HART and Mayo Clinic Confirm Dates for Collaborative Large-Animal Bioengineered Organ Implant Surgeries

Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc.

, a biotechnology company developing bioengineered organ implants for life-threatening conditions of the esophagus, trachea and bronchus, today provided an update on large-animal studies being conducted with its co-development collaborator, Mayo Clinic. HART logo Since the November announcement of positive results from large-animal studies of its esophageal, tracheal and bronchial implants, HART has conducted additional studies to advance its platform for those product candidates and to help shape the design of studies with Mayo Clinic. Initial surgeries in the Mayo Clinic collaboration have been scheduled for January 22 and February 2, 2016, with additional procedures to occur through mid-February. Dennis Wigle, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Surgery and Chair of Thoracic Surgery at Mayo Clinic as well as HART Chief Medical Officer, Saverio La Francesca, M.D., will perform the implantation surgeries. Although originally anticipated to begin in December, the surgery schedule was adjusted due to scheduling conflicts amongst the study collaborators. HART's CEO, Jim McGorry, stated, "We are excited to team with Dr. Wigle and Mayo Clinic and to advance the development of our esophagus, trachea and bronchus organ implants. We also continue to perform additional research internally to further deepen our understanding of our implants and their use in varying applications. We remain committed to advancing our platform development toward our 2016 goals of filing with the FDA to initiate human clinical trials as well as pursuing compassionate use surgeries in humans." Saverio La Francesca, M.D., added, "We are conducting these studies to answer key scientific questions regarding regeneration and mechanism of action. The goal of these studies is to inform our IND filing with the FDA and appropriately translate these findings into human use." HART's management team will be in San Francisco to meet with investors next week, Monday, January 11th through Wednesday, January 13th. Jim McGorry will present at the Biotech Showcase Monday, January 11th at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. His presentation will be webcast live and for replay.