Dr. Peter Geistlich – Pioneer and visionary
Until his death in 2014, Dr. Peter Geistlich was President of the Board of Directors at Geistlich Pharma AG. He has worked at the company since the 1950s. In the 1980s, Dr. Peter Geistlich had the vision of developing regenerative biomaterials. For this purpose, he established a business division within the Geistlich Group and invested in a new era. Even today, his name stands for the quality of our products and characterises the company in the long term.
Dr. Peter Geistlich, founder of the Osteology Foundation and President of the Board of Directors of Geistlich Pharma AG (left), and Prof. Christoph Hämmerle, Chairman of the Osteology Foundation.
In collaboration with international researchers, Dr. Peter Geistlich developed the bone replacement material Geistlich Bio-Oss® and the collagen membrane Geistlich Bio-Gide®.
Product development with international scientists
In collaboration with international researchers – predominantly with Prof. Dr. Philip J. Boyne from the University of Loma Linda in California - Dr. Peter Geistlich did pioneering work in bone regeneration. For the first time, he freed bone material from organic components – without changing the natural microstructure and bone composition. He thus invented the bone substitute Geistlich Bio-Oss®.
As a second step, Dr. Peter Geistlich developed the natural collagen membrane Geistlich Bio-Gide®. Thanks to its good wound healing properties Geistlich Bio-Gide® facilitates a simple operation technique and fundamentally changed bone regeneration. Geistlich Pharma has remained true to the approach of science-based development in collaboration with universities and practitioners – for existing products and new developments.
Combining science with practical application
In 2003, Dr. Peter Geistlich, together with Geistlich Pharma, established the Osteology Foundation (Image Movie). With the foundation he created a platform that has the aim to promote research and training, as well as linking science and practice in the field of bone and soft tissue regeneration. In 2013 Dr. Peter Geistlich and Geistlich Pharma launched the American Osteo Science Foundation with the objective to establish a platform for funded and independent basic and applied research for new therapy approaches and clinical treatment methods in dental medicine. Accompanying implementation of teaching to establish new knowledge is also a core issue.