Based on research at University of Notre Dame, Happe Spine is working on implants for interbody spinal fusion.

Happe Spine, a US-based implant technology producer based on research at University of Notre Dame, has raised an undisclosed sum from medical device-focused venture capital funds Cultivate(MD) Fund I and Cultivate(MD) Fund II. Founded in July 2018, Happe Spine is commercialising a material to construct partial and fully porous, bioactive Peek implants that can be used for interbody spinal fusion. The technology is based on research by Ryan Roeder in Notre Dame’s Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. Roeder had initially formed a different company, Spinesmith, to commercialise his research but failed to gain traction until commercialisation firm Genesis Innovation Group stepped in and helped establish Happe Spine. Happe Spine obtained an undisclosed amount in funding from Cultivate(MD) Fund I and Cultivate(MD) Fund II in July last year. Roeder said: “Our biomaterial and manufacturing technology has opened the door to new implant designs that surgeons quickly recognise as being intuitively advantageous but unlike anything else on the market. “Excitement will continue to build in the year ahead with the release of our cervical implant and submission for regulatory approval.”

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Thierry Heles

Thierry Heles is the editor of Global University Venturing, host of the Beyond the Breakthrough interview podcast and responsible for the monthly GUV Gazette (sign up here for free).