R EED O. D INGMAN S OCIETY - Department of Surgery - University ...

In 1980, the US Congress passed the
Bayh-Dole technology-transfer law which
allowed universities and researchers
ownership of
research
breakthroughs
that were
developed on
campuses with
the backing of
federal
funding. This
transfer of
technology
from the
campus to the
marketplace
has been a
financial
windfall for
both the
university and
the
researcher. In
this article we
focus our
attention on
two Dingman
Society
members who
have made this transfer: Ernie Manders
(Promethean LifeSciences) and Riley Rees
(KeraCure).
It is not surprising that the Dingman
Society should promote such entrepreneurial
spirits; founder, Reed O. Dingman designed
the Dingman Mouth Gag which was
manufactured by Dick Sarns, founder of
Sarns-3M (now Terumo). The Dingman
Mouth Gag is still used today for cleft palate
surgery.
Ernie Manders, MD, wife, Sandra and
third son, Christian work in Promethean
LifeSciences. They produce a wound
dressing. The dressing is prepared from
human allograft skin harvested from multiple
organ donors. They process it in such a way
that it can be stored for two years at room
T ECHNOLOGY T RANSFER IN THE D INGMAN S OCIETY
temperature and it is used straight out of the
bag with no preparation. It sticks to the
wound and in two hours you need no over
dressing.
The patient
may bathe in it
and wear
clothes over it.
It lasts typically
from 4 to 8
weeks
depending on
the nature of
the wound.
It has been a
lifesaver in
Afghanistan
and Iraq
where it
traveled with
our Special
Forces and was
used in
treating Iraqi
burn victims.
It is now sold
all over the US
and
Promethean
has a Japanese
partner who will be their Far Eastern
distributor.
From here the company is branching out
to launch a new tissue expander with an
adjustable base. It makes each expander a
custom model because you can make it longer
or shorter and change the angle between the
arms so that it fits the defect of each patient.
This will greatly simplify the challenge of
maintaining an inventory of tissue expanders
because only four sizes will be needed to treat
small to extremely large defects.
Beyond this Promethean has new
technology in the patent offices in the US
and abroad that will be of major importance
for world medicine. They are also filing a
preliminary patent application for a new
means of cancer radiation therapy. In short,
10 R E E D O . D I N G M A N S O C I E T Y
Promethean is booming and the Manders are
enjoying it more every year. The business is
one of the few biotech startups that is selling
product and is actually profitable!
But that is not to say that the road was
easy. Dr. Manders admits; “We have learned a
lot in the process. We could give a heck of a
talk to a business or medical audience. We
have dealt with the FDA, the Federal Courts
(over naked patent infringement), and
foreign businesses and regulatory agencies.
We have been deeply involved in developing
new intellectual property and then protecting
it. We have learned that with a good idea
you can start a business without VC money
and make it a success. We have learned to
budget and sweat, from anxiety and effort,
also! Sometime I hope we get to tell this
story.”
KeraCure, a University of Michigan
start-up, has submitted an investigational
advice exemption to the FDA for approval.
The company, which just completed a pilot
trial with 11 patients, demonstrated successful
healing of diabetic foot ulcers. The company
is prepared to start a multi-center clinical
trial and has applied for approval to treat
approximately 300 patients in 15 centers.
The product, which is a keratinocyte
bandage, will be used to treat diabetic
foot ulcers.
KeraCure, was started five years ago at
the University of Michigan, was founded by
Riley Rees, M.D., a
plastic surgeon who is
the Director of the
University of
Michigan Wound
Care Center. The
company has been
capitalized with $7.6
million and has business
offices in Chicago and a manufacturing site
in Boston. The KeraCure patents are owned
by the University of Michigan will provide
royalties to the Section of Plastic Surgery if
successful.
– Riley S. Rees, M.D.