Altis Biologics, a company specialising in the research and development of osteogenic biomaterials for use in skeletal regeneration therapy, has won first place in the Industrial Sector category of the 5th Africa SMME Awards competition.
Altis is supported by both The Innovation Hub Management Company and the Technology Innovation Agency. They have developed products that contain a mix of growth factors that act in synergy to induce new bone formation.
Nicolaas Duneas, Altis Biologics MD, said: "Altis is delighted to set up its new manufacturing capability laboratory at The Innovation Hub to produce its recently launched Altis Osteogenic Bone Matrix (OBM), a xenogeneic growth factor product that is a truly viable, lower-cost alternative to recombinant growth factors, such as recombinant bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMP-2). Altis OBM leads a new category within the 'Bone Grafts and Substitutes' market, and the excellent infrastructural and business support structures at The Innovation Hub will greatly assist the company to bring our products to surgeons both locally and abroad."
According to Nuno Pires, Altis Biologics CE Business Development: "With the recent reports of adverse events and complications related to use of rhBMP-2, it has raised many ethical, legal and reimbursement concerns for surgeons and hospitals. As a company committed to developing and making available to the world a range of innovative, lower-cost growth factor products, we are honoured and privileged to be selected as the top industrial sector SMME in Africa, and to be recognised alongside other African SMMEs."
McLean Sibanda, The Innovation Hub CEO, said: "As a Science and Technology Park, we offer a range of facilities and dedicated support services that enable precinct companies to reach their potential and increase their business growth. Altis has unique product offerings with global market potential. We wish to congratulate Altis Biologics for taking first place in their category, at the Africa SMME awards competition, and hope that this is the beginning of greater things for the company; you have made us proud."
Winners in each category were honoured during a prestigious award ceremony on 27 September 2012, in Cape Town, at the Spier Wine Estate, and will be featured prominently in the local and international media as champions in business innovation and drivers of Africa's development.
Runners up for the Industrial Sector Award were as follows:
* Miraculous Investment: Botswana
* Edom Nutritional Solutions: Kenya
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