Hylan & PEG Technology Platforms

Along with our bulk hyaluronan technology platform, Genzyme offers two other biomaterial platforms – our crosslinked hyaluronan, Hylan A & B, and our proprietary PEG-based Focal® material. Both platforms enhance our biomaterials offering and provide our partners with an expanded choice of platform on which to develop their products.

Hylans — Crosslinked Hyaluronan Technology

Hylan A & B are produced by crosslinking the hyaluronan molecule. Hylan A is a water soluble fluid that is slightly cross-linked, with a molecular weight of 4 – 6 million Da. Hylan B is formed by cross-linking Hylan A to give a water insoluble hydrogel which is mechanically strong and has an infinite lattice like structure. Hylans retain the important properties of native hyaluronan – biocompatibile, nonimmunogenic and non-inflammatory.

These properties along with improved physical characteristics, such as higher molecular weight, mean that the hylan technology is applicable for use in many different therapeutic areas including, drug delivery, tissue augmentation, wound healing, adhesion prevention, and viscosupplementation.

Focal® – PEG based hydrogel

Our Focal technology is a synthetic, bioresorbable PEG-based hydrogel. This material is biocompatible, water-soluble, and can be customized for physical properties such as modulus, viscosity, and degradation time.

The Focal macromer consists of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) backbone flanked by repeated biodegradable groups such as lactate and trimethylene carbonate. The macromer is terminated with acrylic esters on each end that cross-link when the macromer is polymerized. The polymer is designed to degrade by a process of hydrolysis over a 3 to 24 year month time-frame, depending on the application.

Established and potential applications for our Focal Technology platform include:

Drug & cell delivery Bone regeneration Tissue engineering scaffolds Tissue adhesives

Tissue sealant Site marking Coatings for medical devices

The Focal material has been shown to be compatible with small molecules, proteins, genes, and other factors.

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