Starch Medical

What Starch Medical does

Starch Medical Inc. (SMI) is a privately held, San Jose, California-based medical device company founded in 2007 that designs, manufactures, and commercializes absorbable hemostatic products. The company's offering is built on its proprietary AMP (Absorbable Modified Polymers) technology platform — biocompatible, ultra-hydrophilic polymer particles synthesized from purified plant starch that rapidly absorb water from blood to concentrate platelets and coagulation proteins, accelerate the clotting cascade, and form a gelled adhesive matrix. AMP materials contain no human or animal components and are degraded by amylase within a few days. The product portfolio includes PerClot (absorbable powder hemostat for open and laparoscopic surgical procedures), SealFoam (naturally adhesive absorbable pad with Sternal and Standard configurations), SuperClot (powder with applicator for surgical and trauma use), and Responder (topical hemostat for combat, trauma, and emergency use). PerClot is commercially available in over 35 countries and is covered by U.S. Patent No. 8912168; AMP-related patents have also been granted in China.

The company monetizes through two streams: direct sale of hemostatic products via an independent global distribution network and licensing of its AMP technology to healthcare partners. Current and former licensing counterparties include Baxter International (which acquired certain PerClot assets from CryoLife in July 2021 and now distributes PerClot globally, with SMI continuing to manufacture under license), CryoLife, EndoClot Plus, and Medix (exclusive distributor of SuperClot in Italy since 2017). Customers are concentrated in two segments: surgical specialty markets (gynecologic, general, cardiovascular, and urology procedures) and emergency/trauma care (EMS, military, and trauma centers). The company holds CE marks for SuperClot, SealFoam, and Responder, and supports its commercial position with clinical evidence across multiple surgical specialties and presence at industry events including MEDICA and European surgical congresses.

The operating footprint is small — headcount is reported at 1-10 employees — and there is no publicly disclosed revenue, funding history, or institutional investment in the input data. The 2021 sale of PerClot commercialization rights to Baxter represents the single most consequential commercial event in the company's history, shifting SMI's economic relationship with its flagship product from direct sale to a manufacturing and licensing arrangement. The addressable market is sizable: the topical absorbable hemostats market is projected to reach $3.03 billion by 2030 at a 6.9% CAGR, into which AMP-based products are positioned as plant-derived, animal-component-free alternatives to traditional hemostats.

Name

Starch Medical

Legal name

Starch Medical Inc.

Website

https://starchmedical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Starch Medical Inc. is a privately held San Jose-based medical device company that designs, manufactures, and licenses absorbable hemostatic products built on its proprietary AMP plant-starch polymer platform, serving surgical, trauma, and emergency care markets globally through distribution and licensing partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surgical Hemostats

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (33911)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Starch-Based Biodegradable Materials (TPS compounds, blends) (IMAEAOAF)

Keywords

• Absorbable hemostatic products
• Polysaccharide hemostats
• Surgical bleeding control
• Plant-based polymers
• Trauma wound care

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sale of hemostatic products including Responder, SuperClot, SealFoam, and PerClot through independent distribution networks globally.
2. Licensing Royalties: Licensing AMP technology to healthcare partners globally. PerClot technology was sold to CryoLife (then acquired by Baxter) and technology is licensed to CryoLife, EndoClot Plus, and Baxter.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Starch Medical designs, manufactures, and sells absorbable hemostatic products (PerClot, SealFoam, SuperClot, Responder) used by surgeons and trauma care providers to control bleeding during surgical procedures and following traumatic injuries. All products are built on its proprietary AMP (Absorbable Modified Polymers) technology platform of biocompatible, ultra-hydrophilic polymer particles synthesized from purified plant starch, containing no human or animal components and absorbed by the body within days.

Product overview

Starch Medical is a medical technology company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes a portfolio of absorbable hemostatic technologies based on its proprietary AMP® (Absorbable Modified Polymers) platform. The product portfolio includes PerClot® (powder format for surgical procedures), SealFoam® (pad/foam format for surgical and trauma use), SuperClot® (powder with applicators for surgical use), and Responder® (topical format for combat, trauma, and emergency situations). All products are derived from purified plant starch with no human or animal components, and are absorbed in the body within a few days. The technology serves both surgical and emergency care markets globally through licensing partnerships including CryoLife, EndoClot Plus, and Baxter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AMP® (Absorbable Modified Polymers): Proprietary technology platform consisting of biocompatible, ultra-hydrophilic, and adhesive polymer particles synthesized from purified plant starch to control bleeding.
• Responder®
• PerClot®
• SealFoam®
• SuperClot®

