Evonik Expands RESOMER Portfolio to Enhance Quality, Performance of Textile-Based Implantables

Evonik, a global developer of biomaterials for implantable medical devices, has announced the signing of an exclusive global agreement with ITV Denkendorf Produktservice (ITVP), a German-based R&D and manufacturing leader for medical-textile materials.
 
Under the agreement, Evonik will expand its RESOMER portfolio with the launch of a new platform of glycolide-based polymers suitable for the production of monofilaments and multifilaments. The platform enables the development of high-performance, textile-based implantable products that are designed for rapid degradation, such as sutures, meshes, tapes, yarns, foils, scaffolds and vascular closure devices.
 
A range of homo-polymer (PGA), co-polymer (PGLA) and block co-polymer (PGA-CL and PGA-TMC) polymer grades will be available in colorless or violet form within the standard RESOMER catalog. Polymers in the platform can be precisely tailored to match the requirements of the target application both in terms of mechanical properties (tensile strength, low bending stiffness or elasticity) and degradation rates (from less than a month to two months or more). Additional customization options are available upon request.
 
Evonik will leverage its technical capabilities in polymer processing and advanced application laboratories in the United States, Germany, and China, as well as the expertise of ITVP, to support customers in the development, analytical testing and scale-up of their textile-based products.
 
“With this expansion into polymers for textile-based medical devices, Evonik continues to strengthen its position as a preferred global partner for medical device companies. Together with other recently launched biomaterial innovations including PLA-PEG copolymers, filaments for 3D printing and surface modification technologies, our RESOMER portfolio is now the world’s largest and most differentiated portfolio of biomaterials for use across orthopedic, vascular and wound closure applications,” said Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, senior vice president and general manager of the Health Care business line of Evonik.
 
“By leveraging the polymer design and synthesis competencies and application knowhow of both Evonik and ITVP, this agreement will provide medical device companies with a superior selection of functional biomaterials to enhance the quality and performance of their textile-based implantable medical devices,” said Dr. Sven Oberhoffner, general manager of ITVP. “We look forward to building a long-term collaboration with Evonik to address emerging customer needs for implantable devices used in wound closure and soft tissue applications.”
 
The Health Care business line, which is part of the Nutrition & Care segment of Evonik, serves more than 1,000 pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and medical device customers worldwide. Its portfolio of RESOMER bioresorbable polymers, Endexo surface modification technologies, and application technologies services are a core element of the Health & Care growth engine, which helps drive Evonik’s profitable and balanced growth.
 
Evonik develops specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-oriented prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. They are the lever for profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically from its customer proximity and market positions. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2018, the enterprise with more than 32,000 employees generated sales of 13.3 billion euros and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of 2.15 billion euros from continuing operations.