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About 4D Medicine Limited
4D Medicine limited is the parent company to two wholly owned subsidiaries, each with specific functions in the research, development and commercialisation of new resorbable biomaterials and implantable medical devices that help people heal.
Core Technology
The 4D Group’s technology platform is centred around 4Degra®, a patent protected resorbable photocurable resin based on unique polycarbonate urethane chemistry. A result of 15 years rigorous academic research in leading U.K. universities, 4Degra® promises to free resorbable medical device design from historic constraints and overcome the clinical performance issues of current material options.
Issues with current resorbable biomaterials
Resorbable biomaterials haven’t changed significantly for decades. Although widely used in implantable medical devices, materials such as Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polycaprolactone (PCL), Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) and their derivatives have delivered sub-optimal clinical performance with several key issues having been identified.
Brittle biodegradable materials result in early device failure
Poor degradation profiles lead to bulk erosion & fragmentation
Degradation by-products cause pain & local inflammatory response
Design constraints lead to compromised device geometries
4Degra® Summary
4Degra® is a resorbable biomaterial suited to a wide range of implantable medical device applications. It is a photocurable resin that can be processed into the finished device form by 3D printing, casting or conversion into thin films or meshes.
Capable of creating devices that range from soft and flexible to strong and rigid, 4Degra® resins are all formulated with 4D Biomaterials® unique polycarbonate-urethane chemistry. Resulting in much lower foreign body response, 4Degra® has been shown to promote significantly faster tissue healing than established bioresorbable polymers.
Softer grades of 4Degra® exhibit excellent shape memory response, making them ideally suited for the manufacture of minimally invasive surgical devices including meshes, stents, films, and soft tissue scaffolds. Harder formulations are suited to more mechanically demanding uses such as trauma fixation plates, pins, screws, and load-bearing bone regeneration scaffolds.
4Degra is a novel patent-protected platform technology and the ONLY route to 3D-printing high resolution resorbable medical devices
Excellent 3D printing resolution that enables the manufacture of otherwise impossible devices
Biodegradable, bioresorbable & biocompatible
Highly tunable in strength, elasticity & biodegradability
Excellent shape memory properties
- Available in a range of formulations tailored to specific medical applications.
- Predictable device resorption via surface erosion.
- Superior material biocompatibility.
- Shape memory capability enables smarter device designs.
- Flexible manufacturing processes – 3D printing, casting and coating.
4Degra® Potential Applications
Current Regulatory Status
4D is initially targeting the world’s largest medical device market, the USA, and is currently working toward regulatory clearance of a primary de-risking medical device that will confirm the acceptability of the 4Degra® material for medical device applications.
- US FDA 510(k) pathway and submission strategy for primary de-risking device confirmed following Q-Sub meeting with the US FDA.
- US FDA 510(k) submission for primary de-risking device anticipated Q2/2025.
- ISO-10993 (material biocompatibility and safety) testing ongoing – completion anticipated Q3/2024.
- 4D is undertaking pre-clinical large animal studies to augment regulatory submissions. Early data (on file) is positive and supportive of material performance claims.
- 4D intends to lodge a Medical Device Master File (MAF) with the US FDA for use by strategic partners selecting 4Degra® as their resorbable material of choice.
Strategic Partnerships
4D plans to drive biomaterial innovation into the medical device market and improve patient outcomes in collaboration with dynamic industry partners. By combining our proprietary materials and resorbable device design know-how with the market insight and commercial reach of established or emerging market players, we can deliver the next generation of implantable resorbable devices across a multitude of medical applications.
4Degra® offers several advantages to potential strategic partners:
- An enabling material for device innovation that unlocks previously impossible designs.
- A novel material that demonstrates performance superiority over existing resorbable material options.
- Rapid prototyping and design iteration flexibility.
- Low capital investment manufacturing using commercially available hardware.
- High volume in-house manufacturing potential in a compact footprint.
