Sanovas and Mayo Clinic Enter Joint Development Agreement to Create Technologies to Treat Asthma

SAUSALITO, Calif., June 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanovas, Inc., a leading developer of micro invasive surgical solutions for the Interventional Pulmonary Science, announced today that it has entered into a patent license and joint development agreement with Mayo Clinic to commercialize a significant innovation in the emerging science of bronchial smooth muscle modification.

The collaboration is intended to advance the clinical efficacy of Bronchial Thermoplasty, a novel outpatient procedure that delivers precisely controlled thermal energy to reduce excess airway smooth muscle associated with airway constriction in patients with asthma. By decreasing the ability of the airways to constrict, this new treatment has been shown to help patients with severe asthma gain substantially better control over their disease.

"Working together with Sanovas exemplifies how industry collaborations support today's new era of evidence-based medicine." related Craig E. Daniels M.D., associate professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Mayo Clinic and co-inventor of Mayo's patent. "The development of a single treatment system that can be performed with precision and that can offer real time feedback of treatment efficacy in a single office visit, versus the three treatments that are currently required benefits patients and providers because it will reduce risk and save time and money."

According to the World Health Organization, asthma rates have been surging around the globe over the past three decades with 250,000 annual deaths attributed to the disease. It is estimated that the number of people with asthma will increase as much as 25%, to more than 400 million people, by 2025.

The American Lung Association reports that approximately 25.9 million Americans (including 7.1 million children) had asthma in 2011, that asthma is a leading cause of activity limitation and that the disease generates over $56.0 billion in health care costs annually.

Mayo Clinic will participate in the development of the technology, which will be combined with and incorporated into Sanovas' portfolio of patents and therapy enabling technologies for pulmonary disease. The tenets of the relationship grant Sanovas exclusive worldwide license of the Mayo patent.

"The spirit of this collaboration is to combine Sanovas' and Mayo Clinic's respective technologies and expertise to advance precision in the treatment and control of asthma." stated Sanovas Co-Founder and CEO Larry Gerrans. "We expect to commercialize an intelligent set of next generation tools that will afford clinicians an intuitive command of the operating environment."

For most people, asthma can be controlled with medication. But for the nearly 2.5 million asthmatics whose condition is severe, breathing is difficult, even with a doctor's help. Severe asthmatics often need multiple medications that include high amounts of inhaled corticosteroids, as well as long-acting beta-agonists. These are commonly known as bronchodilators and include the drug albuterol, which serve to relax the airway muscles and allow the airway to widen.

 "Our understanding of the etiology and treatment of autonomic diseases are ever-evolving. We are delighted to collaborate with Sanovas to advance the clinical science and capabilities in bronchial smooth muscle modification on behalf of these patients suffering from severe Asthma." offered Samuel J. Asirvatham M.D., professor of cardiovascular medicine and pediatrics at Mayo Clinic and co-inventor of the Mayo patent. "It is gratifying to be able to make a difference in the lives of these patients."

The products developed through this collaboration will be marketed exclusively by Sanovas. Mayo Clinic and Drs. Asirvatham and Daniels have financial interest in Sanovas and in the commercialization of the products resulting from this initiative.

About Sanovas

Sanovas, Inc., based in Sausalito, Calif., is a life science technology company developing and commercializing next-generation micro-invasive diagnostics, devices and drug delivery technologies for unmet clinical needs. Sanovas' microsurgical technology platforms are designed to give surgeons the ability to access and visualize previously inaccessible areas of the body; enabling them to diagnose, treat and deliver drug and immune therapies to small diameter anatomy in entirely new ways. Privately held, Sanovas was founded by the pioneers in minimally invasive surgery. The company has two patents issued and more than fifty multi-national patents pending.

Media Contacts:

For Sanovas
Steve Goldsmith,
415-729-9391
[email protected]

For Mayo Clinic
Brian Kilen
507-284-5005 (Days)
507-284-2511 (Evenings)
[email protected]

SOURCE Sanovas, Inc.