Napier biotech firm turns cattle into caring

A Napier-based biotech company is using meatworks' by-products to produce materials for medical device manufacturers around the world.
"We have a focus on high protein tissue, which generally goes to wound-healing applications, and pericardium for heart valves," managing director of Southern Lights Ventures (2002) Peter Meyer said. Pericardium is a twin-layered membrane around the heart.
The company, which trades as Southern Lights Biomaterials, prefers to source hide, tendon, bone material and pericardium from cattle in New Zealand meatworks. The company also produces an "insoluble" form of collagen protein as a starting material for surgical implants and to provide a base for engineered-tissue medical products.
The company has been testing its products for two years at a Massey University pilot processing plant.
"In the early stages we were able to come in here for 20 minutes, try something and see if it worked, and go away again," said Southern Lights technical manager Dr John Higgins,
The company now has international contracts for its products.