Alucent Biomedical

About Alucent Biomedical

Alucent Biomedical, a privately-held medical technology company, was founded in 2017 by the Avera Research Institute, the research and development arm of the multi-state health system Avera Health. The foundational technology was developed by Dr. Ron Utecht, a former chemistry professor, whose research focused on small molecules that could link structural proteins like collagen and elastin when activated by a specific wavelength of light. Seeing the potential for this technology in treating vascular conditions, Avera invested over $20 million in its initial development before spinning out Alucent Biomedical to advance it through clinical trials and commercialization. The company is led by CEO Dr. Myles Greenberg, who brings over two decades of experience as a clinician, investor, and executive in the life sciences sector.

The company is focused on developing treatments for vascular disease, particularly peripheral artery disease (PAD), which affects a significant global population. Its core product is the Alucent Natural Vascular Scaffolding (NVS) system, a combination drug-device therapy. This system is designed to offer an alternative to permanent implants like metallic stents. The business model centers on the development and eventual sale of this proprietary medical technology to healthcare providers and hospitals that perform vascular procedures.

The AlucentNVS technology involves a unique photochemical process. During a standard angioplasty procedure, a drug-coated balloon catheter delivers a novel small molecule to the wall of the diseased artery. A light fiber within the catheter then illuminates, activating the drug. This activation causes the natural structural proteins (collagen and elastin) within the vessel wall to link together, creating a biological scaffold. This 'natural stent' is intended to hold the artery open after the angioplasty, preventing the vessel recoil that can often follow the procedure. A key benefit is that it leaves no foreign implant behind, allowing the vessel to retain its natural flexibility and potentially avoiding complications associated with permanent stents. Alucent's technology has received Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approvals from the U.S. FDA to conduct clinical trials for treating PAD and for promoting the maturation of arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis patients.