BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc, of Franklin, Tennessee, announced that it has filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock. The company's first product candidate, GEM 21S®, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of bone loss associated with advanced periodontal disease.

GEM 21S combines the tissue growth factor recombinant human Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (rhPDGF-BB) with the synthetic bone matrix beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). β-TCP physically fills bone defects, providing a biocompatible scaffold or matrix that facilitates new bone formation, while rhPDGF-BB actively promotes the growth of new bone into the treatment site and stimulates cell proliferation to support bone tissue growth. GEM 21S is also under regulatory review in the EU, and BioMimetic expects to receive EU marketing approval during 2006.

BioMimetic's product and product candidates all combine recombinant protein therapeutics with tissue-specific scaffolds to actively stimulate tissue healing and regeneration. The company is developing a family of product candidates for the treatment of specific orthopedic applications, including bone defects, fractures treated with open and closed surgical procedures, and spinal applications, including vertebral compression fractures. The GEM OS product candidates combine rhPDGF-BB with proprietary resorbable bone matrices. BioMimetic is also using its proprietary technology to develop products addressing unmet medical needs in sports injuries, initially targeting cartilage, ligament, and tendon repair and regeneration.

BioMimetic is a developer of bioactive drug-device combination products for the healing of musculoskeletal injuries and disease, including periodontal, orthopedic, spine, and sports injury applications. The company is backed by a strong portfolio of venture capital funds that has provided approximately $52 million to date. Investors include Burrill & Company, San Francisco, California; Novo A/S, Denmark; MB Venture Partners, LLC, Memphis, Tennessee; InterWest Partners, Menlo Park, California; CMEA Ventures, San Francisco, California; Holden Capital, Denver, Colorado; Noro-Moseley Partners, Atlanta, Georgia; PTV Sciences, LP, Houston and Austin, Texas; and Axiom Venture Partners, Hartford, Connecticut.

—A. Techman