~ Harvest Technologies GmbH enters into an exclusive distribution agreement with LifeCell International to launch Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate system in India
~ Harvest Technologies GmbH located in Munich Germany is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harvest Technologies Corp, Plymouth MA
~ An update on the ongoing clinical trials for Critical Limb Ischemia in India
PLYMOUTH, Mass., June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest Technologies, a world leader in point of care autologous stem cells today announced a sale and marketing relationship with LifeCell International, India’s first and the largest stem cell banking service provider, and a pioneer in stem cell research and technology in India. Together these companies will bring a next generation technology, Harvest’s Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) system, to the Indian market.
Existing methods to produce a stem cell concentrate therapy are time consuming, labor intensive, and require complex logistical considerations. The BMAC System helps in safe and rapid preparation of cell concentrate from bone marrow. The process takes only about 15 minutes and can be conducted at the point of care setting.
The system is currently being used clinically for various medical disciplines. These applications range from fractures, non-unions, AVN, cartilage repair applications, critical limb ischemia (CLI) and cardio vascular regeneration.
Harvest Technologies and LifeCell have implemented this technology in an ongoing Indian CLI study, which is being led by Dr. K. S. Vijayragavan at Department of Vascular Surgery, SRMC, Chennai. Interim results for this study, recently presented at the 14 Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy, showed that the amputation rate for 30 Rutherford class 4 and 5 patients was 14%. The patients’ also reported significant reduction in their pain perception and considerable improvement in quality of life. The study also emphasised the fact that the BMAC process is safe and the Intra-arterial infusion does not cause any adverse reaction. Complete enrollment of the 60 patients is expected by June 1 of this year.
Talking on the association with Harvest Technologies, Mr. Mayur Abhaya, Executive Director, LifeCell International says, “We are excited to partner with Harvest Technologies to bring-in international standards to India. LifeCell International is today India’s only comprehensive stem cells solutions provider as we offer a complete spectrum of services and with this association we intend to accelerate the availability of advanced stem cell therapy in India.
According to Scott Shea, Managing Director, Harvests Technologies GmbH, “The Autologous regenerative cells from bone marrow offer profound potential for therapies. Harvest has conducted about 30,000 clinical procedures for various applications, the highest number of procedures in the world, using the BMAC System. Our novel technology now makes it possible to harvest and concentrate the regenerative cells safely and rapidly in order to develop new therapies for heretofore incurable diseases.”
“We are delighted to be associated with LifeCell, an undisputed market leader in stem cell technology space and extend our services in India. LifeCell has a well established network with hospitals and clinical institutions across India and we would leverage their strength to rapidly deploy our service across the country and provide HOPE in addressing unmet medical challenges by offering cellular therapeutic options.”
CONTACT: Mr. Kevin Benoit, General Manager Strategic Development, Harvest
Technologies Corp, +1-508-732-7500, gtureski@harvesttech.com
