Aroa Biosurgery Limited (formerly Mesynthes Limited) is a regenerative medicine company that develops, manufactures and distributes products for wound healing and soft tissue reconstruction. Aroa Biosurgery is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand with a US office in San Diego, CA, and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: ARX).
The company, originally known as Mesynthes Limited, was founded in 2008 by Veterinarian Surgeon Dr Brian Ward (BVSc). The company develops and commercializes products based on its proprietary ovine forestomach matrix technology platform with products in wound healing (Endoform, Natural, Endoform, Antimicrobial and Symphony) as well as plastics and reconstructive surgery (Myriad Matrix, Myriad Forme, Myriad Morcells, Ovitex PRS) and repair of hernia (Ovitex and Myriad Ultra).
Technology Aroa Biosurgery develops medical devices using its proprietary ovine forestomach matrix (OFM) technology. OFM is a layer of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) biomaterial isolated from the propria submucosa of the rumen of sheep.'Sounds Like Science Fiction': Aroa Biosurgery uses sheep to help humans heal'. 2022. [Retrieved 25 Sep 2023]. Available from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/127888238/sounds-like-science-fiction-aroa-biosurgery-uses-sheep-to-help-humans-healLun, S., et al., A functional extracellular matrix biomaterial derived from ovine forestomach. Biomaterials, 2010. 31(16): p. 4517-29. OFM is used in tissue engineering and as a tissue scaffold for wound healing and surgical applications.
History 2008 – Mesynthes Limited (Wellington, New Zealand) was founded by Brian Ward.Aroa Initial Public Offering Prospectus. 2020 16 March 2023; Available from: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ARX/02257873.pdf. 2008 – First patent of ovine forestomach matrix and reinforced biologics.Ward, B.R., K.D. Johnson, and B.C.H. May, Tissue scaffolds derived from forestomach extracellular matrix, USPTO, Editor. 2008, Mesynthes Ltd.: US. 2009 – Endoform Natural™ cleared by the US FDA for treatment of acute and chronic wounds. 2010 – OFM first described in the scientific literature.Lun, S., et al., A functional extracellular matrix biomaterial derived from ovine forestomach. Biomaterials, 2010. 31(16): p. 4517-29. 2010 – OFM reinforced biologics first described in scientific literature.Floden, E.W., et al., Biophysical characterization of ovine forestomach extracellular matrix biomaterials. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater, 2011. 96(1): p. 67-75. 2011 – Partnership with Hollister Wound Care (Libertyville, IL) to launch and commercialize Endoform Natural™.Aroa Initial Public Offering Prospectus. 2020 16 March 2023; Available from: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ARX/02257873.pdf. 2012 – Partnership with Tela Bio Inc. to commercialize reinforced biologics.Aroa Initial Public Offering Prospectus. 2020 16 March 2023; Available from: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ARX/02257873.pdf. 2013 – OFM reinforced biologics (Ovitex®) cleared by US FDA for hernia repair.Premarket notification, 510(k) : K130547. 2013; Available from: . 2014 – Corporate headquarters relocated from Wellington New Zealand to Auckland New Zealand.Aroa Initial Public Offering Prospectus. 2020 16 March 2023; Available from: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ARX/02257873.pdf.Award Winner Closing Wellington Plant. 2013. [Retrieved 25 Sep 2023]. Available from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/9264202/Award-winner-closing-Wellington-plant 2015 – Company rebrands to Aroa Biosurgery Limited. 2016 – Ovitex® launched in USA in partnership with Tela Bio Inc (Malvern, PA).Aroa Initial Public Offering Prospectus. 2020 16 March 2023; Available from: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ARX/02257873.pdf. 2017 – Endoform Antimicrobial™ cleared by the US FDA.Krause, D. Premarket notification, 510(k) : K172318. 2017 13 Mar 2023; Available from: . 2017 – Myriad Matrix™ cleared by the US FDA.Krause, D. Premarket notification, 510(k) : K153632. 2016; Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf15/K153632.pdf. 2018 – Endoform Antimicrobial™ launched in USA.Aroa Initial Public Offering Prospectus. 2020 16 March 2023; Available from: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ARX/02257873.pdf. 2018 – Aroa Biosurgery establishes a joint venture with Hydrofera LLC (Manchester, CT) to sell products for wound care and plastics and reconstructive surgery. 2018 – Aroa Biosurgery opens first US office (San Diego, California). 2019 – Myriad Matrix™ launched in USA for plastic and reconstructive surgery.Aroa Initial Public Offering Prospectus. 2020 16 March 2023; Available from: https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ARX/02257873.pdf. 2020 – Symphony™ cleared by US FDA.Premarket notification, 510(k) : K200413. 2020; Available from: . 2020 – Aroa Biosurgery lists on the Australian Securities Exchange. 2021 – Joint venture with Hydrofera LLC dissolved and Aroa's direct sales expanded. 2021 – Myriad Morcells™ cleared by US FDA.Liu, L. Premarket notification, 510(k) : K200502. 2021; Available from: . 2021 – Myriad Morcells™ launched in USA for plastic and reconstructive surgery. 2022 – First scientific publication describing novel dead-space management negative pressure system.Mason, I.T.T., et al., Evaluation of Tissue Apposition and Seroma Prevention in an Ovine Model of Surgical Dead Space using a Novel ‘Air-Purged Vacuum Closure’ System. ePlasty, 2022. 2022(22): p. e46. 2023 – Symphony™ launched in USA for advanced wound care.
Awards 2009 – Bayer Innovators Award; awarded by Bayer New Zealand. 2011 – Supreme Award, Endoform by Mesynthes; awarded by Wellington Gold Awards.Rutherford, H. Mesynthes supreme winner at Wellington Gold Awards. 2011 13 March 2023; Available from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/5023299/Mesynthes-supreme-winner-at-Wellington-Gold-Awards. 2014 – Fastest Growing Manufacturer; awarded by Deloitte Fast 50.Listing likely for tissue repair company. 2014 13 March 2023; Available from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10635849/Listing-likely-for-tissue-repair-company. 2015 – New Zealand's Bioscience Company of the Year; awarded by NZBio. 2022 – Most Innovative Dressing or Device, Gold Award; awarded by Journal of Wound Care.Stadler, L. WUWHS – A Hybrid Wound Care Event with a Local Touch in Abu Dhabi. 2022 13 March 2023; Available from: https://blog.smarttrak.com/wuwhs-a-hybrid-event-with-a-local-touch.
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