Melbourne, Nov 7, 2005 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian adult stem cell company, Mesoblast Limited (ASX:MSB), today announced that Cordis Corporation, a Johnson & Johnson company, will join forces in its upcoming adult stem cell Pilot Cardiac Clinical Trial through an agreement with Mesoblast's American affiliated company, Angioblast Systems Inc.
Mesoblast's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Silviu Itescu, said that the collaboration would be the world first clinical use of the latest Biosense Webster Inc cardiac injection catheter technology for cell delivery. "This is a significant endorsement of the clinical potential of our proprietary adult stem cell technology," Professor Itescu said.
The Principal Investigator of the Pilot Clinical Trial at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital, Dr Suku Thambar, will use the Biosense Webster NOGA XP catheter technology to deliver the proprietary adult stem cells directly into the damaged heart muscle of up to ten patients suffering from severe multi-vessel coronary artery disease. "The advantage of this latest technology is the speed with which it allows us to assess viable heart muscle where cells can be accurately delivered," Dr Thambar said. "This should maximise the potential benefit of adult stem cells for patients with ischemic heart disease, while providing clinicians with a user-friendly method to deliver the cells".
Mesoblast Executive Chairman, Mr Michael Spooner, said there was substantial international interest in Mesoblast's imminent clinical trials and platform technology. "Mesoblast's strategy is to have the strongest possible approach to commercialising our technology by working closely with global dominant players in our areas of interest. The relationship with the Johnson and Johnson companies, Cordis and Biosense Webster, is indicative of this strategy. "Importantly, under this agreement we will retain all of our Intellectual Property rights associated with our platform adult stem cell technology and will remain free to pursue all commercial options," Mr Spooner said.
Contact
Julie Meldrum
Corporate Communications Director
Mesoblast Limited
+ 61 3 9639 6036 or
+ 61 419 228 128
julie.meldrum@mesoblast.com
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