EpiBone

EpiBone, Inc. operates at the intersection of regenerative medicine and personalized therapeutics, focusing on the development of technology to grow bone and cartilage. Founded in 2013 by Nina Tandon and Sarindr Bhumiratana, the company emerged from fifteen years of biomedical research at Columbia University. Tandon's background, which includes a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and an MBA from Columbia University, combined with her postdoctoral work on cardiac tissue engineering, provided a strong foundation for EpiBone's mission to bioengineer skeletal tissues. The company's core technology centers on creating living, personalized bone grafts by utilizing a patient's own adipose-derived stem cells.

The process begins with a CT scan of the patient's skeletal defect, which is used to create a precise 3D-printed scaffold that mirrors the exact anatomical shape required. Stem cells are then harvested from the patient's fat tissue and seeded onto this scaffold. This construct is subsequently placed in a bioreactor, a specialized device that simulates the conditions within the human body, to mature into a functional, living piece of bone ready for implantation. This method is designed to address the limitations of current bone grafting techniques, which often involve harvesting bone from another part of the patient's body (autograft) or using donor bone (allograft), both of which carry risks such as donor site morbidity and rejection.

EpiBone's primary business model is geared towards the orthopedic and craniofacial surgery markets, targeting a patient population of over 900,000 individuals annually who require bone-related surgical interventions. By offering a graft that is an exact anatomical and biological match, the company aims to simplify surgical procedures, accelerate patient recovery, and reduce complications associated with foreign body implantation. The company's lead product candidate, EB-CMF, is an anatomically precise, living bone graft for craniomaxillofacial procedures. EpiBone has secured significant funding through various rounds, attracting investments from entities like Plum Alley and OETV, and has been recognized with numerous accolades for its approach to tissue engineering.

Keywords: regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, bone graft, personalized medicine, stem cells, orthopedic surgery, craniofacial reconstruction, biomedical engineering, 3D printing, bioreactor