Cook Biotech marks 10-year partnership with AxoGen, Inc.

“You put joy in life,” a marathon runner told the Cook Biotech team as he shared the story of how a nerve-repair product manufactured by Cook Biotech helped him run again.

In 2014, at age 68, David was just one state shy of running marathons in all 50 states when a nerve injury in his leg put an abrupt end to his quest. “About a month after the 49th state, I couldn’t lift my foot at all,” David said. “I didn’t know what I could do because I really wanted to finish the last state.”

David underwent surgery that utilized the AxoGuard^® Nerve Protector to repair a peripheral nerve injury in his leg. Cook Biotech manufactures the product for AxoGen Inc., a medical technology company that specializes in peripheral nerve repair.

In 2017, David completed his 50th-state marathon, taking first place in the 70-74 age bracket of the Maui Oceanfront Marathon in Hawaii.

“I honestly would no longer be able to run if not for your product,” David told the Cook Biotech team. “For that, I sincerely thank you.”

David’s patient story capped off a company-wide meeting that focused on Cook Biotech’s 10-year partnership with AxoGen. Cook Biotech Global Business Development Director Dennis Abbott, who negotiated the original distributor agreement with AxoGen in 2008, shared a timeline of the partnership.

“AxoGen has been a great partner to work with and has made huge contributions to our success,” Dennis said, highlighting that Cook Biotech and AxoGen recently agreed to extend their partnership through 2027.

AxoGen Assistant General Counsel John Glueck provided an overview of the peripheral nervous system and how Cook Biotech-manufactured products are used to repair nerve injuries. In addition to the AxoGuard Nerve Protector used in David’s nerve-compression repair, Cook Biotech manufactures the AxoGuard Nerve Connector, which is used in nerve-transection repairs.

Cook Biotech manufactures AxoGen’s nerve-repair products utilizing proprietary porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) technology. As the body heals, the SIS products revascularize and remodel into the patient’s own tissue.

In addition to AxoGen, Cook Biotech collaborates with other partners and distributors, including Aziyo Biologics, CorMatrix, Katena Products Inc., Keystone Dental Inc., Smith & Nephew Inc., and Morris Innovative. Brand names of Cook Biotech-manufactured products through these partners include Cor PATCH, DynaMatrix^®, FISH^™, HaloShield™, OASIS^®, and tarSys™_.