Products and services

• PerClot® Polysaccharide Hemostatic System Unique, absorbable powder hemostat composed of modified plant starch. Used as an adjunctive hemostatic device to control bleeding during multiple open and laparoscopic surgical procedures including gynecologic, general, cardiovascular, and urology. Available in 1g, 3g, and 5g configurations with applicators including a laparoscopic delivery format; absorbed by the body within a few days. Distributed globally by Baxter International following the 2021 acquisition of related assets.
• Responder® Polysaccharide Hemostat Topical hemostat synthesized from purified plant polymer designed for combat, trauma, and emergency situations. Off-the-shelf deployment with easy storage. Water-soluble particles dissolve with water or saline rinses. Available in 3g, 5g, 10g, and 25g configurations. Intended for treatment of severely bleeding wounds including cuts, lacerations, burns, and traumatic injuries.
• SealFoam® Absorbable Polysaccharide Hemostat Naturally adhesive absorbable hemostatic pad composed of AMP particles derived from purified plant starch. Designed to control bleeding during surgical procedures or following traumatic injuries. Can be trimmed to address specific procedural requirements; absorbed in the body within a few days. Available in Sternal (PFS03) and Standard (PD644, 0.9g absorbing up to 26ml of fluid) configurations.
• SuperClot® Absorbable Polysaccharide Hemostat Absorbable hemostat system composed of AMP particles and a delivery applicator. Intended to control bleeding during surgical procedures or following traumatic injuries. Available in 3g and 5g configurations with applicators (SA01 380mm, SA02 200mm); naturally absorbed in the human body within a few days.

Quantifiable outcome

• Absorbed in body within a few days
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Baxter International Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 28 July 2021On July 28, 2021, Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) acquired certain assets related to the PerClot Polysaccharide Hemostatic System from CryoLife. Baxter now manufactures and distributes PerClot globally as part of their advanced surgery portfolio. SMI continues to manufacture PerClot under Baxter's licensing arrangement.
• MedixregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 November 2017Medix holds an exclusive agreement to market Starch Medical's SuperClot Hemostat in Italy. Medix is a healthcare company serving hospitals and their patients in the Italian market. The partnership was established in November 2017 following SuperClot's CE approval.
• CryoLifecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCryoLife previously licensed PerClot technology and held distribution rights before selling the PerClot assets to Baxter in July 2021. CryoLife was an earlier licensee of SMI's AMP technology.
• EndoClot PluscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerEndoClot Plus is a global licensing partner for SMI's AMP technology. EndoClot Plus distributes hemostatic products incorporating AMP technology in various international markets.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Baxter International: Baxter is a major global medical device and surgical products company that acquired certain assets of Starch Medical's PerClot in 2021 and now manufactures and distributes it globally. It is comparable as both a partner-licensor and a broad incumbent in the surgical hemostat category.
• Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson MedTech): Ethicon is the dominant player in surgical hemostats with products such as Surgicel, Surgicel Fibrillar, and other oxidized regenerated cellulose-based absorbable hemostats. Directly comparable as the category leader that SMI's AMP technology competes against across general, gynecologic, cardiovascular, and urology surgical procedures.
• BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company): BD is a diversified medical device incumbent with surgical and hemostasis product lines (historically including Avitene collagen hemostats) sold through its BD Surgery franchise. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the surgical hemostat category with deep hospital relationships.
• Medtronic: Medtronic is a diversified medical device incumbent with significant surgical and hospital businesses. Comparable as a broad incumbent with the resources and GPO contracts to influence surgical hemostat formulary decisions across the same hospital customers SMI targets.
• CSL Behring: CSL Behring is a global biotherapeutics leader with hemostasis and bleeding-control products (e.g., fibrin sealants, plasma-derived hemostats). Comparable as a broad incumbent addressing surgical and trauma bleeding through adjacent (non-polysaccharide) technology platforms.

Direct peers

• Integra LifeSciences: Integra LifeSciences manufactures and sells absorbable hemostatic products (e.g., Surgifoam, Integra Hemostat) used across surgical specialties. It is comparable as a focused mid-sized surgical hemostat peer competing for the same hospital accounts and surgical indications as SMI.
• CryoLife: CryoLife was historically SMI's exclusive licensee for PerClot before selling those assets to Baxter in 2021. Comparable as a former channel partner in cardiac and surgical hemostats and an active medical device company with overlapping surgical customer relationships.
• EndoClot Plus: EndoClot Plus is an SMI global licensing partner that distributes hemostatic products incorporating AMP technology in international markets, particularly focused on GI/endoscopic bleeding control. It is comparable as a direct licensee-competitor in plant-polysaccharide-based hemostats.
• Teleflex (Z-Medica): Teleflex acquired Z-Medica, maker of QuikClot combat gauze and hemostatic dressings widely used in military and emergency trauma care. Comparable as a direct competitor in the combat/trauma hemostat segment where SMI's Responder product is positioned.

Regional players

• Medix (Italy): Medix is SMI's exclusive distribution partner for SuperClot in Italy, serving Italian hospitals. Comparable as a regional channel partner/distributor of SMI's hemostatic products in the Italian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Starch Medical