Gerry Brownlee

A company making ready-to-use tissue substitute for wound care and soft tissue reconstruction has won New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's inaugural Focus on Health business competition, Minister for Economic Development Gerry Brownlee announced today.

Lower Hutt-based Mesynthes' product Endoform Infection Control is on the fast track into the United States health market as a result of the win, receiving cash and in-kind prizes worth nearly $100,000.

An international panel of judges for the Focus on Health Challenge decided Mesynthes had the clearest vision and business strategy for growth in the United States market, and the potential to deliver the highest reward.

The award was presented to Mesynthes by Associate Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman during a ceremony at the Auckland War Memorial Museum yesterday evening.

Mesynthes has already achieved 510(k) approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Endoform product, and has a clear pipeline of other products to be developed and brought to market.

Mesynthes' Endoform Infection Control is designed to be used where there is a high risk of post-operative infection at a surgical site, for structural repair during reconstructive plastic surgery and for the prevention and treatment of infection in chronic wounds.

Two other companies received runners up prizes in the competition, Emendo for its CapPlan capacity and operational management software solution, and Matakina for its Volpara Quantitative Breast Screening solution. The companies will share a cash and in-kind prize package worth $110,000.

Mr Brownlee says all three companies exemplify the high level of innovation emerging from New Zealand.

"New Zealand is a perfect incubator for innovative healthcare technologies that have the potential to provide significant health benefits for millions of people around the world.

"If we are to successfully lift our overall economic performance, we need more companies like Mesynthes, Emendo, Matakina and the other challenge finalists developing products and services that address global needs.

"The multi billion dollar United States health market is a huge opportunity for New Zealand and I congratulate the winners and others involved with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's Focus on Health Challenge.

"I look forward to seeing the companies involved become multi-million dollar success stories."