Medgenics, Inc. (NYSE Amex: MDGN and AIM: MEDU, MEDG) announces
an extension of its agreement with Baxter Healthcare Corporation for the
joint development of the Factor VIII Biopump.
Under the extension, confirmatory studies will be conducted implanting
Factor VIII Biopumps in mice. Baxter will bear the costs of these
studies including the preparation and delivery of the necessary
Biopumps. During the extended agreement, which will expire by September
30, 2011, Baxter has the opportunity, to exercise an exclusive option
for 6 months to negotiate with Medgenics an agreement for
commercialization of the Biopump Factor VIII technology.
"During recent months Medgenics has made considerable progress with the
performance of our Biopump technology, and we are delighted to be moving
forward with our collaboration with Baxter, the global leader in
hemophilia treatments,” stated Andrew L. Pearlman, Ph.D., President and
CEO of Medgenics. "We look forward to completing these confirmatory
studies and expect that they will validate the ability of our Biopump to
produce clinically relevant levels of Factor VIII.”
About Medgenics
Medgenics is developing and commercializing Biopump, a proprietary
tissue-based platform technology for the sustained production and
delivery of therapeutic proteins using the patient’s own skin biopsy for
the treatment of a range of chronic diseases including anemia, hepatitis
C and hemophilia. Medgenics believes this approach has multiple benefits
compared with current treatments, which include regular and costly
injections of therapeutic proteins.
Medgenics has three long-acting protein therapy products in development
based on this technology:
-
EPODURE (now completing a Phase I/II dose-ranging trial) to produce
and deliver erythropoietin for many months from a single
administration, has demonstrated elevation and stabilization of
hemoglobin levels in anemic patients for 6 to more than 24 months;
-
INFRADURE (to commence a Phase I/II trial in Israel in 2011) to
produce a sustained therapeutic dose of interferon-alpha for use in
the treatment of hepatitis C;
-
HEMODURE is a sustained Factor VIII therapy for the prophylactic
treatment of hemophilia, now in development.
Medgenics intends to develop its innovative products and bring them to
market via strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical and/or
medical device companies. Since October 2009, HEMODURE has been the
focus of cooperation between Medgenics and a major healthcare company, a
market leader in hemophilia.
In addition to treatments for anemia, hepatitis C and hemophilia,
Medgenics plans to develop and/or out-license a pipeline of future
Biopump products targeting the large and rapidly growing global protein
therapy market, which is forecast to reach $132 billion in 2013. Other
potential applications for Biopumps include multiple sclerosis,
arthritis, pediatric growth hormone deficiency, obesity and diabetes.
Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include all statements
other than statements of historical fact, including (without limitation)
those regarding the Company's financial position, its development and
business strategy, its product candidates and the plans and objectives
of management for future operations. The Company intends that such
forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created by
such laws. Forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by their
use of the terms and phrases such as "estimate," "project," "intend,"
"forecast," "anticipate," "plan," "planning, "expect," "believe,"
"will," "will likely," "should," "could," "would," "may" or the negative
of such terms and other comparable terminology. All such forward-looking
statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks
and uncertainties. Should any of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, or should any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect,
actual results may differ materially from those included within these
forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no undue reliance should be
placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking
to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's
expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statements are based. As a result of
these factors, the events described in the forward-looking statements
contained in this release may not occur.
