Pulimer Medical Files for IPO: Building a Degradable Polymer Platform to Overcome Critical Material Bottlenecks in Medical Devices

Medical polymer materials are among the fastest-growing segments in the emerging materials industry. Among these, biodegradable biomedical materials exhibit excellent biocompatibility with human tissues. Their degradation products, consisting of small molecules, can be absorbed by the body or completely excreted, thereby avoiding accumulation in internal tissues or organs. With their superior stability and safety profile, these materials hold broad prospects for development in the biomedical field.

Some domestically produced medical polymer materials have achieved breakthroughs from “nothing to something” and are now progressing toward “from existence to excellence.” Among them, a number of enterprises have emerged to seize technological highlands and overcome critical bottlenecks, including those established in 2016 such asNanjing Polymer Medical Technology Co., Ltd.(hereinafter referred to as“Polymer”) is a typical representative.

Polymon is a product research and development company specializing in medical-grade absorbable materials, and it isA Platform Enterprise at the Intersection of Materials Science and Clinical MedicineThe company has established two key technological platforms: engineered preparation of biodegradable polymer raw materials and personalized processing of biodegradable medical devices, addressing the current bottlenecks in base materials and manufacturing processes for medical devices. Leveraging its in-depth understanding of surgical clinical needs and project initiation, the company has developed a series of high-value absorbable medical device products, forming a complete industrial chain for absorbable medical devices. The company completed in March 2022Yahui Investment and Rongzhen InvestmentCo-investedNearly 100 Million Yuan in Financing。

Leveraging years of accumulated technical expertise, Nanjing Polymer Medical Technology Co., Ltd. has established two key technological platforms: engineered preparation of biodegradable polymer raw materials and personalized processing of biodegradable medical devices. The company has integrated the entire R&D, production, and sales chain—from material synthesis to personalized processing based on material properties and matrix-style product portfolio marketing—thereby creating a complete industry chain for absorbable medical devices.

Leveraging the background strengths of its existing team and its market insights, Polymer has developed a product pipeline featuring “medical consumables + consumer aesthetic medicine.”

In terms of medical consumables, traditional sutures require multiple knots during clinical use. Stress concentration occurs at the knot sites, making them prone to breakage and resulting in enlarged scars that compromise aesthetic outcomes. Furthermore, the knotted areas are susceptible to risks such as infection, knot loosening, and slippage.

To address these pain points, Nanjing Polymer Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (Polymer) collaborated with the Polymer Materials Laboratory of Sichuan University to investigate the mechanical model between barbs and tissue, continuously optimize the barb design and manufacturing process, and develop and launch absorbable knotless barbed sutures for surgical use. The product received market approval in July 2020 and has become Polymer’s flagship product.

Pulimeng Absorbable Surgical Knotless Barbed Suture

This product is manufactured from poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO), a high-molecular-weight polymer, using specialized processing techniques and is protected by global FTO patents. It exhibits excellent biocompatibility, superior flexibility, and high tensile strength. Its degradation rate aligns with tissue healing timelines, with a degradation cycle of approximately 180 days. The material hydrolyzes within the human body into carbon dioxide and water, which are then absorbed or excreted. The Polymer absorbable barbed suture features barbs arranged axially along the suture line with uniform 360-degree distribution, offering advantages such as knot-free closure, ease of operation, time savings, and enhanced efficiency.

Building on this product, Nanjing Polymer Medical Technology Co., Ltd. has also developed a series of specialized sutures tailored to the needs of various clinical surgical scenarios. Among these, the absorbable specialized suture line (PGA-PCL) and the non-absorbable surgical suture (PP vascular suture) are nearing regulatory approval, while significant breakthroughs have been achieved in the development of barbed sutures, which represent the highest technical challenge. This advancement means that Nanjing Polymer will become the only company globally, aside from Johnson & Johnson, to master the manufacturing process for barbed sutures.

Driven by the market penetration of the company’s flagship absorbable medical devices in departments such as general surgery, neurosurgery, and thoracic surgery, the company has further developed product portfolios tailored to these specialties. For general surgery, it has launched single-use electric staplers (already approved for market), a series of specialty sutures (expected to receive sequential approvals starting this October), and absorbable hemostatic clips. For neurosurgery, it has introduced products such as absorbable cranial locks.

