Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness 
Tue, December 16, 2008
Mon, December 15, 2008
RTI Biologics, ENTrigue Surgical Announce Development and Supply Agreement For Tutoplast -Processed Tissues
ALACHUA, Fla.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ RTI Biologics, Inc. (RTI) ] (Nasdaq:RTIX), the Florida-based processor of orthopedic, dental, hernia and other biologic implants, announced today that it has signed an agreement to provide biologic implants to [ ENTrigue Surgical, Inc. ], the Texas-based manufacturer of medical devices and instrumentation for the surgical treatment of conditions of the ear, nose and throat (ENT).
Under the agreement, which is effective immediately, RTI Biologics will process soft tissue allograft and xenograft implants to help patients in ENT applications for distribution by ENTrigue. Long term, the two companies will co-develop novel biologic solutions for ENTrigue's surgeons and patients.
"We are pleased to offer biologic membrane tissues for ear, nose and throat applications through ENTrigue," said Brian K. Hutchison, RTI Biologic's chairman and chief executive officer. "We felt that ENTrigue was the right distributor for us in this market – ENTrigue's management team has well over 100 years of collective experience and success in the ENT surgical market and, like RTI, places an emphasis on innovative solutions for surgeons and patients. Working together, ENTrigue and RTI can bring biologic alternatives to patients while working to maximize each gift of donated tissue."
Fred Dinger, president and chief executive officer of ENTrigue Surgical commented, "Biological implants are emerging as a significant therapy platform in Otolaryngology, and RTI is at the forefront of innovation and safety in the field of biologics. We are very excited to embark on this partnership and foresee tremendous opportunity for developing unique biological solutions for ENT surgery."
About ENTrigue Surgical
ENTrigue Surgical is a privately held medical device company formed with the objective of innovating and delivering next generation devices and therapies for the ENT operating room and office. Products from ENTrigue Surgical focus on enhancing surgical access for increased functionality and precision. Unique to the industry, ENTrigue Surgical is also developing a new class of clinically proven bioabsorbable and biologic implants designed to simplify surgical procedures and improve healing. The company's website address is [ www.entriguesurgical.com ].
About RTI Biologics, Inc.
RTI Biologics, Inc. was formed when Regeneration Technologies, Inc. and Tutogen Medical, Inc. merged on Feb. 27, 2008. The company is now the leading provider of sterile biological implants for surgeries around the world with a commitment to advancing science, safety and innovation. RTI prepares human donated tissue and bovine tissue for transplantation through extensive testing and screening, precision shaping and proprietary, validated sterilization processes. These allograft and xenograft implants are used in orthopedic, dental, hernia and other specialty surgeries.
RTI's innovations continuously raise the bar of science and safety for biologics—from being the first company to offer precision-tooled bone implants and assembled technology to maximize each gift of donation, to inventing fully validated sterilization processes that include viral inactivation steps. Two such processes, the [ BioCleanse® Tissue Sterilization Process ] and the [ Tutoplast® process ], sterilize tissue, are clinically successful and are scientifically proven to eliminate donor-to-recipient disease transmission risk while preserving tissue strength and biocompatibility. These processes have a proven record of more than two million implants distributed with zero incidence of infection. In addition, RTI pastes are sterilized through the [ demineralization process ], a validated viral inactivation step.
The company is leading the evolution of biologics once again by offering a [ bovine based biological matrix ], providing surgeons an expanded supply of safe, sterile tissue for their patients.
RTI's worldwide corporate headquarters are located in Alachua, Fla., with international facilities in Neunkirchen, Germany, and Aix-en-Provence, France. The company is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks.
Forward Looking Statement
This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include but are not limited to statements about the expected benefits of the business combination involving RTI and Tutogen, including potential synergies and cost savings, future financial and operating results, and the combined company's plans and objectives. In addition, except for historical information, any statements made in this communication about anticipated financial results, growth rates, new product introductions, future operational improvements and results, regulatory approvals or changes to agreements with distributors also are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the ability of RTI to integrate its business successfully and to realize the expected synergies and cost savings from the merger and the risks described in public filings on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results reflected in these forward-looking statements. Copies of the company's SEC filings may be obtained by contacting the company or the SEC or by visiting RTI's Web site at [ www.rtix.com ] or the SEC's Web site at [ www.sec.gov ].