Semprus BioSciences Awarded U.S. Army Grant To Develop Anti-Biofilm Endotracheal Tube

LIMERICK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE: TFX), a leading global provider of medical devices for critical care and surgery, has announced that Semprus BioSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated, has been awarded the initial phase of a $2.3 million research grant from the U.S. Army’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), located at Fort Detrick, MD. The award will support research and development of a surface-modified endotracheal tube that combines the Semprus Sustain^™Technology with the delivery of antimicrobials.

“Through the combined materials approach of the Semprus Sustain Technology and antimicrobial drug release, we expect to reduce bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on the surface of endotracheal tubes which should affect the incidence of VAP.”

The research will be conducted at Semprus’ facilities in Cambridge, MA, in conjunction with U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research (USAISR) at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. This award builds upon an initial $1 million TATRC grant awarded to Semprus BioSciences in 2011 to develop the world’s first orthopedic devices designed to reduce biofilm formation.

“We are pleased to be working with the U.S. Army to help resolve a most critical issue affecting our wounded men and women in combat,” said Benson Smith, Chairman, President and CEO of Teleflex. “This award was catalyzed by the U.S. Army’s positive review of data from our prior award, and we are equally hopeful that this collaboration will yield greatly improved clinical outcomes for soldiers, as well as substantial cost savings to the U.S. military and civilian health care systems.”

Patients who require respiratory support are typically connected to a ventilator with an endotracheal tube that is inserted in the throat. In intensive care units (ICUs), where patients are ventilated for extended periods of time, bacterial adherence to the endotracheal tube is considered the first step in developing a lung infection, or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Although VAP is common in civilian hospital ICUs – with rates as high as 16 cases per 1,000 ventilator days – it is a larger problem in combat military hospitals ICUs with 9.7 to 60.6 cases per 1,000 ventilator days. Late-onset VAP is associated with a mortality rate of up to 65% and more than $60,000 in increased cost per patient.

“Bacterial attachment and proliferation on endotracheal tubes is a contributing factor in the occurrence of VAP in ICU patients,” said David L. Lucchino, co-founder and Vice President of Semprus BioSciences. “Through the combined materials approach of the Semprus SustainTechnology and antimicrobial drug release, we expect to reduce bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on the surface of endotracheal tubes which should affect the incidence of VAP.”

About Teleflex Incorporated

Teleflex is a leading global provider of specialty medical devices for a range of procedures in critical care and surgery. Our mission is to provide solutions that enable healthcare providers to improve outcomes and enhance patient and provider safety. Headquartered in Limerick, PA, Teleflex employs approximately 11,100 people worldwide and serves healthcare providers in more than 130 countries. Additional information about Teleflex can be obtained from the company's website at teleflex.com.

About Semprus BioSciences

Semprus BioSciences, (www.semprusbio.com), a biomedical company located in Cambridge, MA, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated specializing in the research and development of innovative approaches to reduce medical device complications. The company’s proprietary Semprus Sustain^™ Technology signifies a breakthrough in medical device technology with its highly non-fouling surface using covalently bonded polymers that coordinate water over the device surface to reduce microbial attachment. Previously a venture-backed company spun out of MIT, Semprus was acquired by Teleflex in 2012.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on our management's current beliefs and expectations, but are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results or company actions to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. These risks and uncertainties are identified and described in more detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

This research and development project is conducted by Semprus BioSciences and is made possible by a cooperative agreement that was awarded and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command (USAMRMC) and the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), at Fort Detrick, MD under Contract Number: W81XWH-12-2-0084