FDA approves DNA suture

The Food and Drug Administration said today it has cleared for marketing the first suture made with recombinant DNA technology, a product of a Cambridge medical device company called Tepha Inc.

The FDA said the TephaFlex Absorbable Suture is made from material isolated from genetically engineered bacteria.

A call to Tepha seeking comment was not immediately returned.

On its website, Tepha said it applies advances in biotechnology and materials science to develop innovative medical devices that can be used in procedures for surgical repair and regenerative medicine.

Tepha's website also noted that its proprietary technology was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)