BioHorizons has added a new allograft to its biomaterials lineup, and clinicians who place bone grafts will want to know what sets it apart. Prolifica is a naturally occurring blend of allogeneic growth factors, and the company says its main distinction is how it releases those proteins over time rather than all at once.
The product entered the market through a manufacturing partnership rather than an in-house formula. BioHorizons private-brands the technology as Prolifica, while Xtant Medical develops and manufactures it under the name OsteoFactor Pro for other markets. That distinction matters if you’re trying to trace the clinical data back to its source.
This guide walks through what Prolifica contains, how its release mechanism is described, and where the current evidence stops short of proving implant or patient outcomes. If you’re weighing it against other grafting materials in your practice, you can review the product details on BioHorizons’ site or reach out to your BioHorizons territory manager to ask how it fits your case mix.
Key Takeaways
- Prolifica is an allogeneic growth factor product built around a two-phase protein release pattern.
- It retains at least 16 proteins tied to cell growth and bone healing, based on manufacturer testing rather than independent clinical trials.
- Clinicians can use it alone or combined with autologous or allograft bone, following the product’s instructions for use.
What Is Prolifica and What Did BioHorizons Announce?
BioHorizons announced Prolifica as a new allogeneic growth factor added to its biomaterials portfolio, intended to support bone healing and tissue regeneration during grafting procedures. The announcement was made through a company press release and covered by several dental trade publications, including Dentistry Today.
An Allogeneic Addition to the Biomaterials Portfolio
Prolifica is allogeneic, meaning it comes from donor human tissue rather than the patient’s own body or a synthetic source. It joins a portfolio that already includes several MinerOss and Genate allograft products, giving BioHorizons customers another option specifically built around growth factor delivery.
The material is stabilized by native human collagen, which BioHorizons says helps preserve the growth factors in their natural structure, concentration, and composition, according to BioHorizons’ product page.
What Makes the Product Distinct in the Dental Market?
BioHorizons describes Prolifica as unique to the dental market because of how it preserves the natural biphasic release of proteins. Most allograft products on the market focus on scaffold structure or mineral content; positioning a graft primarily around its protein release pattern is a narrower claim, and one worth understanding before you decide where it fits your procedures.
How Does Prolifica Release Growth Factors?
Prolifica is designed to release its growth factors in two distinct phases rather than in a single burst. This pattern is meant to mirror how the body’s own healing process unfolds after a bone injury or graft placement.
The Initial Release and Healing Cascade
The first phase delivers a surge of proteins and growth factors right after placement. BioHorizons says this initial release is meant to support the start of the healing cascade, the sequence of biological signals that kicks off tissue repair.
Sustained Release for Ongoing Regenerative Support
The second phase is a slower, prolonged release that continues after the initial surge. This sustained delivery is intended to provide regenerative support over a longer window of healing, according to data on file at Xtant Medical, the product’s legal manufacturer. The proteins remain bound to native human collagen throughout this process, which the company credits for keeping them in their intrinsic form rather than a processed or synthetic substitute.
What Role Do Its Proteins Play in Bone Healing?
Prolifica’s proteins are tied to cell growth, cell division, and the biological steps involved in bone healing and tissue regeneration, based on the manufacturer’s characterization of the product. Whether that translates into faster or more predictable healing in a specific patient depends on far more than the graft material alone.
The Claim of at Least 16 Unique Proteins
BioHorizons states that Prolifica retains a minimum of 16 unique proteins. This figure comes from manufacturer testing rather than a peer-reviewed clinical study, so it describes what the product contains, not what it accomplishes once placed in a surgical site.
How Growth Factors Relate to Cell Activity and Bone Remodeling
Growth factors and cytokines influence osteoblasts (the cells that build bone) and osteoclasts (the cells that break it down), a balance central to bone remodeling. A review published in Biofactors discusses how growth factors and bioactive peptides contribute to osteogenesis, the process of new bone formation.
Separately, a review in Frontiers in Immunology examines how cytokines affect osteoblast and osteoclast activity in bone remodeling, including in osteoporosis. Both papers describe general bone biology; neither one tested Prolifica itself.
Where Can Clinicians Use Prolifica?
Clinicians can use Prolifica for standalone bone grafting or combine it with other graft materials, according to its instructions for use. That flexibility is one of the more practical points for surgeons comparing it against materials already in their inventory.
