When children with the spine malformation, spina bifida, develop a serious bladder failure, they have one, somewhat unsavory, option. In a 10-hour procedure, a surgeon enlarges the bladder using a piece of the patient's intestine. It usually works, but there are several risks including occasional rupture of the rebuilt bladder and possibly cancer.
East Norriton, Pa.-based Tengion, would like to offer a better option, says Gary Sender, the company's chief financial officer. Tengion is developing a regenerated bladder, a new organ grown from the patient's own cells. Sender says there will be a series of products from his 85-employee company, which is applying the same concept to different organs.
The private company holds about 70 patents, most licensed from Children's Hospital Boston, covering products with "excellent intellectual property ...
