Tutogen Medical, Inc. history

A more relevant date for the launch of Tutogen was October 1985 when Texas doctor Weldon S. Guest founded Biodynamics Inc. in Houston to develop medical and surgical products.

In 1986 he attracted $2.6 million in Canadian venture capital money and a reverse merger was engineered with GBM Exploration, which served as little more than a shell in order to gain Canadian standing.

The seed money did not last long, however, and by late 1987 most of the funds were exhausted.

A subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., Shiley, Inc., stepped in with $200,000 in 1989 and provided technical assistance in developing the device, but when it also made a offer to buy the technology, American Biodynamics declined.

In 1991 it formed an alliance with Surgimedics Inc. to market a new bone-graft product and other surgical products.

In October 1992, Tutogen Medical (Tutogen) opens a facility in Neunkirchen am Brand, Germany.

In May 1993 Biodynamics was strong enough to acquire the Wound Care Division of Pfimmer-Viggo, but then events would now combine to stunt the company's growth.

Next, in May 1994 the FDA banned the importation of brain sheathing from the German plant.

In April 1995 Hargiss resigned as president, CEO, and a member of the board in order to "pursue other interests." He was replaced on an interim basis by Chairman Charles C. Dragone.

In fiscal 1997 sales totaled $8.9 million, resulting in a net loss of $5.2 million.

In keeping with this concept, in 1998 Biodynamics changed its name to Tutogen Medical, Inc., an effort to more closely link the corporate name with the company's core technology.

2000: The company gains a listing on the American Stock Exchange.

US Patent for assembled bone implants issued on August 6, 2002.

In 2003 Tutogen introduced Cervical Space, a spinal product.