Bayer MaterialScience Aquires PolyBioMed

Bayer MaterialScience has entered into an agreement to acquire PolyBioMed based in Sheffield, UK, thereby expanding its product portfolio for medical technology PolyBioMed, a subsidiary of Lombard Medical Technologies which provides polymer coatings, surface treatments and biomaterials to the medical device industry.

Reportedly, the acquisition gives Bayer MaterialScience access to application areas such as coronary drug-eluting stents plus catheter systems for interventional cardiology, urology and neurology. The aim is to provide innovative materials which can enhance design, manufacturing and end-use performance for a variety of medical devices.

Bayer MaterialScience is looking to further develop its own polyurethane-based hydrophilic coatings for medical devices with PolyBioMed's technologies to offer an extended portfolio of permanent and biodegradable surface modification techniques.

Hans-Wilhelm Engels, senior vice president, coatings, adhesives and specialties at Bayer MaterialScience, said: "This acquisition complements our existing portfolio of coatings technologies for the medical device industry and offers us a significant foothold in this large and growing segment. We will be investing further in coatings application and testing facilities which will significantly expand our services to customers."

Michael Mager, head of medical coatings and adhesives at Bayer MaterialScience, says: "Acquiring PolyBioMed's coatings and surface treatment technologies will allow us to address unmet needs such as improved coatings adhesion on plastics or metal surfaces used in many medical devices."