Medgenics (MDGN)

[BollixMeArse]

Medgenics Looking To Exploit Orphan Drug Market With Its Novel Biopump Protein Therapy Technology

Seeking Alpha Article:


LINK: http://seekingalpha.com/article/2261123-medgenics-looking-to-exploit-orphan-drug-market-with-its-novel-biopump-protein-therapy-technology

Summary

Biopump offers an innovative method of producing and delivering therapeutic proteins or peptides through the use of a patient's own skin.
Biopump offers potentially significant advantages over traditional intravenous protein therapy.
In September 2013, the company brought on new executive management with a specific goal of accelerating development of the Biopump technology, with a particular emphasis on orphan diseases.
Biopump will be further validated in just-commenced Phase I/II trial in treatment of anemia via production and delivery of erythropoietin to patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease.
Game plan includes in-house development of Biopump for orphan indications and potentially partnering for further development for an ESRD/CKD indication.

Snapshot

Medgenics, Inc. (MDGN) was founded in January 2000 in Israel, and remains a development-stage company with research focused on bringing a novel therapeutic protein platform technology to market. Research and development is done primarily from a Misgav, Israel facility, while the principal office is located in Wayne, PA.

The company is led by a highly experienced management team and board of directors. This includes chairman of the Board, Sol Barer, the founder and former chairman of Celgene. In September 2013, the company brought on new executive management with highly impressive and relevant backgrounds, including a new CEO, CFO and global head of R&D, with a specific goal of accelerating development of the Biopump technology. Michael Cola, the newly-appointed CEO, comes most recently from Shire Plc's Specialty Pharmaceuticals division ($2.5B annual sales), where he served as president and was involved in all aspects of the business. Dr. Garry Neil, head of Global R&D, brings over 30 years of clinical development experience to the company, previously head appointments as corporate vice-president of Science and Technology and group president of Pharmaceutical Research and Development at Johnson & Johnson, and he has been actively involved in over twenty worldwide drug approvals.