Company Profile
M.M.A. Tech Ltd. has developed an Acetabular liner for hip replacement arthroplasty procedures made of Polyimide MP1™ to overcome the life span problems often encountered by total arthroplasty hip surgery patients.
Common complications are bone resorption and a shifting of the implant from its original position due to wear and debris from the polyethylene in use today.
The MP1™ Acetabular liner has received CE approval and M.M.A. Tech Ltd is ISO 13485 certified since October 2011.
M.M.A. Tech Ltd. is conducting a 3rd clinical study of 100 patients in New Zealand. M.M.A. Tech Ltd established a contract with a leading orthopedic company in Europe.
M.M.A. Tech Ltd. is initiating a new clinical study of 15 patients in Israel, which is already registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH no. NCT02503891). The results of the clinical study will serve as a pilot for the FDA approval.
M.M.A. Tech Ltd. submitted a Master File of MP1™ for the FDA which was accepted under the No. MAF 2543 on October 2014.
MARKET:
Worldwide distribution of the total joint replacement implant (joint venture with an orthopedic company using MP-1™ liner and also in future MP-1™ femoral ball).
- Joint replacement implant market exceeded $26.8B By 2015
- 285,000 Total Hip Replacements (THR) performed in the United States in 2012 and 570,000 THR in Europe in 2008 with CAGR of 6%
- Unit price to the consumer is approximately US $7,000 – 13,000 per knee implant and $10,000-12,000 per hip implant. (Source: Global Market Information Database)
- Market growth is offset by decreasing of unit price. In this market, better implant material produces competitive advantage.
TECHNOLOGY :
Use of the innovative, high performance, self-lubricating polymer MP-1™
Use of the innovative MP-1™ will allow:
- Much longer life spans for articulating implant.
- Better quality of life for patients with fewer post-surgical complications
- Greater flexibility in implant design
- Ability to treat younger patients
MP1™ is preferable to existing materials used in articulating artificial joints; however, its cost is average compared to most existing products. MP1™ is tougher than metal, wears less than UHMWPE, and has higher fracture toughness than ceramics. Other advantages include a modulus close to bone, low density, resistance to cold flow (creep), wear and fatigue, low friction and chemical inertness, surpassing cross-linked UHMWPE.
Fluid analysis of particles after Hip Simulator test shows that the MP1™ is not releasing fine, submicron particles which are the main reason for failure of orthopedic joint implants due to the inflammatory process evoked by these particles resulting in bone absorption.
CLINICAL:
Full scale clinical study of 100 new cases with strategic partner was initiated in January 2013. During the last year 74 Total Hip Replacement surgeries using MP-1™ liners were conducted in the University of Otago-Hospital (Christchurch), New Zealand. Recruitment is estimated to finalize during 2018.
The full-scale clinical study was based on two preliminary pilot cases:
In November 2006 the first patient was implanted with MP-1™ liner and discharged from the hospital three days after surgery walking on her operated leg.
Follow-up of 12 years showed excellent results.
A second surgery was conducted in September 2007 Patient returned to normal activities. Follow-up of 6 years showed excellent results.
This 2nd patient died after 6.5 years from heart failure not connected to the hip implant. He agreed to have histology. The results showed: no osteolysis, no osteoclasts, no measurable wear. The soft tissues around the hip were very bland without fibrosis or reactive macrophages. The CT scan of the specimen showed: no osteolysis even through the cup screw holes. The MP-1™ liner and the ceramic femoral ball showed no scratches or wear and looked like new.
To date, all 74 patients are healthy and gain good quality of life.
A continuing clinical trial in a second medical center began on September 2017 in Rambam Medical Center (Haifa Israel) with 15 patients.
Future M.M.A. Tech products will address the need of knee and other joint replacement parts such as ankle, shoulder, trauma and spinal. Other applications fit in the cardiovascular area: such as pacemakers, heart valves, coronary stents, etc.
M.M.A. TECH also has the capabilities to adjust its polymer formulation as per the requirements of the application.
Intellectual Property
Material composition of the MP-1™ is a trade secret which has been developed by an outsourcing manufacturer in the US for non-medical applications. M.M.A.TECH received exclusive rights from the manufacturer for its medical applications.
M.M.A.TECH IP (USP 6686437) was approved in 2004 and covers all medical applications of the MP-1™ material.
Founding the company
The clinical experience in Israel spans over 50 years and we have learned that every solution and upgrading in the orthopedic field encounters problems and pitfalls that get uncovered the longer and more experience we gain.
Therefore, research in bio-materials and body tissues reaction to deterioration of materials is an intimate part of researchers studies to address the challenge of a better biomaterial at MMA Tech Ltd.
MMA Tech was founded by five scientists: Alisa Buchman (M.Sc.), Simha Sibony (M.Sc.), Prof David G. Mendes, Dr. Rob Bryant and Dr. Ray Payne and developed a new bio-material called MP-1™.
M.M.A. Tech was founded within the framework of Yozmot Ha’emek Technological Incubator in Migdal Haemek, Israel. Since then MMA-Tech is an independent company situated in Naharya, Israel.
Number of employees: 8
Types of customers: OEM of orthopedic implants
Desired cooperation: strategic partnerships.
Main export markets: US, Europe and APAC
Standards and regulations: CE Class IIb Blue Book approved, G95-1 and ISO 10993-1 (biocompatibility requirements) approved, FDA- 510K.
Founders short background:
CEO: Simha Sibony, M.Sc. – Biomedical Engineer in the field of biomaterials, expert in biocompatibility testing of medical devices and GMP/QSR/FDA / CE regulations.
CTO: Alisa Buchman, M.Sc. – Materials Engineer and Chemist in the field of polymers, expert in adhesion science, durability, failure analysis, Non Destructive evaluation and polymer Testing.
Scientific Advisor: Robert G. Bryant, Ph.D. – Senior Polymer Scientist, expert in polymer synthesis and applications.
Medical Advisor: G. Raymond Payne III, M.D., F.A.A.O.S., and F.A.A.H.C.S. – Director Clinical Professor of Orthopedics, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Medical Advisor: David G. Mendes, M.D.- Director, former director center of Implant Surgery and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bnai Zion Medical Center – Haifa, Israel.
Start-up: Yes
E-mail: info@mma-tech.com