B. Braun Surgical, S.A. Renews Distribution Agreement With Proxy Biomedical for Premium Synthetic Ventral Hernia Repair Product

GALWAY, IRELAND--(Marketwired - Apr 22, 2015) - Proxy Biomedical, a leading global innovator in the design and contract manufacturing of biomaterial implants, today announced that B. Braun Surgical, S.A. (B. Braun), which develops, manufactures, and markets innovative medical products and services to the healthcare industry, has renewed its long-term agreement to distribute, through its existing Closure Technologies commercial teams, MotifMESH™ MacroPorous NW Implant to global territories, outside of the US, for the next five years. Distributed by B. Braun under the company's Omyra® Mesh brand name, MotifMESH™ is the first monolayer, non-coated mesh with anti-adhesive and bacterial resistant properties^1,2,3, supporting a new concept for hernia repair within the anti-adhesive mesh category.

Proxy Biomedical's MotifMESH™ delivers the high performance expected from premium synthetic, anti-adhesive mesh, in a single, condensed polytetrafluoroethylene (cPTFE) implant design. Its unique macroporous structure ensures favorable ingrowth and healed strength characteristics^4,5, as well as low shrinkage², while its anti-adhesive properties and condensed structure inhibit bacterial formation.^1,2,3,4

"Proxy Biomedical's MotifMESH™ is an exceptional ventral hernia repair product that has demonstrated excellent all-around performance," said Mr. Patrick Storz, Global Marketing Director, Closure Techonologies, B. Braun. "Omyra® Mesh has formed a valuable part of our comprehensive hernia repair product portfolio, so we are pleased to renew our partnership with Proxy Biomedical as we continue to grow our global hernia repair market share."

MotifMESH™ has an extremely low wall thickness of 0.15 mm/ 0.006 inch, making it ideal to support laparoscopic delivery even for large hernia repair. Furthermore, the transparent⁶, tailorable and high strength monolayer facilitates surgical placement.

"We have enjoyed our long-standing relationship with B. Braun and look forward to continuing our successful partnership with them for the foreseeable future," said Peter Mulrooney, Chief Executive Officer, Proxy Biomedical. "We value our distributor network and the ability to offer our hernia repair mesh and other biomaterial products to a broader market through these strategic alliances with some of the world's most well-respected medical device companies."

MotifMESH™ is one of three FDA-cleared, CE marked, branded products that Proxy Biomedical offers globally, through partnerships with the world's leading medical device companies.

1. "An in vitro study assessing the effect of mesh morphology and suture fixation on bacterial adherence." D Sanders et al. - Verlag, France. (Published - Springer Link, Hernia, Vol. 17, Issue 6, 779-789, Dec. 2013)
2. "Experimental Study on Synthetic and Biological Mesh Implantation in a Contaminated Environment." Deerenberg et al. - Rotterdam, The Netherlands. (Published - BJS Journal Vol. 99, Issue 12, Dec. 2012)
3. "Macroporosity and hypdrophobicity of surgical meshes reduce in vivo staphylococcus aureus infection and anchorage." Voskerician et al. (Presented at 4th International Hernia Congress, Sept. 2009)
4. "Macroporous condensed poly(tetrafluoroethylene). II. In vivo effect on adhesion formation and tissue integration" G. Voskerician, PH. Gingras, JM. Anderson - Cleveland, OH. (Published - J Biomed Mater Res A. 2007 Aug; 82(2):426-35.)
5. "Macroporous condensed poly(tetrafluoroethylene). I. In vivo inflammatory response and healing characteristics." G. Voskerician, PH. Gingras, JM. Anderson. Cleveland, OH. (Published - J Biomed Mat Res 2006; 76A: 232-242)
6. Bench testing at Proxy Biomedical - data on file

About Proxy Biomedical Limited
Proxy Biomedical, a Galway-based medical technology company, provides solutions for the medical device sector in the area of biomaterials-focused medical implant design, development and contract manufacturing. With a proven track record in innovative design and quality-assured manufacturing, Proxy Biomedical provides a complete solution to world leading tier-one medical device companies who seek a trusted partner to help realize their product development needs.

Proxy Biomedical's proprietary surgical mesh products are CE marked for distribution within the European Community and FDA approved for distribution within the United States.

About B. Braun Surgical, S.A.
B. Braun is a world leading healthcare supplier and a privately-held family enterprise that celebrated in 2014 175 years of successful business and continuous growth. B. Braun provides the global healthcare market with products for anesthesia, intensive medicine, cardiology, extra corporeal blood treatment and surgery, as well as services for hospitals, general practitioners and the home care sector.

B. Braun Surgical S.A. is a subsidiary of the B. Braun Group that belongs to the Aesculap division dealing mainly with surgical instruments, suture materials and services for all core surgical procedures. Specific products and product groups are orthopedics/traumatology, spinal surgery, motor systems, neurosurgery and vascular therapy.