ROCK HILL, S.C. and
SILVER SPRING, Md., April 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Systems
(NYSE: DDD) and United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ: UTHR)
today announced plans to develop solid-organ scaffolds for human
transplants. The multi-year collaboration and development
agreement combines the 3D printing and precision healthcare
expertise of 3D Systems with the regenerative medicine and organ
manufacturing capabilities of United Therapeutics.
3D Systems will collaborate with United Therapeutics and its
organ manufacturing and transplantation-focused subsidiary, Lung
Biotechnology PBC. The agreement focuses on development of 3D
printing systems for solid-organ scaffolds, beginning with lung
scaffolds.
The printing system will target collagen and other building
block proteins as scaffold raw materials. Lung Biotechnology
PBC will cellularize the scaffolds with patient-specific biological
material, including re-differentiated stem cells.
"Our partnership with 3D Systems is a major step forward in
creating an unlimited supply of tolerable transplanted organs,"
said Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D.,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Therapeutics.
"By cellularizing scaffolds created with 3D Systems printers
with a patient's own cells, there will no longer be a need for
immunosuppression and a vastly greater number of patients can
extend their enjoyment of life through organ transplantation."
"As a global leader in healthcare solutions, we are part of many
developments and applications for 3D printing coming together
including bioprinting," said Vyomesh
Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of 3D Systems. "We believe
bioprinting is a powerful opportunity and we are uniquely
positioned with the broadest portfolio of technologies to partner
with companies of the caliber of United Therapeutics to provide
healthcare solutions of the future."
"Combining the resources of United Therapeutics and 3D Systems
transforms our capability to tackle this difficult challenge," said
Chuck Hull, Executive Vice
President, Chief Technology Officer, 3D Systems. "This project will
be based out of our new bioprinting lab in San Diego, CA, and will rely on expertise
across many technical disciplines within 3D Systems as well as the
domain knowledge of our technical partners at Lung Biotechnology
PBC."
The collaboration and joint development will add another
technology alternative to United Therapeutics' pursuit of an
unlimited supply of organs for human transplantation.
"Our Lung Biotechnology public benefit corporation is taking
personal regenerative medicine to its highest level yet with this
practical, economic solution to a major health care problem,"
concluded Dr. Rothblatt. "Indeed, we expect one personalized
organ transplant will avoid years of health care spending on
palliative medical therapies."
About 3D Systems
3D Systems provides
comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers,
print materials, on demand manufacturing services and digital
design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the
product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. 3D
Systems' precision healthcare capabilities include simulation,
Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and
dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical
instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of
future 3D solutions, 3D Systems has spent its 30-year history
enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs,
transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and
drive new business models.
More information on the company is available
at www.3dsystems.com
About United Therapeutics Corporation
United
Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on the
development and commercialization of innovative products to address
the unmet medical needs of patients with chronic and
life-threatening conditions.
About Lung Biotechnology PBC
Lung
Biotechnology PBC is a public benefit corporation addressing the
acute national shortage of transplantable lungs and other organs
with a variety of technologies that either delay the need for such
organs or expand the supply. Lung Biotechnology is the first
public benefit corporation subsidiary of a public biotechnology or
pharmaceutical company. [uthr-g]
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included
in this press release that are not historical in nature are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor
contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements include, among others, 3D
Systems' and United Therapeutics' expectations regarding the impact
and success of the strategic partnership between the two companies
and the ability United Therapeutics or Lung Biotechnology to
successfully develop manufactured organs for transplantation,
through this collaboration with 3D Systems or otherwise.
These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties, such as those described in 3D Systems' and United
Therapeutics' periodic reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, that could cause actual results to differ
materially from anticipated results. Consequently, such
forward-looking statements are qualified by the cautionary
statements, cautionary language and risk factors set forth in 3D
Systems' and United Therapeutics' periodic reports and documents
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including their
most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. 3D Systems and United
Therapeutics claim the protection of the safe harbor contained in
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for
forward-looking statements. This information is provided as of
April 26, 2017, and neither 3D
Systems nor United Therapeutics assumes any obligation to update or
revise the information contained in this press release whether as a
result of new information, future events or any other reason.
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SOURCE United Therapeutics Corporation