1965 -1970s: The Beginning
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1965
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Incorporation as American Medical Research, Inc. starts the company on microbial diagnostic device research and development. |
1968
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 Initial Public Offering and the company name changes to DIAGNOSTIC, INC. |
1970s
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Primary business is manufacturing Microbial Diagnostic Devices. |
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1980s: Development of Fermentation-Based Hyaluronic Acid
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1981
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 A research program is initiated to develop fermentation-based hyaluronic acid manufacturing technologies. |
1983
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First commercial hyaluronan contract with Alcon Laboratories, Inc. |
1984
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Microbial Diagnostics business is sold, to focus company activity on expansion of biotechnology research, product design, and manufacturing. |
1987
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 Name changed to Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. Acquisition of Hydroxylapatite technology (OrthoMatrix, Inc. of Dublin, California). |
1989
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A Supply Agreement is signed with Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, for development of GYNECARE INTERGEL, an adhesion prevention solution for gynecological and urological surgical use. |
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1990s: Integration of the Dental Division
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1990
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The Sustain® Dental Implant System from OrthoMatrix is commercially introduced, and Lifecore establishes direct sales and marketing functions. |
1991
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 Chaska Headquarters facility opens. |
1992
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 OrthoMatrix Division is renamed Lifecore Oral Restorative Division and acquisition of Sustain® Dental Implant System is completed. The HAPSET® Hydroxylapatite Bone Graft Plaster product is commercially introduced. |
1993
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Ophthalmic research agreement is signed with Bausch & Lomb. Chaska facility aseptic fill suite becomes fully operational for hyaluronan production. |
1994
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Acquisition of Implant Support Systems, Inc., a dental implant business. Chaska hyaluronan manufacturing facility validation received by Alcon, Inc. Minneapolis manufacturing operations consolidated to Chaska facility. Bausch & Lomb ophthalmic hyaluronan product development agreement signed. |
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ETHICON, INC., exclusive supply, marketing, and technology transfer agreements signed; The INTERGEL Solution product development project transfers to Lifecore. |
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Lifecore signs an agreement with Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc. for exclusive research and supply activities for wound care management product R&D and manufacturing. |
1995
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Bausch & Lomb supply agreement signed for Amvisc® and Amvisc® Plus Ophthalmic Hyaluronan Solutions. Orphan Medical, Inc. supply agreement signed for Caprogel® Topical Aminocaproic acid. |
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ISO 9001 and CE Mark certifications received. |
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INTERGEL Solution IDE for adhesion prevention clinical study is received and the pilot clinical study launched in the U.S. |
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Formation of the Lifecore Italian subsidiary, Lifecore S.p.A. in Verona, Italy. |
1996
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Bausch & Lomb Supply exclusivity agreement signed for ophthalmic products. Mentor Opthalmics hyaluronan private label supply agreement signed. |
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INTERGEL Solution pilot clinical study completed; pivotal clinical study commenced in U.S. and Europe. INTERGEL Solution patents allowed in U.S. |
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CAPSET® Bone Graft Barrier commercially launched in the U.S. |
1997
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Oral Restorative distribution begins in Japan for Lifecore Dental Implant products. Distribution agreement for LifeCell’s AlloDerm® Acellular Dermal graft signed. |
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 Acquisition of TefGen-FD™ Membrane product line completed. |
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The Website: www.lifecore.com launches. |
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The Chaska facility undergoes expansion for additional office, R&D, manufacturing and warehouse space. |
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INTERGEL Solution Pivotal Trial Data Analysis is completed, indicating safety and efficacy. |
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Listed Lifecore exchange options begin trading. |
1998
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INTERGEL Solution is commercially introduced in Europe by Johnson & Johnson. |
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Lifecore is recognized as a Minnesota Technology FAST 50 winner. |
1999
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Lifecore's ferric hyaluronan product INTERGEL Solution pre-market approval application (PMA) is filed with the US FDA. |
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2000 & beyond: Continuing Purposeful Innovation into the Millennium
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2000
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 STAGE-1® Single Stage Dental Implant is commercially introduced in the U.S. |
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Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF) agreement signed for orthopedic hyaluronan supply. |
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Lifecore Biomedical GmbH begins operations in Bonn, Germany. |
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Lifecore Biomedical AB subsidiary established in Stockholm. |
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INTERGEL Solution PMA Supplement filed with the US FDA and INTERGEL Solution PMA rejected by FDA. |
2002
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FDA’s decision on INTERGEL Solution PMA approval is reversed by a unanimous decision of a historic first FDA Medical Devices Dispute Resolution Panel. |
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Johnson & Johnson’s GYNECARE, INC., the Women’s Healthcare Division of ETHICON, INC., begins US marketing of INTERGEL Solution in 3Q. |
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STAGE-1 Single Stage Dental Implant System is approved for distribution in Korea and Japan. |
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The Global e-commerce website for Oral Restorative division is launched for efficient sales and billing of Lifecore products. |
2003
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INTERGEL Solution is voluntarily withdrawn from the market in 3Q. |
2004
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BARDO-BIOTECH SAS agreement is signed for exclusive distribution of Lifecore dental products in France. |
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HEXAL AG supply agreement is signed for hyaluronan knee therapeutic product. |
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Lifecore Biomedical names Dennis Allingham as President & CEO. |
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Lifecore Biomedical names new officers David Noel as VP of Finance & CFO and Larry Hiebert as VP of Operations. |
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 RENOVA® Internal Hex Dental Implant System is commercially introduced. |
2005
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Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) signs an exclusive agreement for distribution of private label hyaluronan viscoelastic product. |
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Lifecore secures worldwide marketing rights to hyaluronan anti-adhesion product. |
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 Lifecore introduces CALMATRIX®, a calcium sulfate bone graft binder to its existing regeneration product offering. |
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Lifecore Biomedical names Kipling Thacker , PhD as VP of New Business Development and names Luther Griffith to it’s Board of Directors. |
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 Lifecore introduces CALFORMA®, a calcium sulfate bone graft barrier to its existing regeneration product offering. |
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Lifecore renews its long-term Supply Agreement with Alcon, Inc. |
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Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry awards Lifecore with MNSHARP Certification. |
2006
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 Lifecore celebrates its 40th Anniversary. |
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Lifecore Biomedical SAS subsidiary established in Beauzelle, France. Lifecore expands direct sales of dental implant products to France. |
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 Lifecore’s new Prima™ Implant System is commercially introduced. |
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Martin J Emerson joins Lifecore’s Board of Directors. |
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Lifecore promotes Larry Hiebert to Vice President and General Manager of the Hyaluronan Division and appoints Jim Hall to Vice President of Technical Operations. |
2007
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 Lifecore's Oral Restorative Division becomes Lifecore Dental. |
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Lifecore Biomedical announces license agreement with Cleveland Clinic. |
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NASDAQ names Lifecore to its NASDAQ Global Select Market. |
2008
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Lifecore ranked 43 in Fortune Small Business 2007 FSB 100-America’s Fastest-Growing Small Companies. |
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Lifecore ranted 52 in Business 2.0 2007 list of 100 Fastest-Growing Tech Companies. |
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FDA was notified on January 3 that Lifecore voluntarily withdrew PMA for adhesion prevention solution. Lifecore will no longer manufacture or market this device. |
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Lifecore enters into representation agreement with XCPT, LLC for Patient Engagement and Communication Software. |
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Dennis Allingham named 2007 BioScience Success Stories award recipient by Twin Cities Business magazine. |
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Lifecore promotes Bob Guyatt to Senior Director of Marketing & U.S. Sales |