Oss-Q AB

The Challenge

The mission of Oss-Q has developed from challenges encountered every day in clinical practice in the use of implants to treat bone defects, particularly defects that heal poorly. Materials such as plastics, polymers and metals show limited or no integration with tissues around them and are a lifetime risk for skin penetration and infection1. When such complications occur, treatment choices are few, subsequent failure rates increase exponentially and treatment costs soar. A recent study of 1,200 patients demonstrated that hospital costs are more than five times higher in patients with complications after advanced surgery as compared to complication-free surgery².

Oss-Q’s Solution 

Oss-Q develops, manufactures and will sell implants based on a bioceramic material that resembles bone in its chemical make-up. The bioceramic is osteoconductive, meaning that the material promotes adjacent bone growth. Its design allows free circulation of blood around the implant and supports soft tissue healing. Overall, these healing properties – better bone growth and soft tissue integration, reduces the risk for future complications, which are painful for the patient and costly for the hospital. 

Competitive Advantages

Oss-Q has developed a proprietary moulding technology in ceramics, unique in the industry. This provides the company with a means of making implants with superior healing features, in a range of new, unique shapes and configurations. Oss-Q´s lead product is aimed at cranioplasty, the surgical repair of skull defects.  A high percentage of advanced cranioplasties fail and lead to difficult and expensive clinical complications. The use of Oss-Q´s implant in early testing has resulted in very promising clinical outcomes. The company has strong clinical know-how in the area. 

The Market

The market for biomaterials products in orthopedics was worth more than EUR 1.25bn in 2011. The market for the lead product of Oss-Q in cranioplasty alone amounts to approximately EUR 50m. The market is attractive as it is concentrated, as these procedures are carried out in a limited number of hospitals, and as the price sensitivity is low for high performing products. Oss-Q has several projects in its product portfolio, significantly expanding the company´s commercial potential.