Investors | Biostage
Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology Collaborator Successfully Transplants
Regenerated Esophagus into Rat
Study Results by Dr. Paolo Macchiarini and Research Team Published in Nature Communications Research to Be Presented
at the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Annual Meeting 2014 in Toronto
HOLLISTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:HART), a clinical stage
biotechnology company developing regenerated organs for transplant, initially focused on the trachea, announces that a research
team led by Paolo Macchiarini, MD, PhD at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has successfully transplanted a regenerated esophagus
into a rat using a bioreactor developed by HART. Dr. Macchiarini has previously overseen several successful regenerated trachea
transplants in human patients using a bioreactor developed by HART.
The research detailing the new procedure, “Experimental orthotopic transplantation of a tissue engineered oesophagus in rats,” was
published today in Nature Communications and is available to read athttp://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4562.
This research will also be presented at the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Annual Meeting 2014 to be held April
26-30 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada.
David Green, CEO of Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, said, “We congratulate Professor Macchiarini and his research
team for this breakthrough in the development of a regenerated esophagus for transplant. We are honored to have been able to
support this work by adapting our trachea regeneration bioreactor specifically for the regeneration of the esophagus. We look forward
to continuing our collaboration with Professor Macchiarini in developing this technology with the goal of performing the first human
transplant of a regenerated esophagus.”
Despite several attempts, it has been proven difficult to grow tissue to replace a damaged esophagus. In this new study, the
researchers created the bioengineered organs by using esophagi from rats and removing all the cells. With the cells gone, a scaffold
remains in which the structure as well as mechanical and chemical properties of the organ are preserved. The produced scaffolds
were then reseeded with cells from the bone marrow. The cells adhered to the biological scaffold and started to show organ-specific
characteristics within three weeks.
The cultured tissues were used to replace segments of the esophagus in rats. All rats survived and after two weeks the researchers
found indications of the major components in the regenerated graft: epithelium, muscle cells, blood vessels and nerves.
“We believe that these very promising findings represent major advances toward the clinical translation of tissue engineered
esophagi,” said Dr. Macchiarini.
About Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology
Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology makes regenerated organs for transplant. Our first product, the HART-Trachea, is
intended to replace or repair a trachea that has been severely damaged by either trachea cancer or physical trauma. Our technology
has been used in eight human trachea transplants to date approved under compassionate use exemptions, but none of our products
are yet approved by a government regulatory authority for marketing. On November 1, 2013, HART was spun-off from Harvard
Bioscience. The trademark “Harvard Apparatus” is used under a sublicense agreement with Harvard Bioscience, who has licensed
the right to use such trademark from Harvard University.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this press release are "forward-looking" and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These "forward-looking" statements include statements relating to, among other things, the
planned commercialization efforts and marketing approvals of HART’s products as well as the success thereof and the availability of a
market for the HART securities. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including among other things, market conditions
that may cause results to differ materially from the statements set forth in this press release. The forward-looking statements in this
press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to such statements to reflect any change in its expectations with
regard thereto or any changes in the events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Contact:
Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology
David Green, President and CEO
dgreen@HARTregen.com
or
Tom McNaughton, CFO
tmcnaughton@HARTregen.com
or
Investor Relations:
Dian Griesel Int’l.
Cheryl Schneider, 212-825-3210
or
Public Relations:
Dian Griesel Int’l.
Susan Forman or Laura Radocaj, 212-825-3210
http://ir.biostage.com/2014-04-15-Harvard-Apparatus-Regenerative-Technology-Collaborator-Successfully-Transplants-RegeneratedEsophagus-into-Rat