.ipi.ac.uk"
This article is from the Yorkshire Post created on 30 August 2006 8:48 AM