Glycopatch Bioadhesive Membrane

Executive summary

Glycopatch as an adjunct in lung surgery for reducing the incidence, extent, and severity of postoperative air leaks, the most common complication after pulmonary surgery. These air leaks increase hospital length of stay (LOS) by 5 to 13 days, which can double the cost of hospitalization and increase the risk of complications, such as atelectasis, pneumonia, empyema, and chest drains.

Dr. Steven Mentzer from Brigham and Women’s Hospital created Glycopatch, a pectin-based, biocompatible, and bioabsorbable sealant. Glycopatch is made of a plant-derived polymer formulation optimized to adhere strongly to visceral organ surfaces. Glycopatch is available as a translucent elastic patch that can be trimmed to size and flexed to fit and cover the target site. Glycopatch is 10x stronger in adhesion than commercially available materials.

Unmet need

Air leaks after pulmonary surgery or pulmonary injury is a complication that extends duration of hospitalization and often requires the use of chest tubes. The average cost of a hospital day is $11,700, and occurrence of pleural air leaks can double that. Furthermore, postoperative chest tubes are painful and distressing for patients and are associated with higher risks of infection and mortality; it is the number one patient complaint (>80%) after thoracic surgery.

The cost of “prolonged” air leaks (more than 7 days) annually to the U.S. health care system is estimated at $300 million. Additionally, prolonged air leaks increase the rate of readmission within 30 days by 20%. In a study of pleurectomy patients at the Brigham, it was found that a 50% improvement in air leak control would have saved the hospital more than $1 million.

Value proposition

The use of Glycopatch technology will reduce hospital length of stay and could even convert certain thoracic surgeries to outpatient procedures. Reduced incidence of pleural air leaks offers the benefits of reduced morbidity, fewer post-surgical complication, and reduced need for chest tubes. Glycopatch offers a cost-effective adhesive and sealant solution to pleural air leaks that improves patient outcomes and productivity.

Technology

Product description

Glycopatch technology has been demonstrated in pre-clinical animal models to be an effective a sealant of pleural leaks with a 4–10x stronger tissue bond than commercially available product solutions. Glycopatch elicited no detectable tissue or inflammatory reaction. A 2–3-min development time is sufficient to seal air leaks under positive pressure with no significant compromise of lung expansion. The sealant was resorbed, without detectable adhesions or pleural effusions, within one week after application.

Glycopatch is primarily composed of pectin, a plant-derived, biocompatible, and bioabsorbable hydrogel material. Glycopatch is a pre-formed elastic film patch that can be trimmed by the surgeon and molded to fit and cover the wound site. It is simple to apply. The patch is strongly adherent to visceral organs due to a molecular structure homologous to glycocalyx tissue present on the organ surface.