Cardio3 BioSciences Announces Significant Progress in its Programme for the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction

MONT-SAINT-GUIBERT, Belgium, December 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --

- Pre-Clinical Results Show 70% Reduction in Infarct Size

The Belgian biotechnology company, Cardio3 BioSciences, a leader in the discovery and development of regenerative and protective therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, today announces positive pre-clinical results from its in-house product candidate C3BS-GQR-1, a "cardiopoietic" cocktail designed to treat patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction in order to protect cardiac tissue from damage and direct heart stem cells to mature and restore pump function. This therapeutic candidate diversifies the product portfolio of Cardio3 BioSciences offering regeneration without the need for stem cell injection. This newest innovation builds on an ongoing collaboration with Mayo Clinic investigators.

C3BS-GQR-1 aims to effectively treat acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) by protecting heart tissues at the time of injury, and by promoting activation of resident progenitor cells. C3BS-GQR-1 greatly increases the potential of self-repair exploiting thereby the intrinsic regenerative capacity of the heart itself.

The Cardio3 BioSciences blinded study demonstrates that in an established large animal model of myocardial infarction,C3BS-GQR-1 successfully protects the myocardium and directs the maturation and commitment of resident cardiac stem cells into functional tissue. This led to a significant70% reduction in scar size versus baseline,six weeks after infarction, as well as an increase in heart wall thickening and contractility measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Microscopic analysis tracked the outcome of "cardiopoietic" cocktail treatment on resident cardiac stem cell function in the repair of the injured heart.

Dr Christian Homsy, CEO of Cardio3 BioSciences, said: "The 70% reduction in infarct size observed in this pre-clinical study, if further validated in human trials, has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. The prospect of such a significant regenerative response occurring in the freshly injuredheart would profoundly influence quality of life in these patients. C3BS-GQR-1 will be further developed as a sustained release formulation either as a standalone product or coupled with other therapeutic platforms like drug eluting stents. The progressof our C3BS-GQR-1 programmedeepens our product pipeline, opens new avenues for the treatment of heart attacks and reinforcesour position as a leader in cardiac regenerative medicine. This creates a solid base in addressing acute myocardial infarction complementing our existing clinical focus on heart failure and our lead product C3BS-CQR-1 (C-Cure(R)), which has also recently demonstrated significant functional and clinical benefit in a Phase II clinical trial."

About Cardio3 BioSciences

Cardio3 BioSciences is a leading Belgian biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of regenerative and protective therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

The Company's lead product candidate, C3BS-CQR-1 (C-Cure), is a highly innovative stem cell approach for the treatment of heart failure, one of the world's most pressing unmet medical needs. Based on a comprehensive strategy developed by Cardio3 BioSciences and leveraging technology licensed from Mayo Clinic, the C-Cure development programme is designed to direct the patient's own stem cells into new heart cells with the potential to rebuild the heart.

The Cardio3 BioSciences team has extensive experience in developing and commercialising new pharmaceutical products and medical technologies and the Company's current strategy is to drive the clinical development of C-Cure and to market the product itself, if marketing authorisation is obtained, on a wide geographical scale.

Cardio3 BioSciences was founded in July 2007 and is based in Mont-Saint-Guibert (near Louvain-la-Neuve) in the Walloon region of Belgium.

Disclosures

Mayo Clinic holds equity in Cardio3 BioSciences as a result of intellectual property licensed to the company.

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company's or, as appropriate, the Company's directors' current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its or their parent or subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. No undue reliance should be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

    For more information contact:

    Cardio3 BioSciences

    Dr Christian Homsy, CEO                 Tel: +32-10-39-41-00

    Anne Portzenheim,
    Communication Manager                   Tel : +32-10-39-41-00
                                            [email protected]
                                            http://www.c3bs.com

    Citigate Dewe Rogerson                  Tel : +44(0)207-638-9571

    Chris Gardner/Nina Enegren              [email protected]

    Hill & Knowlton                         Tel : +32-2-737-95-00
    Katia Delvaille                         [email protected]

SOURCE Cardio3BioSciences