Tissue Regenix Group plc
Tissue Regenix announces launch of DermaPure™ in the USA
· DermaPure™ targets $1.4 billion a year market for skin substitutes
· Distribution network now covers 80% of country
· Federal institution distributor appointed
YORK, 12 June 2014 - Tissue Regenix Group plc (AIM:TRX) ("Tissue Regenix" or "the Group"), the regenerative medical devices company, today announces that it has launched DermaPure™ ("DermaPure") its decellularised dermis product in the US. Tissue Regenix's partner CTS (Community Tissue Services) will begin shipping product to customers next week.
In addition to the launch of DermaPure™, the Group also announces that it has continued to expand its distribution network around the country and currently has a network of over 60 reps that covers 80% of the US. Through this network, sale representatives will actively promote Tissue Regenix's dCELL® human dermis in acute care hospitals, Veteran Affairs (VA) Hospitals and institutions, as well as in Long Term Acute Care hospitals (LTACs).
Furthermore, Tissue Regenix has also signed an exclusive government supplier partnership with TASSMA for the distribution of DermaPure™. TASSMA provides business development services to medical device and equipment manufacturers seeking to rapidly grow their federal government market share. The partnership with TASSMA will allow Tissue Regenix to immediately target the Department of Veteran's Affairs Healthcare System and the numerous branches of the US military.
The commercial launch of the DermaPure™ dermis allograft will now allow Tissue Regenix to target a market worth $1.4bn a year for wound healing devices and equipment. 6.5 million US patients are afflicted by chronic wounds currently.
Tissue Regenix's DermaPure™ works by taking human donor skin and removing the DNA and cells, using the patented dCELL® process to leave a natural biological scaffold that can be placed in the wound to aid natural healing by attracting the patient's own cells to the wound area.
A trial in the UK has shown that patients who have had chronic wounds for an average of 4½ years and who were treated with a single application of Tissue Regenix' DermaPure™ have seen an 87% reduction in the size of all wounds, while 60% of patients were completely healed, with virtually no recurrences.
DermaPure™ can be easily administered in hospital and/or community settings, such as GP clinics, and is stored at room temperature, requiring no rehydration before use or expensive refrigerated storage.
Greg Bila, President of Tissue Regenix Wound Care Inc. said: "Commercial production and distribution of the DermaPure™ is a significant step forward for Tissue Regenix. This paves the way for the development of other human tissue based medical treatments.
DermaPure™ is initially being targeted at acute care patients with diabetic foot ulcers, a condition which affects around 600,000 people in the US each year, and patients with venous leg ulcers, which currently affect around 2.5 million people in the US. We see this as a large market that is in need of medical innovation, which is exactly what DermaPure™ provides."
Antony Odell, CEO of Tissue Regenix Group Plc stated: "Tissue Regenix has managed to establish the US organisation and launch its first product less than 18 months after forming our North American subsidiary company, and we are now fully established and ready to demonstrate the commercial power of dCELL®. We look forward to continuing to progress the commercialisation of our unique technology."
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For Further Information
Tissue Regenix Group Plc: +44 19 0443 5176
Antony Odell
Jefferies International Ltd: +44 20 7029 8000
Simon Hardy
Harry Nicholas
Newgate Communications: +44 20 7680 6550
Andrew Adie
Andrew Jones
About Tissue Regenix
Tissue Regenix is a leading medical devices company in the field of regenerative medicine. The company's patented decellularisation ('dCELL®') technology removes DNA and other cellular material from animal and human tissue leaving an acellular tissue scaffold which is not rejected by the patient's body which can then be used to repair diseased or worn out body parts. The potential applications of this process are diverse and address many critical clinical needs such as vascular disease, heart valve replacement, wound care and knee repair.
Tissue Regenix was formed in 2006 when it was spun-out from the University of Leeds. The company commercialises academic research conducted by our partners around the World.
In November 2012 Tissue Regenix Group plc set up a subsidiary company in the United States- 'Tissue Regenix Wound Care Inc.', as part of its commercialisation strategy for its dCELL® technology platform.
About Community Tissue Services
Community Tissue Services, a not-for-profit tissue bank, is an ethical provider of services to donor families, medical communities, recipients, and community partners through recovery, processing and distribution of tissue grafts. Community Tissue Services complies with guidelines and regulations with the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) and many other state health department regulations.
About TASSMA
TASSMA, LLC is a CVE Verified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) based in Buffalo, New York. TASSMA's mission is to provide governmental business development services to medical device and equipment manufacturers through a combination of contract administration and account management activities. As an SDVOSB supplier to the federal government, TASSMA is able to access small business programs not generally available to larger corporate entities, giving our partners a distinct advantage in the federal marketplace. Todd Staples, a former Marine who served in Operations Desert Shield/Storm is President and CEO of TASSMA, LLC. "As a veteran and an employer, there is no greater honor than to serve our fellow man, especially those who have served. We honor their sacrifice every single day." www.tassma.net Contact: [email protected]
