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Nano Dimension to Form a 3D Bio-Printing Subsidiary to Focus on Kidney Diseases
Feb. 13, 2017 07:45AM PST
Emerging Technology
Nano Dimension (TASE:NNDM,NASDAQ:NNDM), announced today that it intends to create a platform for 3D bio-printing of cells and connective tissues to form biological structures that function as human kidneys. After conducting market research into applications of the company’s technology to the field of 3D bio-printing, the company has chosen to focus primarily on solutions for end stage renal disease (“ESRD”), which leads to kidney failure.
Nano Dimension (TASE:NNDM,NASDAQ:NNDM), announced today that it intends to create a platform for 3D bio-printing of cells and connective tissues to form biological structures that function as human kidneys. After conducting market research into applications of the company’s technology to the field of 3D bio-printing, the company has chosen to focus primarily on solutions for end stage renal disease (“ESRD”), which leads to kidney failure.
“We believe that our high-end 3D printing capabilities, together with our expertise in nano-chemistry and advanced materials, provide significant added value to the promising field of bio-printing,” said Amit Dror, CEO of Nano Dimension. “We look forward to bringing our know how and IP in multi-material 3D printing, and integrating it into the emerging world of 3D bio-printing. We believe that a bio-printing platform with these advantages has the potential to enable the creation of very complex biological structures.”
As previously announced, the company intends to advance its 3D bio-printing initiative through a new subsidiary. The subsidiary will seek separate funding, distinct from Nano Dimension’s activity in the field of printed electronics. The company will provide further details regarding the formation of the new subsidiary as such information becomes available.
According to the United States Renal Data System, Medicare fees for ESRD services in the U.S. reached $32.8 billion, rising by 3.3% between 2013 and 2014. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reported that the U.S. kidney transplant waiting list continues to grow and currently has approximately 98,000 candidates, but only 19,000 kidney transplants were performed in 2016. Accordingly, the active waiting list is more than five times greater than the number of available donor kidneys. Furthermore, according to a Milliman research report from December 2014, the average cost of kidney transplantation is $334,000.
To the best of the company’s knowledge, existing solutions for tissue printing have significant barriers to creating tissues that mimic complex kidney tissue functionality. Nano Dimension previously demonstrated a successful proof of concept by 3D bio-printing tissue with stem cells, and has filed a patent application for its bio-printing technology.
About Nano Dimension Ltd.
Nano Dimension, founded in 2012, focuses on development of advanced 3D printed electronics systems and advanced additive manufacturing. Nano Dimension’s unique products combine three advanced technologies: 3D inkjet, 3D software, and nanomaterials. The company’s primary products include the first 3D printer dedicated to printing multi-layer PCBs (printed circuit boards), and advanced nanotechnology-based conductive and dielectric inks.
In addition to the trading of the company’s American Depositary Shares on NASDAQ, the company’s ordinary shares are also traded on the TASE in Israel. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the depositary for Nano Dimension.