THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF EU REGULATION 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION WILL BE CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.  

07 May 2024  

Graft Polymer (UK) Plc

(the "Company")

Grant of Haemostatic Hydrogel Patent

Following the publication of the Company's audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 on 30 April 2024, which included an accounting impairment of the Company's plastic manufacturing plant in Slovenia, the Company announced the disposal of Graft Polymer d.o.o., its wholly owned Slovenian subsidiary, on 3 May 2024.

This disposal enables the Company to focus its attention and resources on its Graft Bio division, which represents, in the Directors' opinion,  strong prospectivity through its intellectual property (IP), licensing agreements, and sales contracts.

The Company is pleased to announce the grant of patent P-202400066, titled "Dual hydrogel multi-crosslinking haemostatic composition and method of manufacturing thereof", to further strengthen the Company's IP portfolio.

The disclosed dual hydrogel multi-crosslinking haemostatic composition offers a groundbreaking solution for emergency haemostasis by amalgamating two distinct gels, each possessing unique cross-linking mechanisms and bioactive components. Gel A, containing sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) and tranexamic acid (TXA), is ionically cross-linked with calcium ions (Ca+), while Gel B, comprising cationic carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and sodium alginate (Na-Alginate), undergoes electrostatic and ionic cross-linking with boron ions (B-).

Stored separately but applied together using a dual-chamber syringe, these gels intermix at the bleeding site, facilitating immediate formation of a final hydrogel with enhanced mechanical properties and adhesive strength.

This composition fulfils the imperative for effective, user-friendly haemostatic agents in emergency settings, offering biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, and pro-healing effects, thereby presenting a versatile solution for various surgical procedures, trauma care, and veterinary medicine, while also serving as a potential scaffold for tissue engineering or drug delivery.

Anthony Tennyson, CEO, commented:

"The global emergency hemostasis products market is significant and growing, and the grant of this patent underscores the potential of our Graft Bio division. With our enhanced hemostasis IP portfolio, we are well-equipped to address the evolving needs of healthcare professionals and patients in this segment. Concurrently, we are actively pursuing our previously announced review of the Company's operations to identify additional opportunities for growth."

Enquiries:

Graft Polymer (UK) Plc 

Anthony Tennyson, CEO and Executive Director, [email protected]

Yifat Steuer, CFO and Executive Director 

Allenby Capital (Broker)

Nick Naylor / Liz Kirchner (Corporate Finance) 

Guy McDougall (Sales) 

 +44 (0) 20 3328 5656