Top exec to build Tissue’s profile in the US

A YORKSHIRE-based medical firm hopes to improve the lives of thousands of Americans, after it hired a senior executive to boost the performance of its new US subsidiary.

Tissue Regenix has appointed Donald M Hohne as the vice president of sales at Tissue Regenix USA.

He will work alongside Greg Bila, president of Tissue Regenix USA, to “drive forward” the commercialisation strategy for Tissue Regenix’s dCELL technology platform in North America.

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Mr Hohne joins Tissue Regenix USA from Bone Bank Allografts, a distributor of bone and soft tissue allografts, where he has served as director of business development since 2008.

Before that, he was director of government affairs at Kinetic Concepts, a global medical technology company.

He has worked with members of the US Congress to help shape public health policy.

Tissue Regenix is a medical devices company, which focuses on the field of regenerative medicine.

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The company’s patented decellularisation – or dCELL – technology removes DNA and other cellular material from animal and human tissue, leaving a tissue “scaffold” which can be used to repair diseased or worn out body parts.

There are a number of potential applications for this process. It could, for example, be used in heart valve replacement and knee repair. Tissue Regenix was formed in 2006, when it was spun-out from the University of Leeds.

The company commercialises academic research conducted by its partners around the world.

Mr Bila, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceuticals and medical devices sector, said yesterday: “We are extremely pleased to have secured the services of Donald Hohne.

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“He brings with him a proven track record in business development; establishing new market opportunities and securing sales with Fortune 500 and mid-market orthopaedic companies.

“This is an exciting time for Tissue Regenix USA and Donald will be a key figure in driving forward our strategy for growth.”

Mr Hohne added: “I am delighted to be joining Tissue Regenix USA at the start of the company’s journey.

“I am excited by the potential possibilities that are presented by the dCELL technology platform, which will be a welcome offering for the treatment of a number of diseases and conditions.”

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Tissue Regenix established its US subsidiary in November 2012. It’s hoped that the company, which has 45 staff in the UK, will launch products for the American market in 2014.

In a statement, the company said: “Work is focusing initially on applying the dCELL technology to treat a number of chronic diseases but, over time, it could be developed for other applications including vascular repair, heart valve replacement and knee repair.”

Antony Odell, managing director of Tissue Regenix Group, said yesterday: “This is a great time to be welcoming Donald to Tissue Regenix and his appointment represents another significant step in our growth and development.

“The US presents an opportunity to establish our dCELL technology platform in a market potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and it is a testament to our proposition that we are able to attract people of Donald’s calibre and experience.”

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