MISGAV, Israel & SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA I October 27, 2013 I Medgenics, Inc. (NYSE MKT:MDGN and AIM:MEDU, MEDG), developer of a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, announces that new, positive data on the Company’s second-generation viral vectors were highlighted in a poster presentation at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Congress. The poster in its entirety can be viewed at www.medgenics.com.
Entitled “Second generation EPODURE Biopump™ markedly extends duration of EPO delivery in mice could prolong therapeutic effect in patients,” the poster was presented yesterday by Reem Miari, MSc and Dr. Nir Shapir of Medgenics, and study authors. This new study showed that the Company’s second-generation gene therapy vectors provided substantial improvements in levels and durability of therapeutic protein secretion in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the new vectors incorporated improvements in surgical technique, including co-administration of Depo-Medrol® (methylprednisolone acetate) on implantation. More specifically, when Depo-Medrol was applied to second generation vectors, animals serum hEPO levels remained 40-50 fold higher for over 100 days post implantation when compared to first generation vector with no Depo-Medrol.
The Company plans to initiate human trials with a Biopump containing the second generation viral vector and new implantation protocol in the first half of 2014.
“These new data are compelling and provide additional evidence of our success in advancing the Biopump technology while improving performance and handling,” said Dr. Garry Neil, Global Head R&D at Medgenics. “The second-generation viral vectors show potential to substantially increase the duration of the protein secretion of the Biopump with enhanced surgical techniques. These advances can be clinically meaningful, particularly for patients on chronic protein therapy. Based on these results we plan to accelerate our development work, and will advance the second-generation vectors into human clinical trials.”
“We are delighted to have these preliminary data on our second-generation Biopump presented at this prestigious scientific meeting,” said Michael Cola, President and Chief Executive Officer of Medgenics. “The Biopump technology platform, which produces therapeutic proteins in the body using a small tissue explant from the patient’s own skin, holds significant clinical opportunity in a variety of indications. We are very encouraged by these data as the enhanced viral vectors may improve the surgical procedure and prolong the therapeutic effect in patients.”
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, among others. For more information, please visit www.medgenics.com.
SOURCE: Medgenics
Post Views: 203
MISGAV, Israel & SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA I October 27, 2013 I Medgenics, Inc. (NYSE MKT:MDGN and AIM:MEDU, MEDG), developer of a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, announces that new, positive data on the Company’s second-generation viral vectors were highlighted in a poster presentation at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Congress. The poster in its entirety can be viewed at www.medgenics.com.
Entitled “Second generation EPODURE Biopump™ markedly extends duration of EPO delivery in mice could prolong therapeutic effect in patients,” the poster was presented yesterday by Reem Miari, MSc and Dr. Nir Shapir of Medgenics, and study authors. This new study showed that the Company’s second-generation gene therapy vectors provided substantial improvements in levels and durability of therapeutic protein secretion in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the new vectors incorporated improvements in surgical technique, including co-administration of Depo-Medrol® (methylprednisolone acetate) on implantation. More specifically, when Depo-Medrol was applied to second generation vectors, animals serum hEPO levels remained 40-50 fold higher for over 100 days post implantation when compared to first generation vector with no Depo-Medrol.
The Company plans to initiate human trials with a Biopump containing the second generation viral vector and new implantation protocol in the first half of 2014.
“These new data are compelling and provide additional evidence of our success in advancing the Biopump technology while improving performance and handling,” said Dr. Garry Neil, Global Head R&D at Medgenics. “The second-generation viral vectors show potential to substantially increase the duration of the protein secretion of the Biopump with enhanced surgical techniques. These advances can be clinically meaningful, particularly for patients on chronic protein therapy. Based on these results we plan to accelerate our development work, and will advance the second-generation vectors into human clinical trials.”
“We are delighted to have these preliminary data on our second-generation Biopump presented at this prestigious scientific meeting,” said Michael Cola, President and Chief Executive Officer of Medgenics. “The Biopump technology platform, which produces therapeutic proteins in the body using a small tissue explant from the patient’s own skin, holds significant clinical opportunity in a variety of indications. We are very encouraged by these data as the enhanced viral vectors may improve the surgical procedure and prolong the therapeutic effect in patients.”
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, among others. For more information, please visit www.medgenics.com.
SOURCE: Medgenics
Post Views: 203
