Surgical adhesions form when tissue surfaces that are usually separated join together during the normal tissue repair process. Abdominal, gynaecological, and cardiac surgeries are particularly prone to problematic adhesions, which can lead to significant complications including:

• small bowel obstruction

• Infertility

• chronic pelvic pain.

Adhesions are the commonest cause of small bowel obstruction, a life threatening condition. The cumulative risk of small bowel obstruction after colectomy is 11% within the first year increasing to 30% after 10 years. It has also been estimated that 15-20% of infertility cases may be caused by adhesions.

The leading products currently on the market for the prevention of surgical adhesions are Genzyme's Seprafilm® and J&J's Interceed®. However, neither of these products is well suited to laparoscopic procedures. By comparison, Innocoll's CollaRx membrane technology results in a product with the benefits of transparency, ease of handing when wet or dry, and ready insertion into a trocar in the case of laparoscopy.

Furthermore, since the product is based on native type-1 collagen, it offers the additional physiological properties of hemostasis and accelerated healing of the surgical wound.

Innocoll is also developing next generation adhesion barriers with the incorporation of active substances (such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatories) to provide ancillary action in reducing the frequency of post-operative infection and adhesion-causing inflammation.

Co-development and marketing partners in Europe and Japan.