"The Basque biomedical industry has an excellent level but we still need to learn to market ourselves better throughout the world"

Eduardo Anitua, General Manager of the BTI Biotechnology Institute

BTI Biotechnology Institute is a biomedical and biotechnology company specialised in the design and manufacture of dental implants, prosthetic components and surgical instruments. From its headquarters in Vitoria-Gasteiz and following almost a decade of intense R&D&I activity, the company has grown to achieve an important international presence. At present, BTI is the leading national manufacturer of dental implants and one of the most important manufacturers on a European scale, with 24 patents and leading the sector with its scientific innovations. Its General Manager, Eduardo Anitua, reviews the major milestones on the company’s road to success and anticipates where the Basque and international biomedical sector may head in the years to come.

BTI set out as a company devoted to the design and manufacture of dental implants, and in a short time, it has become an international reference in implantology. Where do you think the key to such rapid and resounding success lies?

In 2000, BTI began to develop a new range of dental implants that has provided enormous therapeutic advantages. Today, oral implantology is one of the priority lines of this business group that designs, manufactures and carries out the surface treatment until the final product is obtained. We have more than 1,000 catalogue references and our products, which are subjected to the strictest quality controls and are guaranteed with different official quality certifications, are acquired mainly by dentists and maxillofacial surgeons from up to 15 countries around the world.

It could be said that this is all due to BTI’s firm commitment, from the very beginning, to innovation as a driver for growth, making huge efforts in research and development to bring together and form an experienced team of researchers in such an innovative speciality as implantology and regenerative therapy.

Hence, one of the key factors of this company is that we devote an important part of our resources to training our team and passing on the knowledge acquired through courses offered at our training centre. At the same time, we also have cooperation agreements with numerous companies, universities and research centres in Spain and abroad.

I believe that the sum of all these factors has placed BTI in the international avant-garde and a position of competitive advantage which sets us apart from the other companies in the sector. This is all through a firm commitment to scientific research and the acquisition of an advanced technological infrastructure.

In recent years, BTI has extended its fields of action within what is known as regenerative medicine and, for example, researches and applies tissue regeneration using Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF). What are the main benefits of regenerative medicine for the patient in the forthcoming years?

Regenerative therapy is one of the most important exponents of the intense research work conducted by BTI that has led to the development of the PRGF technique. It is a biotechnological product consisting of an autologous concentration of proteins (cell signals) that are obtained from the patient and which stimulate the regeneration of tissues such as bones, muscles, tendons, skin, cornea… This technology, for which BTI is a world pioneer, allows aged or damaged tissues to be regenerated without the need to resort to animal origin proteins or those obtained by other recombinant techniques. Its applications are many. Today, it is a proven technique in oral and maxillofacial surgery and implantology, but its effects are also extremely positive in areas like dermatology, plastic surgery, orthopaedics, sports medicine, ophthalmology and surgery in general, among others.

It could be said that the main benefit of regenerative medicine for the patient is the increasingly wider field of application, as it is under constant development due to the numerous clinical trials that are being carried out.

Where is the future of biomedical research headed? What role will regenerative medicine play?

Regenerative medicine as well as tissue engineering and, in general, the development of technologies with a clear translational vision of the repair and regeneration of tissues represents a milestone in 21st century medicine. The use of growth factors combined with the use of stem cells will be two of the major advances of the next decade. If the last century was characterized by the progress made in terms of transplants, this century will be identified for biotechnological progress in tissue regeneration. In this respect, various clinical trials have been concluded with exceptional results, one of which in facial rejuvenation.

We are so convinced of the importance of translational regenerative medicine and all of the possibilities that it offers, that we have organized an event in Vitoria last 31 October, covering different procedures and technologies in regenerative medicine with a clear translational vision, describing them and debating their effectiveness in different areas of interest through the presentation of cases and clinical trials. We have had world renowned speakers in different themed areas, combining reputed scientists with medical clinics and professionals with proven experience and professionals of the biotechnology and regenerative medicine sector.

BTI is a clear example that world class research can be developed from the Basque Country and exported throughout the world. Has globalization been one of the pillars of your company’s success?

In the past, BTI opted for firm strategic development: penetrating the most important countries and hence, being pioneers there. In fact, we are present in Germany, Italy, the United States, Mexico, Japan, South America, Russia, Greece and a long list of other countries. Furthermore, we have our own office and professional team in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Mexico and the United States. Globalization has indeed been one of the challenges facing BTI given the lack of tradition at the time by the Spanish sector, as far as globalization is concerned.

What are the challenges faced by the biosciences sector in the forthcoming years? How should public and private initiatives face these challenges?

From my point of view, the key lies in firmly believing in projects and being committed to them, always bearing in mind the different collaboration options. In my opinion, true success never comes from isolated and sporadic initiatives, but it can only be the result of on-going efforts.

We must take into account that the position of the biomedical industry in the Basque Country was marginal just ten years ago, but some companies have become international references thanks to the firm commitment of institutions and professionals in this sector. This is translated into the fact that turnover is reinvested in the region, know-how is available and excellent professionals no longer have to move away because it is impossible to develop their knowledge here. We can now proudly say that we have reached a level of excellence we still have vast potential to continue improving. But even so, I think that a change of mentality is necessary, becoming aware of what we have here: promoting it and trying to market ourselves better throughout the world. We have no reason to envy other countries in this respect, except that on many occasions, their marketing is better.