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ACell is a biotechnology company based in Maryland, United States. The company works in regenerative medicine, in which it owns several extracellular matrix patents.[1] ACell develops, manufactures and markets products for medical and veterinary applications.[2] The company was founded by Alan R. Spievack, a former associate professor at Harvard Medical School and is currently run by Patrick A. McBrayer.[3][4]
ACell's extracellular matrix (ECM) is derived from the lamina propria and basement membrane of a porcine Urinary Bladder Matrix (UBM).[5] The lamina propria acts as a scaffold for cell infiltration while the basement membrane encourages the growth of site-specific tissue as the UBM resorbs. The UBM is offered in both sheet and powder form. The powder form is sold under the brand name of MicroMatrix. The company offers products for wound management (Cytal and MicroMatrix), hernia repair (Gentrix) and Pelvic Organ Prolapse repair (Pelvic Floor Matrix).
Over 100 papers have been published related to the use of ACell's MatriStem UBM.
ACell's use of porcine cellular structure, called MatriStem, as a scaffold for human tissue regeneration was named the "medical breakthrough of the year" by Esquire.[6] The claim that pig bladder ground up into "magical pixie dust" was used to regrow Spievak's brother's finger received considerable mainstream coverage.[7][8] Simon Kay, professor of hand surgery at the University of Leeds, was critical of the claims, and told The Guardian that "There's no clinical evidence to support the claims" and that they are junk science.[9] Ken Muneoka of Tulane University, who works with ACell's scientific advisors on US-government funded investigations into regenerative medicine, said that the news should be viewed with caution because it was not a controlled study.[6]
In January 2021, Integra LifeSciences, a regenerative medicine and surgical instrument company, acquired the ACell for $400 million.[10]
References
edit- ^ "ACell wins extracellular matrix patent battle initiated by Cook Biotech and Purdue". BIOTECH Patent News (August 2006). August 1, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
- ^ "Acell Inc. completes $6M round of financing". Daily Record. Scotland. March 23, 2004. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
- ^ "ACell, Inc. Names Patrick McBrayer Chief Executive Officer" (Press release).
- ^ "Reborn, ACell enters medical wound healing". Maryland Gazette. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
- ^ "Integra (IART) Acquires Acell, Focuses on Regenerative Space". NASDAQ. January 21, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
- ^ a b "No. 3: Medical Breakthrough of the Year". Esquire. Archived from the original on May 8, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
- ^ "Man regrew finger - with pig powder?". Daily News. New York. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
- ^ Price, Matthew (April 30, 2008). "The man who grew a finger". BBC. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
- ^ Batty, David (May 1, 2008). "Regrown finger is 'junk science'". The Guardian. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ "Integra (IART) Acquires Acell, Focuses on Regenerative Space". NASDAQ. January 21, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.