Standalone Bone Grafting
Prolifica can be placed on its own in bone grafting procedures without mixing it with another graft material. This makes it a straightforward option in sites where a growth-factor-driven approach fits the clinical plan.
Combining It with Autologous or Allograft Bone
Prolifica can also be combined with autologous bone (harvested from the patient) or other allograft materials. Surgeons who already favor a particular allograft or autograft technique for hard tissue regenerative procedures, including cases tied to dental implants, can layer Prolifica into that existing protocol rather than replacing it outright.
What Does the Evidence Establish So Far?
The current evidence establishes what Prolifica contains and how it is processed, not how it performs against other grafts in patients. That distinction matters when you’re deciding how much weight to give the product in a treatment plan.
Separating Product Data from Clinical Outcome Evidence
The 16-protein figure and the biphasic release description both come from manufacturer data on file, not from a published clinical trial comparing Prolifica to other grafting materials. The two cited research reviews explain general mechanisms of bone healing and remodeling; they were not designed to test this specific product. Reading the citations carefully helps you avoid assuming that background science on growth factors amounts to proof of improved outcomes.
Why the Instructions for Use Matter
The product’s instructions for use are the primary source for its approved applications, including standalone grafting and combination use with autologous or allograft bone. Reviewing that document before incorporating Prolifica into a case gives you the specifics on handling, indications, and any precautions that a press release or product page won’t fully spell out.
How Does Prolifica Fit BioHorizons’ Wider Offering?
Prolifica extends BioHorizons’ biomaterials line, which sits alongside its dental implants, prosthetics, and digital solutions for full-arch and single-tooth care. It’s one addition to a broader system built around implant-based tooth replacement therapy.
Biomaterials Within Implant and Restorative Care
BioHorizons positions its biomaterials as part of a full continuum of tooth replacement therapy, supported by the BioHorizons Digital Ecosystem, which spans treatment planning, scanning, surgery, and restoration. Steve Boggan, the company’s president and CEO, noted that demand for advanced allograft solutions is tied to an aging population requiring more complex hard tissue regenerative procedures, according to BioHorizons’ own announcement.
Availability and Company Background
BioHorizons is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and has developed dental products since 1994. The company operates as part of Henry Schein, and its exclusive distribution agreement with Xtant Medical covers the United States and Canadian dental markets, as detailed in Xtant Medical’s partnership announcement.
A New Grafting Option That Still Calls for Clinical Judgment
Prolifica gives clinicians another allograft solution built around a biphasic protein release pattern, but it should be evaluated the way any new grafting material is: against its documented indications, not against implied outcome claims. The manufacturer data on its 16 proteins and release timing describes the product’s composition, not a guarantee of faster healing or better implant survival in your hands.
Surgeons who already use autologous bone or other allografts can treat Prolifica as a complementary option rather than a wholesale replacement. Checking the instructions for use before your first case, and staying alert to how future published data (as opposed to manufacturer data on file) characterizes its regenerative support, will serve your patients better than reacting to launch messaging alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the growth factors in Prolifica?
Prolifica contains a naturally occurring blend of allogeneic growth factors, retaining at least 16 unique proteins tied to cell growth, cell division, and bone healing. These proteins remain stabilized by native human collagen, which preserves their natural structure and concentration according to the manufacturer.
How does Prolifica’s two-phase release work?
Prolifica releases an initial surge of proteins right after placement to help start the healing cascade. A slower, sustained release follows, intended to provide ongoing regenerative support as the graft site continues to heal.
Can Prolifica be used with a patient’s own bone?
Yes, Prolifica can be combined with autologous bone or other allograft materials in bone grafting procedures. It can also be used on its own in standalone grafting cases, depending on the clinical situation.
Is Prolifica proven to improve dental implant outcomes?
Prolifica’s manufacturer data describes its protein content and release pattern, but no published clinical trial has compared it against other grafting materials for implant outcomes. The cited research on osteogenesis and bone remodeling explains general biological mechanisms, not results specific to this product.
Is Prolifica available outside the United States?
BioHorizons distributes Prolifica through its commercial network, with the exclusive distribution agreement with Xtant Medical covering the United States and Canadian dental markets. Clinicians outside those regions should check with BioHorizons directly about availability.
Who owns BioHorizons?
BioHorizons is a Henry Schein, Inc. company. It remains headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and has operated as a dental implant manufacturer since 1994.
Leave a Reply