Spire Receives NIH Grant for Development of Functionally Graded Nanophase Calcium Phosphate Coatings

Spire Receives NIH Grant for Development of Functionally Graded Nanophase Calcium Phosphate Coatings
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 2005--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR) today announced the receipt of a SBIR Phase I grant for $157,277 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), to develop functionally graded calcium phosphate coatings for dental implants. Hydroxyapatite and other forms of calcium phosphate are used to enhance bone fixation of a wide range of orthopedic and dental implants. However, current coating processes have several drawbacks and have limited flexibility in controlling coating crystallinity. The proposed technology will produce novel graded coatings which will allow rapid bone growth for initial stabilization of the implant as well as long term fixation.
Roger Little, President and CEO of Spire, stated, "This program will provide Spire an opportunity to develop coatings with better control over the biological response to the implant. Dental implants are remarkably successful devices. However, most implants require multiple surgical procedures, and there is generally a delay between the time the implant is first inserted and the time the device can be used under the load of normal chewing. Accelerated bone integration would lead to more immediate loading, resulting in less discomfort for the patient and more rapid use of the device. The dental implant market has grown to over $1 billion annually worldwide. The technology will fit perfectly into our business of providing advanced coatings and surface treatments for the medical device industry. If successful in dental implants, the technology could potentially be expanded into orthopedic and spinal applications as well."
Spire Corporation is a diversified technology company serving the biomedical, solar energy, telecommunications and defense industries worldwide with innovative products and services based upon a common technology platform.
Certain matters described in this news release may be forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk of dependence on market growth, competition and dependence on government agencies and other third parties for funding contract research and services, as well as other factors described in the Company's Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.