ACatechol

What ACatechol does

ACatechol, Inc. is a privately held Delaware C. Corp MedTech startup founded in 2016 by Kollbe Ando Ahn, Eric Ryan, Phillip Ho, and Jinsoo Ahn, headquartered across Vista (California, R&D), Santa Barbara (California, admin), and Las Vegas (Nevada, corporate). The company develops a bioinspired surface engineering platform built on mussel- and sandcastle-worm-inspired catechol chemistry combined with gemini-surfactant silanization and marine-organism adhesion biochemistry. Its current product portfolio comprises four technology lines: (1) a Durable Residual Germicidal Gemini surface technology (NSF COVID-19 SBIR-funded) reported to deliver up to 100,000,000x higher antimicrobial/antiviral efficacy vs. state-of-the-art; (2) Anti-Biofilm & Anti-Infective Catheters targeting catheter-related bloodstream infections, with preclinical data of <1% biofilm coverage, >100% fouling reduction, and ~80% infection-rate reduction; (3) a Wet Bonding / Mussel-Inspired Surgical Adhesive (NIH-funded) targeting tendon-to-bone repair as a suture adjunct; and (4) a Non-Invasive Dental Bonding & On-Demand De-Bonding technology that was licensed and acquired by Danaher Corporation in 2019 and is now held by Envista Holdings.

ACatechol is pre-commercial for its catheter and surgical adhesive programs. Its revenue model today consists of one-time licensing/acquisition proceeds from the 2019 dental transaction, plus non-dilutive federal grant funding (NSF, NIH R21, NIH NIAMS). Forward commercialization is planned through out-licensing, OEM partnerships, and strategic investor arrangements rather than direct sales, with the company actively soliciting strategic partners and investors for its anti-biofouling catheter and adhesive technologies via its website. To date, the company's intellectual property position includes six international patent families (three granted in the US, EU, China, and Japan; three pending), peer-reviewed publications in ACS Langmuir and Advanced Healthcare Materials, and formal collaborations with Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Washington University in St. Louis, Seoul National University, and the UCSD/UCI/UCLA characterization facilities. The leadership team combines the founding PhD research scientist as CEO, an MD/PhD former FDA device reviewer as CMO, an MBA serial entrepreneur as CFO, and a DMD as EVP of Product Development with a track record of 510(k) clearances across orthopedics, dental, and cardiovascular devices.

Name

ACatechol

Legal name

ACatechol, Inc.

Website

https://acatechol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACatechol is a pre-commercial MedTech startup developing bioinspired, mussel-inspired surface engineering technologies — including anti-biofilm catheters, germicidal coatings, and wet-bonding surgical adhesives — for medical-device OEMs and hospital systems, with a 2019 dental technology license to Danaher/Envista as its only commercial transaction to date.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Device Surface Coatings

NAICS

Adhesive Manufacturing (32552), Dental Laboratories (339116)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Dental Equipment & Supplies (3843)

akta.pro primary industry

Sterile & Aseptic Medical Packaging (Pouches, Wraps, Sterile Barriers) (IMALAIAB)

Keywords

• Biomimetic surface coatings
• Antimicrobial catheter technology
• Bioinspired medical adhesives
• Antifouling surface engineering
• Wet bonding adhesives

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Licensing / Acquisition of technology: Dental surface coating and restorative adhesive technology was licensed to Danaher Corporation in 2019 and subsequently acquired by Envista Holdings (spun out of Danaher group). One-time / milestone licensing economics with ongoing potential royalties.
2. Non-dilutive grant funding: NSF COVID-19 SBIR grant for germicidal coating development; NIH R21 grant for anti-biofilm catheter work; NIH NIAMS funding for orthopedic bonding / rotator cuff repair adhesive development. Funds support R&D operations.
3. Future product sales (catheters and indwelling devices): Pre-commercial. Future revenue expected from sales or licensing of anti-biofouling catheter technology to medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers, targeting the $45B antimicrobial catheter market (2020) and broader $77.7B indwelling device market by 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ACatechol develops biomimetic, bioinspired surface engineering technologies built on mussel-inspired catechol chemistry and gemini surfactant silanization chemistry. Its current and pipeline offerings include anti-biofouling and antimicrobial catheters, long-lasting germicidal Gemini surface coatings to prevent surface transmission of infectious diseases, and mussel-inspired wet-bonding surgical adhesives for orthopedic (rotator cuff) repair. Its non-etching dental bonding technology was licensed to Danaher/Envista Holdings in 2019 and is no longer sold directly by ACatechol.

