Osteopore Ltd Completes EVD Guide Project With Over 97% Precision
Osteopore completes EVD guide project with more than 97% precision
Osteopore Limited (ASX: OSX) has completed its novel intra-operative external ventricular drain (EVD) guide project, achieving more than 97% precision across 40 unique trajectories. The result marks the successful conclusion of a two-phase collaboration first announced on 10 March 2026 with National University Hospital (NUH).
The Australian-Singaporean regenerative medicine company, a global leader in 3D-printed biomimetic and bioresorbable implants, disclosed that the project timeline was significantly accelerated. The original research collaboration agreement (RCA) ran for 33 months, concluding 31 December 2028, but development advanced ahead of that schedule.
For investors, the result remains subject to further clinical validation before the technology can be confirmed.
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What the results showed
The collaboration was structured across two phases. Phase one focused on the design and prototyping of the EVD guide, ensuring it met the functional needs of the procedure. Phase two involved simulated testing of the guide in dry bone models, comparing outcomes against those achieved under neuro-navigation, which uses intra-operative navigation equipment and software systems.
The NUH neurosurgery collaboration was structured as a 33-month research agreement signed in March 2026, with Osteopore securing first rights to negotiate an exclusive worldwide licence over any jointly developed IP from the outset.
The testing methodology paired imaging technology with patient-specific models. Matching Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scans of each patient were loaded into an imaging system. The EVD was then placed under imaging guidance (the control group), and separately using only Osteopore’s newly-developed guide (the test group), with the two sets of results compared.
In all 40 cases, a slightly-modified Osteoplug-C, one of Osteopore’s highly used neurosurgery implants, was paired with the EVD guide. The guide is designed to be used together with the Osteoplug-C.
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Precision achieved | >97% |
| Trajectories tested | 40 unique |
| Dry bone models | 10 patient-specific (4 trajectories each) |
| Model type | 3D-printed from patient skull imaging data |
| Comparator | Neuro-navigation systems |
Two important qualifiers accompany the data:
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The result is subject to further clinical validation.
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It suggests the EVD guide and Osteoplug-C combination may attain accuracy levels similar to neuro-navigation systems.
Why EVD placement precision matters to investors
An EVD is a temporary catheter inserted into the brain’s fluid spaces to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood. It relieves dangerous pressure that can build up following stroke, trauma, or haemorrhage, making accurate placement a matter of patient safety.
The clinical problem is well documented. Freehand placement techniques carry meaningful risk, and misplacement can lead to occlusion of the drain and new neurological complications. The announcement cited the following data points:
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Reported freehand misplacement rates in the range of 25–40%.
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Mortality from EVD complications of 28.9% at 30 days (2025 study).
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Mortality from EVD complications of 33.7% at 90 days (2025 study).
A mechanical guide capable of reaching navigation-level accuracy would address a serious, well-documented clinical gap by reducing freehand misplacement and the associated mortality risks that have been documented in the literature.
The market opportunity and commercial rights
The global market opportunity for a mechanical intra-operative EVD guide is substantial. Osteopore cited an estimated 20,000–25,000 EVD procedures performed annually in the United States alone, with the Asia Pacific region noted as the fastest-growing region.
On the commercial side, the announcement was specific about the licensing structure. Under the RCA, Osteopore has the first rights to negotiate for an exclusive worldwide license. The intellectual property developed during the project is jointly-owned, and both parties are concurrently seeking IP protection.
The collaboration is led by Adjunct Associate Professor Vincent Nga, Head of Division and Senior Consultant, Division of Neurosurgery at NUH.
For investors, worldwide licensing optionality combined with a large and growing addressable market frames the potential upside, subject to the project advancing through further stages.
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What comes next
The next stage identified by the project team is clinical evaluation. Osteopore and NUH are now seeking additional funding opportunities to progress the project into this phase. No funding amount, source, or timeline has been disclosed.
The accelerated completion, relative to the original schedule running to 31 December 2028, offers a positive signal on execution.
Key Result
The simulated testing demonstrated more than 97% precision across 40 unique trajectories into the target brain fluid space of 10 patient-specific dry bone models, according to the announcement.
Moving toward clinical evaluation represents the next step in translating these simulated results into a validated surgical tool, subject to securing the funding required to advance.
For investors exploring Osteopore’s broader clinical pipeline in parallel with the EVD guide programme, our detailed coverage of Osteopore’s jaw reconstruction trial at Princess Alexandra Hospital outlines a separate clinical pathway advancing through first-patient treatment toward a 10-patient feasibility study, with full outcome data not expected before 2031.
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