In the consumer medical aesthetics sector, Polyren, a subsidiary of Nanjing Polymer Medical Technology Co., Ltd., launched its recombinant collagen dressing product in 2021 after receiving regulatory approval. Compared to other similar compliant products, Polyren utilizes biotechnologies such as gene recombination to produce functional proteins that are 100% identical to human DNA sequences and structures. This ensures zero immune rejection upon application to the human body, while offering high stability, elevated biological activity, and excellent tissue compatibility. Leveraging its superior safety profile and stable production capacity, the company has established strategic partnerships with medical aesthetics manufacturers including Innoaesthetics, Meixiebao, and Wuzhong Medical Aesthetics.

Currently, the company’s another blockbuster product, the PLLA “Youth Restoration” Injection, is in the clinical trial phase and is expected to be approved for market launch in 2023. It is reported that clinical trials of Puliyan’s PLLA “Youth Restoration” Injection have demonstrated that, compared with approved products on the market, it requires shorter preparation time and offers greater convenience. Its microspheres are smooth, which can significantly reduce the severity of inflammatory responses. Moreover, it holds the only patent in China for the preparation of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) injectable microspheres and microparticles.

In addition, the company has launched a series of products tailored to various medical aesthetics scenarios and market demands, including PPDO facial thread lifts and injectable ADM facial fillers.

The reason why Polymer can span across multiple disciplines such as surgery and medical aesthetics, boldly and extensively carry out rich and continuous product layout, and maintain R&D vitality is that its endless source of innovation not only comes from the solid strength and rich accumulation of the core R&D team who have been deeply engaged in surgery and materials for decades, but also benefits from its unique innovation philosophy—

First, deep integration of industry, academia, research, and healthcare to form an end-to-end innovation pathway from source to terminal.On the R&D front, Polymer has pinpointed the sources of innovation by partnering with the National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Sichuan University to explore and innovate foundational technologies. On the industrial front, the company and its subsidiary focused on the medical aesthetics sector, Puliyan, serve as proving grounds for new technologies and products, facilitating the translation and industrialization of scientific achievements. On the sales front, collaborations have been established with hundreds of top-tier medical centers in China, including Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Renji Hospital, Wuhan Tongji Hospital, Jiangsu Province People’s Hospital, and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, to promote application. Furthermore, products are iterated based on authentic feedback and needs from clinicians, thereby stimulating product R&D and technological innovation, creating a spiral upward development trajectory.

Second, the R&D strategy targets products that are internationally leading, fill domestic gaps, and possess technical barriers.According to Dr. Liu Ping, Chairman of the Board of Nanjing Polymer Medical Technology Co., Ltd., the company’s product R&D strategy targets internationally leading products. If multiple registration certificates for similar products already exist in China, the company will not continue to invest significant resources, but will instead focus on deploying cutting-edge products.

Third, at the technical level, a platform-based development model centered on materials has been established, resulting in a matrix-style product portfolio.For example, leveraging the excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility, bioabsorbability, and toughness of poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO), Nanjing Polymer Medical Technology Co., Ltd. has developed products such as absorbable barbed sutures and facial thread lifts through various manufacturing processes, establishing a matrix-style product portfolio centered on materials.

Fourth, expand and deepen the application scenarios of existing materials and products, while strategically reserving new materials and technologies.For existing material products, the R&D team at Nanjing Polymer Medical Technology Co., Ltd. expands application scenarios based on material characteristics, continuously delves into the detailed personalized needs under different clinical scenarios, and conducts thorough development. Meanwhile, the company is constantly researching and developing new materials and new processes, basically following a strategy of producing one generation, storing one generation, and researching and developing one generation.

From imitation to mastering core technologies and achieving independent innovation, Polymer Medical has spent six years on this journey, advancing steadily at every step. Currently, Polymer Medical has entered more than 500 hospitals across China and is widely acclaimed by clinicians.

"The road is obstructed and long, but if you keep walking, you will arrive; if you persevere without stopping, the future holds promise."

As the acceleration of domestic substitution continues, with existing products achieving rising market penetration and a series of new products nearing approval, Nanjing Polymer Medical Technology Co., Ltd.’s full product portfolio is flourishing, positioning the company on the verge of a commercialization explosion.

Dr. Liu Ping, Chairman of the Company, introduced that Polymer has adopted a dual-market strategy targeting both domestic and overseas markets. Currently, the company is building its commercial sales team in China to prepare for the launch of various products upon regulatory approval, while simultaneously accelerating applications for CE and FDA certifications.

We look forward to seeing more emerging Chinese medical forces, like Polymer Medical, that persist in independent innovation, take the global stage, and compete in broader markets.