Product overview

ACatechol, Inc. is a Delaware C. Corp MedTech startup (founded 2016) commercializing a portfolio of bioinspired, biomimetic surface treatment technologies rather than a single discrete product. Its core platform is the patented Gemini surface technology, which underpins its lead active product program — the Anti-Biofilm & Anti-Infective Catheters — and its self-disinfecting / germicidal coatings aimed at preventing surface transmission of infectious diseases. Layered on top of the same surface chemistry foundation are additional bioadhesive programs: the Non-Invasive Dental Bonding & On-Demand De-Bonding technology (which was licensed and divested to Envista Holdings, spun out of Danaher, in 2019) and the Wet Bonding / Surgical Adhesive program for orthopedic (rotator cuff) repair, funded by NIH. Together these products span medical device coatings, antimicrobial catheters, and wet-environment bioadhesives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Anti-Biofilm & Anti-Infective Catheters Anti-biofouling and antimicrobial catheters designed to prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections. Built on ACatechol's Gemini-surfactant plus silanization antifouling coating platform (NSF SBIR-funded). Preclinical pilot data demonstrated approximately 80% reduction in infection rates, <1% biofilm coverage, and >100% fouling reduction vs. state-of-the-art catheters in vitro. Intended for medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers treating patients requiring central venous, hemodialysis, urinary, or endotracheal catheters.
• Gemini Surface Technology (Self-Disinfecting / Germicidal Coatings) Bioinspired, long-lasting residual germicidal surface technology that prevents adhesion of microorganisms and kills pathogens on contact. Developed from an NSF COVID-19 SBIR grant to prevent surface transmission of infectious diseases (including COVID-19 and secondary infections). Published performance up to 100,000,000× higher surface antimicrobial/antiviral efficacy vs. state-of-the-art (ACS Langmuir, 2022). Targeted at hospitals, public surfaces, and medical device manufacturers seeking durable residual germicidal coatings.
• Wet Bonding / Surgical Adhesive (Orthopedic Rotator Cuff Repair) Non-toxic, biodegradable, strong surgical adhesives based on mussel-inspired catechol chemistry. Developed under NIH R21 and NIH NIAMS funding as a suture replacement/adjunct for tendon-to-bone (rotator cuff) repair, in partnership with Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Published in Advanced Healthcare Materials (DOI 10.1002/adhm.202102344). Targeted at orthopedic surgeons and medical device manufacturers serving the rotator cuff repair and tendon-to-bone surgical repair markets.
• Non-Invasive Dental Bonding & On-Demand De-Bonding Technology Non-destructive wet (etch-less) bonding and on-demand de-bonding dental surface technology that preserves healthy enamel. Developed and licensed/acquired by Danaher Corporation in 2019 and subsequently transferred to Envista Holdings (spun out of the Danaher group). No longer commercialized directly by ACatechol following the 2019 acquisition; remains part of ACatechol's technology heritage and patent portfolio referenced on the company website.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 100,000,000 times higher surface antimicrobial/antiviral efficacy vs. state-of-the-art
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core historical milestone, supporting and core.

