Origin Medical's Pioneering Biodegradable Magnesium Hemostatic Clip Gains Market Approval, Demonstrating Commitment to Life-Health Innovation

Recently, Origin Medtech (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (“Origin Medtech”) held a launch event in Changshu, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, to celebrate the market approval of its biodegradable magnesium metal closure clips. As a major breakthrough in the clinical application of biodegradable medical-grade metallic materials, the successful market approval of this product not only demonstrates Origin Medtech’s steadfast commitment over the past decade to deep specialization and its dedication to safeguarding life and health with craftsmanship, but also highlights the growing strength of China in the field of innovative medical device research and development.

It is reported that in the current field of medical implant metals, stainless steel, titanium alloys, cobalt-chromium alloys, and nickel-titanium alloys are widely used due to their excellent corrosion resistance and ability to maintain structural stability within the body over long periods. However, for numerous applications where permanent presence of the implant is unnecessary after therapeutic functions are completed, these metallic materials cannot degrade or achieve biological integration in vivo. The secondary trauma caused by the need for surgical removal causes significant distress to many patients, while permanent retention poses risks associated with foreign bodies. Meanwhile, although polymeric materials currently used in clinical practice, such as polylactic acid, can be degraded and absorbed within the body, they suffer from issues including insufficient mechanical properties and inflammation triggered by degradation products.

Magnesium is an essential macroelement for the human body. During its degradation process, magnesium produces hydrogen, and both magnesium and hydrogen are beneficial to human health. Therefore, since 2000, biodegradable metallic magnesium has attracted significant attention in the field of biomedical materials and has been hailed as a "transformative medical metal material."

Since 2002, Dr. Zhang Xiaonong’s team, the founders of Origin Medtech, have been conducting research on biodegradable magnesium metals. In 2010, they established Origin Medtech, leveraging their self-developed, domestically and internationally leading technology platform for biodegradable magnesium materials to investigate the clinical applications of this material in various fields, including minimally invasive surgery, orthopedic sports medicine, medical aesthetics, and interventional medicine.

According to reports, the newly launched “Biodegradable Magnesium Metal Closure Clip” is the first biodegradable metallic implantable medical device approved by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). This product fills a domestic gap in this field and is expected to significantly enhance patient benefits following its market introduction.

After implantation into the patient, the "Biodegradable Magnesium Metal Hemostatic Clip" is fully degraded and absorbed by the human body within approximately six months to one year, depending on its specifications and model. Leveraging the excellent mechanical, physical, and biocompatibility of biodegradable magnesium materials, as well as their significant potential in promoting osteogenesis, suppressing inflammation, and exerting anti-tumor effects, the "Biodegradable Magnesium Metal Hemostatic Clip" effectively avoids the potential health risks associated with aluminum, rare earth elements, and other constituents commonly found in existing industrial magnesium alloys. Furthermore, it does not interfere with postoperative imaging diagnostics such as X-ray, CT, and MRI, thereby demonstrating substantial clinical value.

According to the “Global Medical Implants Market Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020–2027” published by Allied Market Research, the global medical implants market is projected to reach $147.46 billion by 2027. The applications of implantable devices have gradually expanded from cardiovascular and neurointerventional procedures and traditional orthopedics to sports medicine, spine, neurosurgery, medical aesthetics, and ophthalmology, indicating substantial market potential.

In recent years, biodegradable materials within the human body have become a focal point in biomaterials research, and the clinical application of biodegradable medical metals has garnered widespread attention. Major national programs—including the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program), the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (863 Program), the National Key Technology R&D Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the National Key R&D Program—have established numerous projects dedicated to the development of degradable magnesium metals and their associated medical devices, thereby encouraging original scientific and technological innovation.

As an R&D-driven innovative enterprise, Origin Medtech focuses on both materials and medical devices. While deeply cultivating research into biodegradable magnesium metal technologies, the company has developed numerous innovative products across many key areas. Furthermore, Origin Medtech shares its scientific achievements by not only offering self-developed medical device products but also supplying materials to industry partners through its biodegradable magnesium technology platform. This supports the development of related medical devices, enabling collaborative efforts within the industry to safeguard life and health and create positive social value.

To date, Origin Medtech has been granted over 70 international PCT, invention, utility model, and design patents, including more than 20 invention patents. In recent years, the company has secured three projects under the National Key R&D Programs of China’s 13th and 14th Five-Year Plans, participated in the development of multiple industry standards and regulatory review guidelines, and continues to contribute to the positive development of the industry.

Dr. Zhang Xiaonong, founder of Origin Medtech, stated that with advancements in biodegradable metal technology and industry development, innovative medical devices based on biodegradable metals will play an increasingly important role in human health. Origin Medtech will continue to innovate and improve, leveraging its technological advantages in biodegradable biomaterials to deepen product innovation, break import monopolies, and safeguard the health of the Chinese people.

Since its establishment in 2010, Origin Medtech has been dedicated to the innovation and industrialization of medical-grade biodegradable metallic materials and related medical devices. The company has maintained close industry-academia-research collaborations with dozens of universities, hospitals, and research institutes. It has undertaken more than ten key national R&D programs, key R&D projects of Jiangsu Province, and science and technology projects of Suzhou and Changshu cities, resulting in nearly 100 academic papers and over 70 patents. Its first core product, the “Biodegradable Magnesium Metal Hemostatic Clip,” has been granted PCT international and Chinese invention patents. It was recognized as a National Innovative Medical Device (No. 201800018) in 2018 and completed registration as a Class III medical device with China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on December 15, 2023 (Registration No. 20233021931), becoming the first biodegradable metallic medical device to be marketed in China.