TIDMRXB
RNS Number : 7699R
Rex Bionics PLC
11 March 2016
Rex Bionics Plc
("Rex Bionics" or the "Company")
Agreement with the United States Army
-- Modification of REX to accommodate patients with lower limb loss
-- Co-operation with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), Bethesda,
Maryland, US
-- Potential for "Broad Applicability across the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration"
11 March 2016: Rex Bionics Plc (AIM: RXB), the pioneer of the
REX Robot technology that enhances the mobility of wheelchair
users, is pleased to announce that it has agreed the terms of a
Materiel Transfer Agreement with the United States (US) Army
Medical Research and Materiel Command.
The agreement is the prologue to a program of design
modifications to the REX robotic mobility aid that will allow its
use for early ambulation of patients with lower limb loss. After
limb trauma and limb amputation, ambulation is limited in the early
months due to the length of time that needs to be left from injury
to prosthetic fitting, which can exceed three months. The process
has to account for residual limb tissue recovery to allow for the
socket and prosthetic fitting process to begin.
The benefit of upright exoskeleton and standing devices has been
proven in many patient populations including, but not limited to,
Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury. A US Army review
concluded that there are currently no devices to accommodate early
standing for patients with limb loss and that there is potential
for broad applicability across the Department of Defense and the
Veterans Administration.
Through the proposed modification of the harness system within
the REX device, soldiers with limb loss could benefit from being
upright while awaiting prosthetic fitting and from improved access
to early and aggressive standing rehabilitation; offering the
prospect of shorter rehabilitation time and decreased complications
of prolonged immobility.
Department of Veterans Affairs New Policy
Rex Bionics also notes the announcement made by Rewalk Robotics
Ltd on December 17 2015, that the "U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs ("VA") has issued a national policy for the evaluation,
training and procurement of ReWalk Personal exoskeleton systems for
all qualifying veterans across the United States".
The VA policy does not directly relate to the REX robotic
mobility system; but the Directors of Rex Bionics believe that
there will be US veterans for whom the REX system will be the only,
or the preferred, option (for Soldier Members, with lower limb
loss, for example) and that the VA announcement is therefore
positive for the long-term prospects for Rex Bionics.
Further updates on the REX program with the WRNMMC will be
provided as the program develops.
Crispin Simon, Chief Executive of Rex Bionics Plc, commented:
"We are delighted with this opportunity and the recognition of
REX's unique design features. It is a strong start for our strategy
to take REX into acute as well as chronic care management."
Dr. Kenneth A. Bertram, Principal Assistant for Acquisition, US
Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Ft. Detrick Maryland
commented: "The US Army is committed to developing and providing
the best possible treatment options and technology solutions for
our injured Service Members. We are excited to work with partners
who share our same goal - taking care of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen,
and Marines."
For further information please contact:
Rex Bionics Plc
Crispin Simon, Chief Executive Officer
+44 (0) 748 3 167851
Peter Worrall, Chief Financial Officer
+44 (0) 142 864 5416
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (NOMAD and Broker)
Jonathan Senior/Stewart Wallace
+44 (0) 20 7710 7600
Consilium Strategic Communications
Mary-Jane Elliott / Jessica Hodgson / Chris Welsh / Lindsey
Neville
rexbionics@consilium-comms.com
+44 (0) 203 709 5700
About Rex Bionics plc
Rex Bionics (AIM: RXB) is the pioneer of the REX Robot that
enhances the mobility of wheelchair users and was founded in
Auckland, New Zealand by two robotics engineers with first-hand
experience of wheelchair users and their needs.
Rex Bionics is working with physiotherapists to develop the
concept and practice of Robot-Assisted Physiotherapy (RAP). In a
session of RAP, REX lifts patients from a sitting position into a
robot-supported standing position, allowing them to take part in a
set of supported walking and stretching exercises, designed by
specialist physiotherapists.
In addition, REX P, for use in the home, enables users to walk
and stand with their hands free - providing more work and
recreation options. Our vision is to commercialise an all-day use
REX P for a target market segment of wheel chair users with a
spinal cord injury, who number around 500,000 people in the US and
EU alone.
Wheelchair users are at risk of developing numerous medical
complications from extended periods of sitting. By enabling them to
spend more time standing, walking and exercising, REX may offer
significant health benefits, including improved sleep and
maintenance of joint range, and a reduction in spasm, pain, common
abdominal problems and prescription drug use.
A program of "RAPPER" clinical trials is now under way to
evaluate these potential benefits and a positive interim analysis
of the RAPPER II data was presented on 27(th) November 2015.
Recruitment for RAPPER II remains open and clinics and individuals
can send enquiries to rex@physiofunction.co.uk.
Until now, REX has most commonly been used by wheelchair users
with a spinal cord injury, but has also been used by people who
have suffered a stroke or other traumatic brain injury; and
wheelchair users with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and
cerebral palsy.
Rex Bionics has three Strategic Objectives - to establish
Robot-Assisted Physiotherapy as a Gold Standard of Care for Spinal
Cord Injury, Stroke and other neurological conditions; to establish
REX as the market-leading robotic mobility aid; and by effective
execution of our plans, to deliver significant value growth to
shareholders.
Rex Bionics works with distribution partners in the US
(customerservice@enableme.com), China (MAAB,
alex.lou@maab-group.com), Hong Kong and Taiwan (Deltason,
tommychan@deltason.com), Denmark and Belgium; and in other
countries we support customers directly
(debra.leeves@rexbionics.com).
Rex Bionics was admitted to trading on the London Stock
Exchange's AIM in 2014. REX is not registered for At-Home use in
the United States of America.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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