EXTON, Pa. and GERMANTOWN, Md., Jan.
13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fibrocell Science, Inc. (NYSE
MKT:FCSC), an autologous cell therapy company primarily focused on
developing first-in-class treatments for skin diseases and
conditions with high unmet medical needs, and Intrexon Corporation
(NYSE: XON), a leader in synthetic biology, announced today an
expansion of their Exclusive Channel Collaboration (ECC) to develop
a treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type (EDS-HT),
a rare genetic disorder resulting in weakened connective
tissue.
Fibrocell and Intrexon will endeavor to engineer autologous
fibroblast cells genetically corrected to produce tenascin-X
(TN-X), a protein that is deficient in the connective tissue of a
subset of EDS-HT patients. Patients with EDS-HT often
experience significant musculoskeletal complications, including
frequent joint dislocations, subluxations and early onset
osteoarthritis.
Jouni Uitto, M.D., Ph.D., Chair
of the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology at
Thomas Jefferson University in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said
the collaboration is a step toward addressing the unmet needs of
EDS patients around the world.
"There are currently no therapies for hypermobility-type EDS,"
said Dr. Uitto. "Healthcare providers are only able to treat the
severe symptoms of EDS, such as prescribing braces to improve joint
stability and by assisting patients with the pain they
experience. The prospect of an actual treatment is wonderful
news for these patients."
Fibrocell Chief Executive Officer David
Pernock noted that the companies' evolving expertise and
experience gained through the existing RDEB collaboration will be
leveraged to accelerate EDS therapy research and development.
"Intrexon and Fibrocell have unique experience in protein
replacement therapy using autologous fibroblasts as a delivery
mechanism," said David Pernock,
Fibrocell Science Chief Executive Officer. "Intrexon's UltraVector®
technology has made it possible for Fibrocell to leverage the power
of its autologous fibroblasts to address a host of unmet medical
needs."
Using Fibrocell's autologous fibroblast technology platform and
Intrexon's UltraVector® platform, the companies plan to genetically
modify autologous fibroblasts to express TN-X. The goal is to
employ the TN-X-expressing cells in the clinic, where they would be
injected into EDS-HT patients at the disease sites – most likely
lower limbs like knees, hips and feet, as well as the jaw – to
correct connective tissue malfunction caused by deficient TN-X
expression. Fibrocell's technology led to the FDA-approved
cell based autologous fibroblast product, azficel-T (LAVIV®).
"Fibrocell is unique in that it has identified, fostered and
developed a unique method of harvesting and expanding human
autologous fibroblasts ex vivo," said Samuel Broder, M.D., Chairman of Intrexon's
Health Sector and former Director of the National Cancer
Institute.
"We see vast potential for additional disease targets as we grow
our collaborative relationship with Fibrocell. Through our
collaborations our goal is to develop wholly new classes of
therapeutics for the treatment of multiple skin disorders with
unmet medical needs that potentially affect millions worldwide,"
Dr. Broder said.
Under terms of the expanded agreement, Intrexon will receive a
technology access fee of $5 million
in Fibrocell common stock valued at the closing price on
January 9, 2014 of $4.88. Other aspects of the agreement
duplicate the terms related to the existing collaboration
pertaining to RDEB and the new class of therapeutics the companies
are developing for morphea, cutaneous eosinophilias,
and psoriasis.
About Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Fibrocell Science, Inc.
(NYSE MKT:FCSC) is an autologous cell therapy company primarily
focused on developing first-in-class treatments for skin diseases
and conditions with high unmet medical needs. Based on its
proprietary autologous fibroblast technology, Fibrocell is pursuing
breakthrough medical applications of azficel-T for restrictive burn
scarring and vocal cord scarring. The company's collaboration
with Intrexon Corporation (NYSE:XON), a leader in synthetic
biology, includes using genetically-modified fibroblasts for
treating orphan skin diseases for which there are no currently
approved products and exploring the localized treatment of the most
common autoimmune skin disease, moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
Fibrocell's collaboration with UCLA—focusing on skin-derived stem
cells and more efficient ways to convert skin cells to other cell
types—holds potential for future discovery and development of
autologous cellular therapeutics. For additional information, visit
www.fibrocellscience.com.
About Intrexon Corporation
Intrexon Corporation (NYSE:
XON) is a leader in synthetic biology focused on collaborating with
companies in Health, Food, Energy and the Environment to create
biologically-based products that improve the quality of life and
the health of the planet. Through the company's proprietary
UltraVector® platform, Intrexon provides its partners with
industrial-scale design and development of complex biological
systems. The UltraVector® platform delivers unprecedented
control over the quality, function, and performance of living
cells. We call our synthetic biology approach and integrated
technologies Better DNA®, and we invite you to discover more
www.DNA.com.
About UltraVector®
UltraVector® is one of Intrexon's
proprietary technology platforms for the design, creation,
modification, and regulation of complex gene programs and cellular
systems at commercial scale.
Trademarks
Intrexon, UltraVector, and Better DNA are
trademarks of Intrexon and/or its affiliates. Other names may
be trademarks of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements made in
this press release are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the ability
of Fibrocell and Intrexon to engineer autologous fibroblast cells
genetically corrected to produce TN-X and to develop wholly new
classes of therapeutics for the treatment of skin disorders with
unmet medical needs. These forward-looking statements are based
upon our current expectations and projections about future events
and generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for
the development of our business. Although management believes
that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual future
results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and
expectations expressed in this press release. Accordingly,
investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking
statements as a prediction of actual results.
For more information, contact:
Fibrocell Contact:
Greg
Weaver
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +1 (484) 713-6000
gweaver@fibrocellscience.com
Intrexon Corporation Contact:
Marie Rossi, Ph.D.
Manager, Technical Communications
Tel: +1 (301) 556-9944
publicrelations@intrexon.com
SOURCE Intrexon Corporation