Two Revolutionary Companies Team Up

Arguably, the two most disruptive ongoing revolutions in musculoskeletal care are additive manufacturing and the lesser known but equally disruptive, computational medicine revolution that is transforming drug and biotech development.

3D Systems, the company credited with launching the additive manufacturing revolution way back in ancient times—1986—is teaming up with Boston-based Theradaptive, Inc., which is revolutionizing protein engineering.

Theradaptive’s recent patent (inventor: Luis Alvarez, Ph.D., CEO, Theradaptive), granted in 2022, filed in October 2020, gives a picture into the computational medicine revolution.

That patent lists 61 distinct proteins including the entire BMP, OP, TGF, VEGF, FGF, EGF, PDGF, TNF and WNT families—each with patentable amino acid sequences—and methods for attaching these proteins to a substrate—an implant, for example.

Once FDA approvals are in hand, this agreement between 3D Systems and Theradaptive sets up the possibility of coating all manner of 3D printed implants with, for example, rhBMP2—although, as we list at the end of this article, the coating could be any one or more of about 60 unique proteins.

In a press announcement issued on August 7, 2023, by Rock Hill, South Carolina-based 3D Systems, Andrew Johnson, 3D System’s EVP, chief corporate development officer, chief legal counsel said:

“The combination of both companies’ expertise and experience and relentless pursuit of enabling an improved patient experience is a strong foundation for this collaboration.”

“We believe that enhancing 3D Systems’ unparalleled capabilities in medical device design and production with the benefits of Theradaptive’s protein-engineering platform has the potential to make a significant impact on the field of regenerative medicine, and patients’ lives.”

On behalf of Theradaptive Luis Alvarez, Ph.D. and company founder said: “This agreement enables an exciting technological convergence of 3D Systems’ cutting-edge advances in orthopedic and soft tissue additive manufacturing and Theradaptive’s material-binding regenerative therapeutics.”

“Uniting these two world-class technologies promises to provide safer and more effective treatment options for patients who currently have few options. This partnership sets the stage for many new products that will have the potential to significantly improve patient care.”

Theradaptive’s FounderAlvarez conceived the idea of the protein-engineering technology after witnessing extremity injuries that resulted in delayed amputations among service members. His subsequent research into bone and tissue regeneration at MIT focused on addressing the limitations associated with existing regenerative medicine approaches such as achieving anatomically precise outcomes and ultra-persistent local delivery of therapeutics.

The first applications of this technology have already earned three Breakthrough Medical Device designations from the FDA to address degenerative disc disease and spinal fusion.

In addition to being named as Theradaptive’s exclusive 3D printing partner, 3D Systems also made an $8 million investment in the company.

Here is one of the key patents that underlies Theradaptive’s technology, and the list of proteins covered by this patent.