Healthcare Industry News: University HealthSystem Consortium
News Release - January 29, 2008
Novation Signs Tissue Adhesive Agreement with Aesculap
Agreement Offers Recently FDA-Approved Topical Tissue Adhesive to FacilitiesIRVING, Texas--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Novation, LLC, the health care contracting services company of VHA Inc., the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) and Provista, LLC, three national health care alliances, has awarded a new supplier agreement to Aesculap, Inc. for its Histoacryl tissue adhesive products.
In February 2007, the FDA approved for sale in the United States two versions of the topical skin adhesive that has been widely-used in Europe and the rest of the world - Histoacryl and Histoacryl Blue. These topical skin adhesives are composed of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate monomer and differ only by the inclusion/noninclusion of blue dye to allow improved visualization of the otherwise colorless liquid during its application. Unlike other products in this category, Histoacryl is the only skin adhesive available in both optically clear and blue formulations.
Both formulations polymerize in seconds, require only a single-layer application, and provide the highest bond strength of all FDA-approved topical skin adhesives. As a result, surgeons are able to close wounds and incisions with a precise, single-application adhesive that offers great cosmetic results as well as faster application without compromising the strength of the wound closure.
"Aesculap has built a reputation of delivering exceptional quality and value to our customers in the surgical community, which is why they were awarded an agreement in this category,” said Barbara Limberg, Director Contract Services – Surgical for Novation. "This agreement demonstrates Aesculap’s ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality products at competitive prices.”
Histoacryl is manufactured by B. Braun and has been marketing outside the United States for more than 30 years. In the United States, Histoacryl is distributed by the Aesculap subsidiary of B. Braun in partnership with TissueSeal LLC. Histoacryl has been cited in more than 1000 articles in clinical publications worldwide.
The agreement, effective April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2011, includes an option to extend for two additional years.
About Novation
Based in Irving, Texas, Novation is the leading health care contracting services company, delivering unmatched savings and value to nearly 2,500 members of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), two national health care alliances and nearly 9,000 members of Provista, LLC (formerly known as Healthcare Purchasing Partners International, LLC (HPPI)). Through its competitive bid process, Novation develops and manages contracts with more than 500 suppliers, both large and small. By combining scale and agility with clinical knowledge and product expertise, Novation offers the most extensive range of advanced contracting services, including: contract development, contract and supplier management, custom contracting, enhanced savings programs, online contract management and analytical tools, order management and online supplier connectivity. VHA, UHC and Provista members used Novation and alliance purchased services contracts to purchase $31.6 billion in 2006.
About B. Braun / Aesculap
B. Braun is the recipient of the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Medical Technology Global Excellence Award for its excellence in helping healthcare providers improve the lives of their patients. Since its founding in 1839, B. Braun has built an unparalleled store of knowledge and expertise in delivering innovative healthcare products, medical devices and programs that enhance working processes in hospitals, alternate care settings and medical practices. B. Braun’s Aesculap division focuses on products and services for core processes in surgery. The product range includes among other items surgical instruments for open or minimally invasive approaches, implants (e.g. for orthopaedics, neurosurgery and spinal surgery), surgical sutures, topical skin adhesive, sterile container, storage, motor and navigation systems as well as products for cardiology.
The company’s more than 34,000 employees worldwide are proud of their commitment to translating customer needs into products with unmatched quality, superior technology, cost-effectiveness and environmental responsibility. Through its "Sharing Expertise®" initiative, B. Braun promotes best practices for continuous improvement of healthcare products and services.
Histoacryl is a trademark of B. Braun Melsungen AG
About TissueSeal LLC
TissueSeal headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan was founded in 2003 and is a provider of medical/surgical products in the United States. TissueSeal, in collaboration with B. Braun and its U.S. subsidiary Aesculap, achieved regulatory approval in February 2007 for the sale and distribution of its Histoacryl topical skin adhesive.
With the introduction of Histoacryl to the U.S. market, TissueSeal is able to offer an outstanding, proven alternative to other legally marketed topical skin adhesives. The TissueSeal management team has been serving the medical device industry collectively for over 85 years.
Source: Aesculap
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