Our Management Team
Tom Buckland
Board Chairperson
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Phil Smith
Chief Executive Officer
With over 35 years’ experience in the engineering and materials industries and a track record of delivering fast business growth in a diverse range of start-ups, Phil is playing a key role in shaping 4D Medicine’s strategy and driving the business forward. Previous start-up roles include CEO at Interface Polymers, a polymer additive spin-out from the University of Warwick and Managing Director at a precision instrument spin-out from Cranfield University, majority owned by a FTSE 100 company. Between those appointments, Phil enjoyed a total of 12 years working as an independent consultant and a business development specialist with Warwick Ventures. Phil initially trained as an Engineering Technician in the aerospace instrumentation sector and became a Chartered Engineer in the late 90’s. Throughout his career, Phil has been excited by innovation and the satisfaction of working closely with customers to disrupt markets that are ready for change. Phil has an MBA (with distinction) from Warwick Business School, a BSc Hons in Materials Science and Technology from Brunel University and a Higher National Certificate in Mechanical and Production Engineering.
Dr. Andrew Dove
Chief Scientific Officer
Professor Andrew Dove is a world-expert in degradable biomaterials/polymers at the School of Chemistry in the University of Birmingham. The creation of 4D Medicine Ltd was the culmination of over 12 years’ research and Andrew is determined to see his novel materials technology translated into a commercial success, delivering better treatment experiences and outcomes for medical patients across the globe. In his part-time role as a Director and CSO, Andrew continues to provide vital scientific guidance and support to the company. Andrew graduated from the University of York with an M.Chem. degree in 1999 and he gained his subsequent Ph.D. at Imperial College, London. Andrew undertook post-doctoral research at Stanford University, California and then as a post-doctoral fellow at IBM, San Jose, California. Andrew returned to the UK in 2006 and was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick, rising to Associate Professor in 2009 and Full Professor in 2014. In January 2018, Andrew joined the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham as Professor of Chemistry.
Dr. Andrew Naylor
Chief Operating Officer
Dr Andrew Naylor has over 15 years’ experience in research and development at the interface between academia and industry. With a strong track record of taking new technologies from spin-out to market, developing quality management systems and securing substantial grant funding from UK and international sources, Andrew brings valuable commercial R+D management talent to the team. As head of R+D operations, Andrew leads our product and process development activities and manages the company’s laboratory at MediCity in Nottingham. Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Nottingham.
Tim O’Connell
Financial Accountant
Tim O’Connell is our part-time Chief Financial Officer. A Chartered Accountant, who for 20 years held senior executive roles in the computer games industry seeing different facets of Publishing, Development and Distribution, thereby gaining experience in a wide range of operational disciplines. Tim helped grow companies including one group as FD from 10 employees to 300 and flotation and ultimate sale. He was responsible for opening a number of international offices/joint ventures and helped acquire/sell companies and close non-performing ones. Tim also gained considerable experience with legal contracts, commercial and corporate including IP. Since setting up a consultancy in 2003, Tim has helped mentor and develop business and strategic plans for a number of start-up and early growth companies, helping raise finance through equity, debt and grants. Tim also works with VC’s/Angels.
Dr. Phil Reeves
3D Printing Business Strategist and Consultant
Dr Phil Reeves is a leading consultant on Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing (AM/3DP) business strategy and technology investment. Phil has worked in the field of AM/3DP for over 25-years, having gained a PhD in the subject from Nottingham University (UK) in the mid-1990s. In 2003 Phil founded global AM/3DP consulting firm Econolyst Ltd which was acquired by Stratasys in 2015. Between 2015 and 2018 Phil was global Vice President of consulting at Stratasys, the world’s largest 3D Printing technology vendor & service provider. Phil is now the managing director at Reeves Insight Ltd, where he advises clients across the AM/3DP ecosystem, from user and vendors to investors and governments.
Rick Leach
Medical Device Consultant
Rick Leach is a medical device industry veteran whose international career spans more than thirty years in senior commercial roles within medical technology start-ups and multinational blue-chip companies. He has worked in Europe and the U.S.A. for companies such as Baxter Healthcare, IsoTis Orthobiologics, Integra Life Sciences and Bonesupport. Rick’s core technology focus has been on implantable medical devices, biomaterials and regenerative therapies for musculoskeletal indications. In 2019, Rick co-founded Callisto Life Science Partners Ltd, a medical device consultancy that advises universities and early-stage companies on global go-to-market strategies. Rick is an elected Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Nick Jenkinson
Financial/Commercial Analyst
Nick is a Chartered Accountant with ten years experience in roles advising clients across a range of industries including financial services, retail, construction, manufacturing and public sector. Nick has been invited in the successful turnaround and restructuring of multiple UK high street brands and more recently helped accelerate the growth of several startups and UK SMEs. Nick is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and also holds the Certificate in Insolvency.