• Envista Holdings (spun out of Danaher Corporation)flagship / core historical milestoneOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2019Licensed and subsequently acquired ACatechol's non-etching dental bonding and on-demand de-bonding technology in 2019. The deal was originally signed with Danaher Corporation, then transferred when the dental segment was spun out as Envista Holdings. Limited to dental restoration and orthodontics applications.
• Danaher Corporationflagship / core historical milestoneOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2019Original licensee of ACatechol's dental surface coating and restorative adhesive technology in 2019. Subsequently, the dental business was spun out as Envista Holdings.
• NAMSAsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNAMSA (medical device testing, certification, and regulatory consulting) is listed in the ACatechol Partners section, supporting regulatory and product development activities.
• UC Santa Barbara (UCSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACatechol was founded while Dr. Kollbe Ando Ahn served as faculty at UCSB. Distinguished Professor Herbert Waite (a pioneer in bioinspired adhesion) serves as scientific advisor. Main laboratory was also originally located in Santa Barbara before moves to Pasadena and Vista.
• UC San Diego / UC Irvine / UC Los AngelessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerACatechol has established collaborative access to material characterization facilities at UCSD, UCI, and UCLA to support R&D.
• Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Mohamed Zayed (vascular surgeon-scientist, Professor) and Dr. Tarek Alhamed (nephrologist) serve as Clinical Advisors; Dr. Guy Genin (Professor of Neurological Surgery and Mechanical Engineering) serves as Scientific Advisor for bioadhesive development. Collaborates on preclinical/clinical studies, regulatory strategy, and large animal models.
• Columbia University Irving Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Stavros Thomopoulos (Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Director of the Carroll Laboratories) is collaborating with ACatechol to develop a bioadhesive for tendon-to-bone repair (rotator cuff).
• Seoul National UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Jinsoo Ahn (co-founder of ACatechol) is Professor of Dentistry and Vice Dean of Dental Research Center at Seoul National University, contributing expertise in preclinical and clinical trials for biomaterials and maxillofacial surgery.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Henkel: Global adhesives and sealants major with a bio-based adhesives subsegment. Adjacent rather than direct competitor; relevant for understanding commercial benchmarks for bioinspired adhesives and as a potential industrial-scale licensing partner.

Broad incumbents

• Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson MedTech): Global leader in surgical sutures, hemostats, and tissue adhesives. Represents both a potential strategic partner/competitor for ACatechol's mussel-inspired surgical adhesive program addressing rotator cuff and other repairs.
• 3M Health Care: Diversified health care and adhesives business with skin adhesives, surgical tapes, and antimicrobial surface technologies. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping adhesive and germicidal-surface capabilities.
• Envista Holdings: Spun out of Danaher in 2019; holds the license/ownership of ACatechol's non-etching dental bonding technology. Directly comparable as the historical acquirer of ACatechol's most commercially advanced program, and a broader dental device conglomerate.

Emerging players

• Tissuemed: UK-based developer of tissue adhesives and sealant films for surgical use. Comparable specialty surgical adhesive competitor with overlapping application areas in wet-environment tissue sealing.

Direct peers

• ICU Medical: Manufacturer of IV catheters, central venous catheters, and critical-care medical connectors with strong infection-prevention portfolio. Direct comparable target customer for ACatechol's antimicrobial catheter coating.
• Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD): Global leader in central venous catheters and vascular access devices. ACatechol's anti-biofouling catheter technology is directly targeting BD's core product lines with an antimicrobial coating upgrade.
• Cohera Medical: Developer of surgical adhesives and sealants (e.g., TissuGlu) for tissue repair. Closely comparable to ACatechol's mussel-inspired wet-bonding surgical adhesive program for tendon-to-bone and other soft-tissue repairs.
• Covalon Technologies: Specialty MedTech company focused on antimicrobial coatings and infection-prevention technologies for medical devices, including catheters. Closest direct competitor in the antimicrobial catheter-coating niche.
• Teleflex: Major manufacturer of central venous catheters, endotracheal tubes, and other indwelling devices. Highly comparable target customer/partner for ACatechol's antimicrobial coating platform given overlapping infection-prevention focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acatechol

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACatechol