Supporting Innovation at Explant Labs: Advancing Personalised Medical Implants

Explant Labs, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, has been making significant strides in the world of personalised medical implants – namely in knee and hip replacements.

Led by Dave Langton, the company is pioneering genetic testing aimed at improving the outcomes of orthopaedic surgeries. By predicting the likelihood of the body rejecting an implant, Explant Labs’ genetic tests reduce the risks associated with post-surgical complications. It means that patients can have implants personalised to their unique genetic make up.

Addressing implant rejection

Implant rejection, while not extremely common, can cause significant issues for patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery. Typically, the implant is manufactured in advance and surgically implanted in the patient. If the body rejects the implant, the patient faces additional surgeries, extended recovery periods, and potential complications. The innovation focuses on using genetic testing to determine whether a patient’s body is likely to accept or reject a specific implant, thereby avoiding the physical and emotional toll of failed surgeries.

Through this approach, Explant Labs is contributing to the advancement of personalised medicine. The company envisions a future where implants are custom-made based on a person’s genetic profile, allowing for faster recoveries and fewer instances of rejection.

Support from our network

Explant Labs has received ongoing support from Health Innovation (HI NENC) to help make their innovation a reality. HI NENC facilitated contact with stakeholders across the region. HI NENC also provided funding through the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NOTCA) for The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) to assist Explant Labs in completing the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) Meta Tool.

Although the funding was initially intending to be used to pursue approval through the NICE Meta Tool, recent changes in the process have led Explant Labs to seek alternative ways of ensuring the quality and effectiveness of their technology.

HI NENC has also connected the company with NTH Solutions – the commercialisation specialists from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust who are providing them with support to scale up and roll out.

Overseas opportunities

Whilst the firm is exploring how it can launch in the UK market, we are also supporting them to explore opportunities overseas – namely in the United States. The team has identified the US healthcare system, with its insurance model of care, as a potential market where their innovation could potentially thrive sooner. Local health organisations are working to support this international expansion as part of broader efforts to facilitate growth in the region’s health innovation sector.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, Explant Labs plans to continue refining their technology and pursuing both UK and international opportunities. The company is well-positioned to contribute to a future where medical implants are tailored to individual patients, enhancing both the surgical outcomes and quality of life for thousands of people in need of joint replacements.

With ongoing support from organisations like NHSA and collaboration with regional health trusts, Explant Labs’ innovation pathway is filled with potential. Their progress represents a significant step toward economic growth in our region’s medical technology industry, with the possibility of transforming the landscape of orthopedic