Ossfila Technology, developer of 3D printer filaments for orthopedic surgery, is taking on the Korean market

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Ossfila Technology is a startup based in Hong Kong that produces filaments for 3D printers, which can replace orthopedic bone implants. The company developed the filament with the aim of improving the quality of life for orthopedic surgery patients suffering from bone cancer or fractures and minimizing any associated side effects. While dental bone implants are well known, orthopedic bone implants and 3D printer filaments are not as widely known.

The company used its patented technology to coat the entire filament with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, which maximizes its bioactive properties. This existing 3D printing filament coating technology helps to reduce side effects by improving the precision of hydroxyapatite spraying and preventing a decline in mechanical properties after printing. Ossfila’s patented technology has doubled the stable biological benefits by allowing more than twice as many osteoblasts to grow on the filament-printed model.

The team members are mostly specialized in biotechnology, materials engineering, chemical engineering, and medical sciences. The CEO, who holds a master’s degree in imaging from the University of Hong Kong, has more than 8 years of R&D experience in medical engineering and diagnostic imaging.

To take on the challenge of the rapidly growing Korean medical device industry, Ossfila was selected as an outstanding startup team in NIPA’s K-Startup Grand Challenge 2022 and is currently participating in Big Bang Angels’ follow-up program.

What problems are you trying to solve?

Our aim at Ossfila Technology is to create safer and more personalized orthopedic bone implants, which can minimize post-implant side effects for patients. We aim to achieve this by maximizing the biocompatibility and bioactivity of currently available 3D printed bone implants while making the mechanical properties of the implants more human-like, thereby increasing bone fusion. Moreover, to ease the financial burden on patients, we have priced our 3D printed titanium bone implants at a relatively low cost.

How are you working to solve this problem?

To achieve our goal, we have developed a unique patented technology that involves coating the entire filament with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. This coating maximizes the bioactive properties of the filament, and unlike commercially available 3D printing filament coating technologies, our coating process ensures precise spraying of hydroxyapatite, which enhances the mechanical properties of the implants after printing. Filaments printed using our technology have shown more than 2 times the growth of osteoblasts on the printed model, and our filaments offer more stable biomechanical properties due to our proprietary technology.

What are some competitive advantages that Ossfila has over its competitors?

Our competitive advantage comes from our technology and commitment to safety. We have ISO-certified laboratories and printing facilities, and our patented 3D printing technology is now available in Hong Kong, which differentiates us from traditional PMMA and titanium bone implant printing.

What is your product?

Our flagship product is a 3D printer filament called Bonlecule, which is coated with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and has very good bone fusion compared to traditional PMMA filament or 3D printer titanium. Additionally, we offer 3D printing services and sterilization using EO sterilizers in our ISO-certified facility at our lab in Hong Kong. We also provide technical assistance with 3D modeling to our customers. We offer a wide range of services related to 3D printing beyond just selling products.

What market size are your products targeting? Who are the key target customers?

The global market for 3D printed bone implants was worth $2.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow further. Ossfila’s target customers include university hospitals, research labs, and medical 3D printing companies. These organizations can collaborate with us to further develop Bonlecule and move it into the clinic.

Why did you enter the Korean market?

We decided to enter the Korean market because it is growing very fast, and the Korean medical device market is not afraid of new products. Additionally, we participated in NIPA’s program called K-startup Grand Challenge 2022, which provided us with more opportunities to enter Korea. We participated in various exhibitions in Korea such as K-Hospital Fair, 3D Convergence Medical Association, and KIMES2023 to gain connections with hospitals and labs in Korea.

What is your business model?

We sell our flagship product, Bonlecule, for $80 per 100 grams, and we offer samples for customers who want to try it out before buying. Additionally, we offer 3D printing services, 3D modeling help, and EO sterilization services. The pricing for each service is dependent on the size and shape of the implant and is determined after consultation with our experts.

Can you tell me about some of the significant milestones that your company has achieved?

Regarding our achievements, since August 2022, we have participated in the K-Startup Grand Challenge and were among the top 30 out of 60 companies to receive support for domestic expansion. As a result, we had a booth at the Korean Society of 3D Printing and Convergent Medicine exhibition where we met several doctors and researchers. We also provided filament samples to a veterinary hospital at a university to support their research.

What advantages does your team have over others in the industry?

Ossfila Technology was founded by a group of postgraduates from the University of Hong Kong, and most of our employees have completed their master’s or doctoral programs. Our CEO, Justin Suen, holds a master’s degree from the Department of Radiology at the University of Hong Kong and has over 8 years of R&D experience in medical engineering and diagnostic imaging. Chief Research Officer Karen Kwon is a PhD in Orthopedic Biomaterials from the University of Hong Kong with 13 years of diverse research and R&D experience and is an ISO 13485 certification auditor.

Chief Scientific Officer Daphne Tam is a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, with over 15 years of R&D experience in materials synthesis, characterization, and application, and 13 years of materials industry R&D experience as a project leader. Lastly, Andrew Li is a medical doctor who graduated from the Department of Pre-Medicine at the University of Hong Kong and obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the Department of Human Cervical Neuroscience at Brown University. He has more than 3 years of experience in R&D in clinical and computational neuroscience and currently works as an internist in a Hong Kong hospital.

What are the essential requirements for entering the Korean market?

Making connections is crucial to entering the Korean medical device industry. You must complete licensing and safety tests to sell medical devices, and having connections that can use your product in clinical or experimental trials is helpful. It’s also crucial to keep up with industry trends by participating in accelerating programs or attending seminars in Korea.

[Startup News in Korea]

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