FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Biomerix Corporation, a medical technologies company developing and manufacturing innovative regenerative medicine biomaterials, and Synthecon, a leading biotechnology company specializing in the design and manufacturing of rotating cell culture systems, today announced a strategic distribution agreement for three-dimensional cell culture scaffolds developed using Biomerix Corporation's unique biomaterial technology.

The Biomerix 3D Scaffold is a medical grade biomaterial that embodies a novel microarchitecture, consisting of an interconnected three dimensional network of cells and pores designed to support tissue ingrowth and biointegration. Used in concert with Synthecon's bioreactors, the 3D Scaffold serves as an ideal technology to create an environment conducive to the growth of cells and tissues. Under the agreement, Biomerix will develop and manufacture the Biomerix 3D Scaffold, which Synthecon will market and sell nationwide for research applications. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Synthecon investigators have had excellent results using this material in its Rotary bioreactors to create 3-D cell cultures. Synthecon is currently utilizing the Biomerix 3-D Scaffold in an NIH-funded project to scale-up production of hematopoietic stem cells. The fact that Biomerix 3-D Scaffold is already approved for human use and is very compatible with the Rotary Cell Culture System gives us a high degree of confidence that the combination of these two technologies will lead to many exciting applications in the field of tissue engineering," commented Bill Anderson, CEO of Synthecon.

"Partnering with Synthecon allows us to be on the forefront of regenerative medicine and represents a significant growth opportunity for our Company," said Kenneth Hayes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Biomerix Corporation. "Synthecon is well respected as a leader in 3D cell culture systems and we look forward to a productive partnership," he concluded.

About Biomerix Corporation
Biomerix Corporation develops and manufactures novel materials for the medical, industrial, and consumer markets. The Company has successfully developed its first biomaterial platform, the Biomerix Biomaterial™, which is a non-resorbable, polycarbonate polyurethane-urea scaffold that has been shown to support fibrovascular tissue in-growth in a wide range of preclinical studies. The Biomerix Biomaterial has received U.S. FDA clearance for vascular, orthopedic, and soft tissue repair applications.

For more information please call 888.308.3620 or visit www.biomerix.com

About Synthecon Inc.
Synthecon designs and manufactures rotating bioreactors used in cell culture and tissue engineering applications. In addition to being recognized as a "Fast Tech Fifty" company, Synthecon was a previous recipient of the "R&D 100" award for its technology. Originally based on a license from NASA for the rotating wall bioreactor, Synthecon has gone on to design and patent numerous innovations to the basic technology. Marketed under the trademark Rotary Cell Culture System™, Synthecon bioreactors are recognized in several hundred peer-reviewed scientific publications to be a leader in growing three-dimensional human tissue analogs.

For more information please call 800-853-074 or visit www.synthecon.com