Medgenics Granted U.S. Patent for Core Technology Used in Sustained Delivery of Erythropoietin, Aime
Medgenics Granted U.S. Patent for Core Technology Used in Sustained Delivery of Erythropoietin, Aimed at Multi-Billion Dollar Anemia Market
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office also allowed key claims protecting similar method for delivery of clotting Factor VIII aimed at sustained treatment of hemophilia
MISGAV, Israel & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Medgenics, Inc. (NYSE Amex: MDGN and AIM: MEDU, MEDG) (the "Company"), the developer of BiopumpTM a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, today announced a patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) protecting the use of Medgenics' EPODURE Biopump technology for delivery of erythropoietin (EPO). Medgenics is developing EPODURE to address the need for safer, sustained treatment of anemia. The USPTO also allowed claims covering a similar method for delivery of clotting Factor VIII, underlying Medgenics' HEMODURE™ Biopump technology for sustained prophylactic treatment of hemophilia.
Similar claims covering EPODURE and HEMODURE have also been recently allowed in Japan, China, Korea and Australia.
In total, Medgenics' global portfolio now includes 36 patents issued, with 81 more pending.
Medgenics believes its approach to protein therapy has multiple benefits compared with current treatments, which include regular and costly injections of therapeutic proteins. Medgenics' technologies target the global protein therapy market which is forecast to reach $132 billion in 2013.
"As we continue to progress in our clinical trials and move forward in our business development efforts, the protection of our intellectual property becomes critical. We believe that receiving method patents and allowance of key claims for our Biopump™ system for the production and delivery of EPO and Factor VIII proteins increases the value of our intellectual property assets and our company," stated Andrew L. Pearlman, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Medgenics.
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 tissue for the treatment of a range of chronic diseases including anemia, hepatitis and hemophilia, among others. 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™ to produce and deliver erythropoietin from a single administration, which has demonstrated elevation and stabilization of hemoglobin levels in anemic patients for periods of six months to more than 36 months in a Phase I/II dose-ranging trial in Israel and is currently in a Phase IIa trial in dialysis in Israel. An Investigational New Drug application has been cleared by the FDA to initiate a Phase IIb study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EPODURE in the treatment of anemia in dialysis patients in the U.S.
INFRADURE™ for sustained production and delivery of interferon-alpha for use in the treatment of hepatitis, which has received approval for two Phase I/II trials in hepatitis C from the Israeli Ministry of Health with the first slated to commence in Q4 2012; and has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of hepatitis D.
HEMODURE™ for sustained production and delivery of clotting Factor VIII therapy for the sustained prophylactic treatment of hemophilia, which is now in development.
Medgenics is focused on the development and manufacturing of its innovative Biopumps, aiming to bring them to market via strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical and/or medical device companies.
In addition to treatments for anemia, hepatitis 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.
Medgenics, Inc.
Dr. Andrew L. Pearlman, +972 4 902 8900
andrew.pearlman@medgenics.com
or
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