Fermentech Medical

Fermentech Medical was a biotechnology company based in Edinburgh, Scotland, that specialized in the development and manufacture of medical products derived from the biopolymer hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid). Founded in 1984 as a spin-off from Heriot-Watt University, the company pioneered a unique bacterial fermentation process using Streptococcus equi to produce high-purity, high-molecular-weight hyaluronan, providing a non-animal alternative to traditional extraction methods. Its flagship products included Fermathron, a viscosupplement for treating osteoarthritis of the knee, and Opthalin, a viscoelastic used in ophthalmic surgery. In 2000, Fermentech Medical was acquired by the Swedish biotechnology company Vitrolife AB to expand its production capacity and product portfolio. The hyaluronan business was later sold to Mentor Worldwide in 2003, and the company's legacy continues through the widespread clinical use of its fermentation-derived hyaluronan technology.