About BioMers
BioMers Products, LLC is located in Naples, Florida. The company is engaged in developing novel polymer composite products for numerous biomedical applications. While orthodontics is the immediate application area, dentistry and orthopedics are also application targets for this innovative and patent pending technology.
The company’s first products are patent pending translucent arch wires and retainer wires for the orthodontic and general dentistry treatment market. Aside from being nearly invisible, the arch wires have the necessary mechanical properties to straighten teeth more quickly and effectively than most orthodontic treatment alternatives.
BioMers has developed the only translucent arch wire and retainer wire using a novel patent pending fiber-reinforced polymer composite fabrication process. The flexibility of the fabrication process allows wires of differing strength and stiffness to be manufactured, thus meeting the requirements of the three distinct stages of orthodontic treatment.
The intellectual property underlying BioMers products are protected through patents that are pending. Patents have been filed in the United States, Canada, Europe (EPO) and Singapore. BioMers has worldwide exclusive licensing rights to these patents from the National University of Singapore.
Currently, 22.5 million people worldwide seek orthodontic treatment. The United States is one-fifth of this market or 4.6 million people are in orthodontic treatment annually. 22% of the United States market (1.0 million people annually) has adopted aesthetic orthodontic solutions, which is BioMers initial target market.
The aesthetic orthodontic market consists of different types of translucent brackets. However, the market does not have a translucent arch wire for these aesthetic bracket systems, which would complete the total orthodontic aesthetic bracket system. A translucent retainer wire is not available from any company other than BioMers.
The limitations of present aesthetic alternatives to metal braces result in an unfulfilled market demand for an aesthetic solution that is applicable to all degrees of malocclusion, can be easily adopted by the orthodontist without special training and has the necessary mechanical properties to straighten teeth.
BioMers has successfully developed THAT SOLUTION. The BioMers translucent arch wires are the first arch wires that have the necessary mechanical properties to straighten teeth and are nearly invisible. The arch wire is targeted for market introduction in the first quarter of 2008. The Astics™ retainer wire is available in some markets now.
Feedback from product evaluations has overwhelmingly been positive. In total, thirty orthodontists in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore have participated in individual interviews. Comments were - "Great aesthetics. how soon can I put it on my patients"; "I'm really impressed by the aesthetic quality"; and "I can’t believe how strong and light it is"
A second clinical trial has started at a major U.S. orthodontic school. The endpoint of this clinical trial will be to measure the movement of teeth with the BioMers arch wire. A clinical trial is underway for the BioMers Astics™ Retainer wire as well.
Executive Management:
The company has a highly experienced management team. The Chief Executive Officer has successfully brought to market and implemented exit strategies for seven private and public healthcare companies during his thirty years of management. The Founders have strong technical knowledge and experience in technology commercialization. Their combined experiences include more than ten years in polymer composite fabrication, twenty years in the biomedical sector and eight years in executive management with technology companies.
Randall J. Wall
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mr. Wall is a senior corporate executive with 30 years of experience with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, International Medications Systems, Limited, Cima Labs, Inc. and Cell Separation Technologies, LLC. Mr. Wall served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cima Labs, Inc., a public company specializing in drug delivery systems based on proprietary technology where he led a successful IPO. Prior to joining Cima Labs, Inc., Mr. Wall was President and Chief Executive Officer of International Medication Systems, Ltd., an integrated manufacturer of disposable medication systems, generic drugs and a proprietary drug. Preceding his term at IMS, Mr. Wall was President of Unitek Corporation, the largest orthodontic company in the United States, and also of Pelton & Crane Company, a leading manufacturer of dental equipment, both subsidiaries of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Dr. Mervyn Fathianathan
Consultant
Founder and Director
Dr. Fathianathan is an Assistant Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a former Chevening Technology Enterprise Scholarship Fellow, a prestigious fellowship awarded to undertake technology commercialization in the United Kingdom. As part of the fellowship, Dr. Fathianathan has undergone intensive training at the London Business School, Imperial College and University of Cambridge in managing technology based spin off companies. He was also actively involved in commercializing technology developed in the United Kingdom. Dr. Fathianathan holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the National University of Singapore.
George Aliphtiras
Vice President, Operations
Founder and Director
Mr. Aliphtiras is a former Chevening Technology Enterprise Scholarship Fellow at the University of Oxford and London Business School. Mr. Aliphtiras held several sales and marketing positions in the biotechnology sector. Mr. Aliphtiras played an integral role in commercializing technology from two University of British Columbia spin-off companies, gained expertise in FDA regulations, as well as established research collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies such as Roche and Icagen, Inc. He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of British Columbia.
Renuga Gopal
Vice President, Product Development
Founder
Ms. Gopal has extensive experience in polymer composite fabrication technology. She is the principal inventor of the BioMers technology, has published articles in the leading journals in the field and won awards for her research efforts in polymer composite fabrication. Ms. Gopal obtained a B.Eng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and an M.Eng in Bioengineering from the National University of Singapore in 2001 and 2004 respectively. She is a Ph.D.candidate in mechanical engineering at the same university.
Non-Executive Directors and Scientific Advisory Board Members:
Dr. Douglas Goldsmith
Chief Emeritus of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
White Plains Hospital and Medical Center
Private practice in Scarsdale, New York
Dr. Goldsmith graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry and completed his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Montefiore Hospital in New York. He went on to complete a fellowship in the surgical treatment of dentofacial deformities at John Peter Smith Hospital. He returned to New York and began teaching at Montefiore Hospital in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Goldsmith was also a member of the Center for Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalities at Montefiore Hospital. Dr. Goldsmith has published over 30 articles in the medical and dental literature and authored chapters in six textbooks. He has also lectured nationally and internationally on topics such as the correction of dentofacial deformities, facial reconstruction and implant dentistry.
Dr. Laurance Jerrold
Dean, School of Orthodontics
Program Director, Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics
Jacksonville University, Dental School of Orthodontics
Jacksonville, Florida
Dr. Jerrold graduated from the New York University College of Dentistry. He completed his general practice residency at the Jewish Hospital and Medical Center of Brooklyn. He went on to complete a degree in law from Touro College School of Law. He was Program Director—Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics at New York University College of Dentistry and at St. Barnabas Hospital. Dr. Jerrold was in private practice in orthodontics twenty years in New York. Dr. Jerrold has published over 20 clinical articles and over 150 dento-legal articles.