Technology
Medical ChallengeRejection is the major obstacle preventing the use of animal derived tissue in human transplantation. Elimination of this immune response allows animal tissue to be incorporated without the need to immunosuppress the patient. Historically, tissue rejection was addressed by complete tissue crosslinking incorporating associated antigens into a non-remodelable prosthesis, much like leather. The complete crosslinking process renders a “permanent” tissue implant that inhibits human host cells of being incorporated and remodeled into natural biological tissue.
The Aperion Solution
The Z-Process® is a proprietary process that immunochemically modifies animal tissue so that it is compatible with the human immune system. The Z-Process® deactivates both alpha-gal and non-gal antigens on the xenograft tissue to prevent rejection.
Aperion uses alpha-galactosidase enzyme to cleave the terminal alpha-gal antigen so that the carbohydrate chain remaining on the animal tissue is the same in its structure as the carbohydrate chains present in humans. Importantly, Aperion owns the exclusive rights to apply alpha-galactosidase enzyme to remove alpha-gal antigens from non-primate animal tissues, including ligaments, cartilage, bone, heart valves, vascular tissue, collagen and many other tissues.
Aperion’s proprietary method has been shown to address both the xenograft rejection as well as the ability to encourage a biological response to an implant. Currently, Aperion is the only company that is pursuing an animal-derived anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) implant.
To solve the xenotransplant rejection problems mentioned above, Aperion developed the Z-Process®. The Z-Process® is a proprietary process that immunochemically modifies animal tissue to be compatible with the human immune system. Using its Z-Process®, Aperion developed the Z-Lig® device as an immunocompatible, porcine-derived ACL reconstruction alternative which provides a readily available, off-the-shelf solution and is strong, sterile, and reproducible. The manufacturing process and subsequent product are protected by over 28 issued patents.
The Z-Lig® device has not been approved for sale in the United States, European Union or other markets.
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