Tissue Regenix Group PLC Tissue Regenix signs US distribution agreements (3373V)

TIDMTRX

RNS Number : 3373V

Tissue Regenix Group PLC

12 December 2013

Tissue Regenix Group plc

Tissue Regenix signs United States distribution agreements

YORK, 12 December 2013 - Tissue Regenix Group plc (AIM:TRX) ("Tissue Regenix" or "the Group"), the regenerative medical devices company, today announces that it has signed seven independent regional sales distribution agreements in the United States. The regional distributors' represent over 40 sales representatives that will actively promote DermaPure(TM), Tissue Regenix's dCELL(R) human dermis into acute care hospitals, Veteran Affairs (VA) Hospitals and institutions as well as Long Term Acute Care hospitals (LTACs) in the US.

With the aim of targeting all the states within the US, Tissue Regenix intends to sign further distribution agreements to ensure sales coverage exists in all US metropolitan areas by the end 2014. DermaPure(TM) also remains on course for its commercial launch in the US during the first three months of 2014.

The distribution agreements will now allow Tissue Regenix to promote DermaPure(TM) in the following states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.

Tissue Regenix established its USA subsidiary 'Tissue Regenix Wound Care Inc.' in November 2012, as part of its commercialisation strategy for its dCELL(R) technology platform. In June this year the operation signed a processing agreement with Community Tissue Services (CTS), one of the largest tissue banks in North America. Through the agreement with CTS, Tissue Regenix's dCELL(R) technology is now being applied to produce DermaPure(TM),for use with acute and chronic wounds.

6.5 million US patients are afflicted by chronic wounds currently. The partnership with CTS and the new distribution groups is allowing Tissue Regenix to target the existing $1.4bn market for wound healing devices & equipment, which is anticipated to reach $1.5bn by 2016.[1]

Tissue Regenix's DermaPure(TM) works by taking human donor skin and removing the DNA and cells, using the patented dCELL(R) 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 recently completed trial in the UK by NHS Blood and Transplant ('NHSBT') with the University Hospital of South Manchester has shown that patients who have had chronic wounds for an average of 41/2 years and who were treated with a single application of Tissue Regenix' DermaPure(TM) have seen an 87% reduction in the size of all wounds, while 60% of patients were completely healed, with virtually no recurrences.

Greg Bila, President of Tissue Regenix Wound Care Inc. said: "We are delighted to have signed these seven regional distribution agreements, allowing us to dispense DermaPure(TM) to 25 states in the US. These agreements allow us to launch our institutional sales strategy, and we are working hard with the distributors to bring the product to market. With a significant distribution footprint now in place across the US, we remain steadily on course for the North American commercial launch of DermaPure(TM) in 2014."

ENDS

For Further Information

   Tissue Regenix Wound Care Inc:                                              [phone] 

Greg Bila

Tissue Regenix Group plc: [phone]

Antony Odell

Jefferies International Ltd: [phone]

Simon Hardy

Harry Nicholas

   Newgate Communications:                                                        [phone] 

Alistair Kellie

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(R)') 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 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(R) technology platform.

[1] 'Wounds, gauzes and biofilms combine for an ugly triad' JG Thomas, L Corum, H Mantlagh (2012)

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