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DiFusion Technologies, Inc. |
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701 Brazos Street
Austin, TX 78701 USA
phone:512 284 3338
fax:
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| Symbol |
Private |
| Founded |
2006 |
| Employees |
4 |
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| difusiontech.com
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| Research Sector |
Medical Devices & Tech |
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| Summary Description |
| Delivery and administration of antibiotic therapy following orthopedic surgical procedures. |
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| Management |
| Derrick Johns, President â CEO and Founder: Has a decade of experience in the orthopedic industry and has launched over a dozen products totaling more than $500 million in annual sales. Mr. Johns has directed development teams at Medtronic, Biomet, and Abbott Spine. He has extensive experience in product development, marketing and sales.
Most recently Mr. Johns managed Thoracolumbar Business Unit ($50 million) at Abbott Spine and oversaw the Sequoia Project, bringing the entire project to market in only 13 months. Sequoia is the largest and most successful product launch Abbott Spineâs history and consisted of a team of 20 individuals in manufacturing engineering, research and development, regulatory, quality engineering, sales and marketing. Abbott Spine was subsequently acquired by Zimmer shortly after the launch of the Sequoia System.
Mr. Johns attended Hamilton College and authored a Senior Thesis Natural Selection and Viral Evolution - 1995, after completing a four year enlistment in the US Marine Corps. Mr. Johns served both in the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington D.C. and as a Squad Leader with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit-Special Operations Capable MEU-SOC in Operation(s) Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Desert Sting.
John Gohde, Executive VP: Mr. Gohde has a decade of experience in the medical device industry managing franchises ranging from $30 million to over $100 million in annual sales at companies including ConMedâLinvatec, Abbott Spine and C.R. Bard. Mr. Gohde has led multiple product development teams and managed a variety of OEM, distributor and supplier relationships. Mr. Gohde has launched multiple products into new and existing markets and has extensive experience in product and platform development, brand management, marketing and sales.
Mr. Gohde received his B.S. from Indiana University. He also earned an M.B.A as well as a Masters Degree in Pharmacology with highest honors simultaneously from Loyola.
Jami Hafiz, MS PhD, Director of Development: Dr. Hafiz has 10 years of experience in the study of scientific coatings and surface modifications. Most recently he led the Combination Technology Group at Minneapolis-based Chameleon Scientific. Here, Dr. Hafiz led complex product development efforts focused on silver antimicrobial coatings for implantable devices. His responsibilities included technical feasibility assessment, design of effective technology roadmaps, cost analysis, project scheduling, resource allocation and personnel management. He was involved in the creation of Device Master Records for FDA 510(k) submission and managed studies characterizing the cell and tissue response of implantable devices modified with proprietary technologies.
Dr. Hafiz has served as a visiting research fellow at CNRS-Orleans in France and the University of Duisberg-Essen in Germany. As a Post Doctoral Researcher he collaborated with Nitto Denko Technical Corporation to design and scale-up a reaction chamber for synthesizing novel nanocrystalline material. He has written or presented more than 20 scientific papers and conference proceedings and has three patents awaiting approval.
Dr. Hafiz received his BS and MS degree from the University of Texas at Austin and PhD from the University of Minnesotaâall in Mechanical Engineering. He received an NSF fellowship for his doctoral dissertation project on the synthesis, characterization and application of nanostructured coatings.
Joe Crudden, PhD MBA, Director of Research: Dr. Crudden is a world leading PhD Physical Chemist. He holds 13 patents in surface chemistry technologies with 8 additional patents pending. He is widely regarded as the leading expert in surface chemistry. As an R&D chemist at AW Chesterton, Groveland, MA, Dr. Crudden worked on the development of thermo set polymer composite systems for industrial maintenance and repair.
As a technical service and applications development chemist at WR Grace, Hampshire Chemical and Dow Chemical, he was responsible for developing technical information and applications expertise to support the use of the companyʹs existing surfactants as well as developing a pipeline of new and innovative surfactant products, some of which were shown to be orders of magnitude safer than existing products. Numerous articles were published globally and several patents were issued both in the US and worldwide.
At Agion Technology Corp, Wakefield MA, Dr Crudden, working as a senior scientist, focused on the controlled release of antimicrobial metal ions from thermo set plastic systems for applications such as self sterilizing flooring systems. He was also responsible for the development of antimicrobial metal/acid/surfactant systems with broad applications in disinfection, sterilization and agricultural pesticides for which several patents have been filed.
Dr. Crudden received his PhD from UCD, (National University of Ireland), where he carried out research on the structure of electrolyte solutions and on the solubilization/dissolution kinetics of oils by surfactant solutions. He holds an MBA from Suffolk University, Boston. |
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| Keywords |
| Infectious Disease, Orthopedics, Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), Spinal Surgery |
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| Description |
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Business Summary: Based in Austin, Texas, DiFUSION is a medical device company focused on the development and implementation of its proprietary CleanFUZE anti-microbial technology for use in orthopedic implants. DiFUSION has identified several groundbreaking applications for this technology and has laid the framework for its successful commercialization through a well defined product roadmap.
Value Proposition: Surgical site infections (SSI's) occur in approximately 6% of surgical procedures in the United States and account for over $30 billion of health care associated costs. Antibiotic resistant bacteria such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been a growing concern with a rising incidence of hospital and community acquired MRSA infections. Pre-clinical testing of DiFUSION's CleanFUZE product showed elimination of 99.9999% of active bacterial colonies including MRSA as well as other common virulent bacterial strains often implicated in SSI's.
Hospital Acquired Infection is the 4th leading cause of death with a higher mortality rate than auto accidents, breast cancer and AIDS combined. HHS Report - 2009
- For surgeons: The ability to use established surgical procedures/techniques and the exact same reimbursement codes while reducing their malpractice exposure
- For hospitals: Secure a substantial dollar savings on future unreimbursed costs attributable to SSI's while reducing exposure to litigation - No Tort Reform.
- For payers: Potential savings related to complications attributable to SSI's
- For Patients: No infection, no second surgery and no long-term IV Antibiotics |
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| Products / Services |
The company has been working on an initial project named CleanFUZE. CleanFUZE is a spinal implant infused with antibiotic elements, allowing for sustained release of antibiotic therapeutic properties over time.
The company has performed lab testing for its CleanFUZE project. The efficacy in its technology in fighting bacterial organisms of E. Coli and S. Aureus was tested. The results show success in controlling bacterial colony formation of both organisms.
The company will be conducting additional tests in 2010, including animal and mechanical tests. The company has developed an animal testing protocol involving implants into animals followed by artificial infection with the bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
The benefits of the company's technology are significant. For both patients and physicians, the company's technology reduces complications following orthopedic surgery and reduces the need for subsequent corrective surgery and long term antibiotic use. For the health care system, the company's technology results in potential savings of billions of dollars by reducing the $30 billion expense in managing bacterial infections following surgery
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| Technology / Differentiation |
| The company's approach is to incorporate antibiotic elements into implants used in orthopedic surgery. The embedded elements approach allows for sustained and controlled release of antibiotic therapeutic properties over a period of weeks following surgery. When coupled with the traditional courses of antibiotics prior to and following surgery, the company's products and technologies in development significantly enhance the patient's ability to fight infections.
The Company has ISSUED Patents which are dominant in this space. |
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| Market / Customers |
The company has targeted the $1 billion dollar spinal interbody market and will expand its offering within orthopedics.
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| Status |
| The Company Seeks a $12 million dollar A Series for Clinical testing and 2010 launch of its Xiphos Posterior Interbody product line. 2011 revenues projected at $7-10 million |
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