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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pervasis Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering biologically active cellular therapies to treat vascular and other serious diseases, today announced that it has received Orphan Drug Designation for Vascugel庐, a novel allogeneic cell therapy product that may restore natural repair and regeneration pathways in the vasculature, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Orphan Drug Designation is granted for the prevention of arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous graft failure in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving hemodialysis or preparing for hemodialysis.

The Orphan Drug Designation is a distinguished status granted by the FDA under the Orphan Drug Act for a product that treats a rare disease or condition. Companies that receive Orphan Drug Designation for their products may receive funding for certain clinical trials, clinical trial design assistance, tax credits, a waiver of Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) fees and marketing exclusivity for up to seven years following regulatory approval. The Orphan Drug Act is designed to encourage companies to develop therapies to treat rare diseases or conditions.

鈥淲e are very pleased to receive Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for Vascugel,鈥� said Frederic Chereau, president and chief executive officer of Pervasis. 鈥淭he Designation is for a broad array of vascular accesses for patients with end-stage renal disease, including placement of an arteriovenous graft or arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis and revisions to existing accesses. Vascular access failure is a major complication to providing care to patients on hemodialysis with end-stage renal disease. Vascugel is a potential new treatment option that may improve outcomes for these patients, and the first in a portfolio of novel cell-based therapeutics we are developing to treat vascular injury by harnessing the body鈥檚 natural healing process. We are working closely with the FDA as we move forward with plans for a Phase 3 trial for Vascugel, and are in active discussions with potential partners to bring this product to market.鈥�

According to the United States Renal Data System, the number of ESRD patients requiring hemodialysis in 2006 was over 325,000. Medicare data shows that vascular access complications account for up to 25 percent of all hemodialysis patient admissions. The majority of vascular access is achieved through the surgical creation of synthetic arteriovenous graft (AVG) or autogenous arteriovenous fistulae (AVF). Vascular access failure is the single most important cause of morbidity in the hemodialysis population.

About Vascugel庐

Vascugel庐 is a novel and unique allogeneic cell therapy product under investigation for enhancing repair, extending patency and promoting vascular health. Vascugel庐 builds on concepts of tissue engineering to enable implantation of allogeneic endothelial cells in a controlled state. When placed adjacent to an injured blood vessel, the endothelial cells in Vascugel庐 provide growth regulatory compounds to the underlying blood vessel, which promotes a natural healing process and may prevent excessive, inflammation, thrombosis and stenosis. Vascugel庐 has completed two Phase 2 clinical trials in patients with end stage renal disease. The studies achieved the primary safety endpoints, demonstrating fewer thrombotic events, early complication and interventions than placebo patients. Additionally, positive efficacy trends were shown in secondary endpoints.

About Pervasis Therapeutics, Inc.

Pervasis Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage cell-based therapeutics company pioneering biologically active products to treat vascular and other serious diseases. The Company has developed a novel, proprietary allogeneic endothelial cell-therapy that repairs and restores vascular function after injury by mimicking the body鈥檚 natural healing process. Pervasis believes its proprietary cellular therapy may become the standard of care to promote natural healing following any vascular intervention, including AV access creation for patients with end-stage renal disease, peripheral and coronary bypass, angioplasty and stent placement. Pervasis is also exploring broader indications for its groundbreaking technology in non-vascular applications, including bone and joint repair, wound healing and inflammation. Pervasis is a privately held company with funding from Flagship Ventures, Polaris Venture Partners, and Highland Capital Partners. For more information, please visit .

Contacts

Pervasis Therapeutics, Inc.
Maggie O鈥橳oole, 617-871-1201

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Pure Communications, Inc.
Michele Rozen, 617-730-8284