Innocoll Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on biodegradable surgical implants and topically applied healthcare products, has entered into a license and distribution agreement with Merus Labs Inc. in Canada for CollaGUARD surgical adhesion barrier for the prevention of postoperative adhesions following abdominal and pelvic surgery.

Dr Michael Myers, president and CEO stated, “We are pleased to announce the expansion of our partnership with Merus to include CollaGUARD and we look forward to the successful launch of the product in Canada.”

Ali Moghaddam, vice president at Merus Labs added, “Adhesions occur after most surgical procedures, and are of major clinical, social and economic concern. The addition of CollaGUARD to our portfolio means that millions of patients at risk of adhesion will have a clinically proven superior solution. We look forward applying for Health Canada approval and working with our key opinion leaders to launch this important product. CollGUARD will add significant scale to our women’s health portfolio.”

CollaGUARD is a transparent bioresorbable film of 100 per cent type I collagen developed using Innocoll’s proprietary CollaFilm technology. It is approved in Europe for the prevention of postoperative adhesions in patients undergoing abdominopelvic laparotomy or laparoscopy. When tested in vivo, CollaGUARD increased the probability of remaining adhesion-free by more than six fold (P < 0.001) and significantly reduced the extent and severity of adhesions (P < 0.001).

CollaGUARD has been designed and engineered with a unique combination of features for optimal handling, ease-of-use, and anti-adhesion performance. It is highly stable at room temperature and does not require any advanced preparation before use. The product is non-tacky and can be easily rolled for insertion through a trocar when implanted laparoscopically.

CollaGUARD is available in a wide variety of sizes up to 20 x 30 cm; it may be cut and sutured if required and therefore used efficiently across a broad range of surgeries.

Postoperative adhesions are abnormal fibrous connections that can form between any apposing internal organ and serous membrane as a natural consequence of abdominopelvic surgery. Adhesions occur in almost 95% of laparotomies and may lead to serious complications such as intestinal obstruction, secondary female infertility, and chronic abdominal or pelvic pain.

Merus is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the acquisition and licensing of pharmaceutical products.