RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ThermoGenesis Corp. announced today that the European patent office has granted a new patent entitled “Method & Apparatus for Cryogenic Storage of Thermolabile Products” which contains broad claims covering the technology used in the BioArchive System, an automated cryogenic device used by cord blood stem cell banks in most of the industrialized countries to obtain precision cryogenic freezing and robotic storage and retrieval of cord blood stem cell units for transplant.
“ThermoGenesis continues to broaden its intellectual property (IP) portfolio behind its unique, advanced cord blood stem cell processing and storage technology that ensures the proper preservation of stem cells so they are usable in life saving treatments,” said Philip Coelho, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ThermoGenesis Corp. “The BioArchive System has become the preferred platform at more than 80 cord blood stem cell banks in 29 countries and we have built a formidable IP estate with ten issued U.S., Japanese and European patents covering our BioArchive technology.”
The BioArchive System cryopreserves, archives and retrieves samples within liquid nitrogen without exposing the samples to detrimental Transient Warming Events (TWEs), which can reduce cell viability. The BioArchive System is a computer-driven robotic system to allow users to cryopreserve and archive up to 3,623 units of blood components in -196 degrees C liquid nitrogen.
GE Healthcare is the non-exclusive global distribution partner for the BioArchive System as well as the exclusive distribution partner for ThermoGenesis’ AutoXpress (TM) System, the first fully closed, automated cord blood stem cell processing system that simplifies the traditional, labor- intensive manual process that often requires an expensive ‘clean room’.
Cord blood stem cell banks use the AutoXpress System to separate stem cells from umbilical cord blood and then utilize the BioArchive System to cryogenically freeze and store the stem cells. These cells can then be effectively used for patients who require stem cell reconstitution in the treatment of diseases like acute leukemia, lymphoma and numerous genetic diseases.
About Cord Blood Stem Cells
Unlike embryonic stem cells that have only been used in clinical trial research, cord blood stem cells have already been used more than 10,000 times to treat patients with life threatening diseases including leukemia, lymphoma and more than 60 different genetic disorders. Further, recent peer-reviewed scientific articles indicate stem cells residing in cord blood can also differentiate into other tissues of the body including the brain, bone, cartilage, and muscle, indicating potential broader application of cord blood stem cells in future clinical use.
About ThermoGenesis Corp.
ThermoGenesis Corp. is a leader in developing and manufacturing automated blood processing systems and disposables that enable the manufacture, preservation and delivery of cell and tissue therapy products.
-- The BioArchive System, an automated cryogenic device, is used by cord blood stem cell banks in more than 25 countries for cryopreserving and archiving cord blood stem cell units for transplant. GE Healthcare is the non-exclusive global distribution partner for the BioArchive System. -- The AutoXpress System, is a newly developed semi-automated device and companion sterile closed blood processing disposable, to harvest stem cells from cord blood. GE Healthcare is the exclusive global distribution partner for the AXP AutoXpress(TM) System. -- The CryoSeal (R) FS System, an automated device and companion sterile blood processing disposable, is used to prepare fibrin sealants from plasma in about an hour. Enrollment in a 150-patient U.S. pivotal clinical trial has been completed and a PMA is being reviewed by the FDA. The CryoSeal FS System has received the CE-Mark. From a marketing perspective, the CE Mark is the European equivalent to an FDA approval, in that it allows sales of the product throughout the European community. -- The Thrombin Processing Device (TM) (TPD) is a sterile blood processing disposable that prepares activated thrombin from a small aliquot of plasma in less than 30 minutes. The CE-Marked TPD is currently being marketed in Europe by Biomet, Inc. subsidiary Biomet Biologicals, Medtronic, Inc. and independent distributors.
This press release, including statements regarding financial information for future periods, contain forward-looking statements, and such statements are made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors, including timing of FDA approvals, changes in customer forecasts, our failure to meet customers’ purchase order and quality requirements, supply shortages, production delays, changes in the markets for customers’ products, introduction timing and acceptance of our new products scheduled for fiscal year 2007, and introduction of competitive products and other factors beyond our control, could result in a materially different revenue outcome and/or in our failure to achieve the revenue levels we expect for fiscal 2007. A more complete description of these and other risks that could cause actual events to differ from the outcomes predicted by our forward looking statements is set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K and other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, and you should consider each of those factors when evaluating the forward looking statements.
For More Information, Contact: THERMOGENESIS CORP. Or Fern Lazar of Lazar Partners (212) 867-1762 or visit the web site at www.thermogenesis.com
ThermoGenesis Corp.
CONTACT: Fern Lazar of Lazar Partners, +1-212-867-1762, for THERMOGENESISCORP.
Web site: http://www.thermogenesis.com//
