MISGAV, Israel & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 9, 2012-- Medgenics, Inc. (NYSE Amex: MDGN and AIM: MEDU, MEDG), the developer of a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, today reported that its wholly owned subsidiary, Medgenics Medical Israel Ltd. (MMI) was awarded a government grant of up to NIS 8.1 million (approximately USD 2.2 million), net, from the Office of the Chief Scientist ("OCS") at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor of Israel.

The grant will be used to cover R&D expenses for the 12-month period from October 2011 through September 2012 to support further research and clinical development of the Company's proprietary tissue-based Biopump™ platform technology in a number of indications including anemia and hepatitis.

The OCS awards grants to companies from various industries in Israel to foster technological innovations. Recipient selections are based on multiple criteria including the uniqueness of a company's technology, and the potential market it addresses, plus the robustness of the company's business including financial position, R&D capabilities and management experience.

Under the terms of the OCS grant, MMI will repay the grant in full, plus interest, through royalties on revenue received from commercializing the developed technology. The payment of royalties is contingent on such revenues and, in the absence of such revenues, no royalty payments to the OCS are required.

"This marks our sixth consecutive year of being selected to receive non-dilutive funding from the Israeli OCS. We are grateful for this support, which underscores their ongoing belief in the potential of our innovative Biopump platform technology. Prior grants have helped to fund the development of our technology to a point where we are now working to commence clinical trials for the treatment of anemia and hepatitis in the United States and Israel. We anticipate this grant will further advance our product development and will help us to achieve a number of important milestones," stated Andrew L. Pearlman, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Medgenics.

About Medgenics

Medgenics is developing and commercializing Biopump™, a proprietary tissue-based platform technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins using the patient's own skin biopsy for the treatment of a range of chronic diseases including anemia, hepatitis, and hemophilia, among others. Medgenics believes this approach has multiple benefits compared with current treatments, which include regular and costly injections of therapeutic proteins.

Medgenics has three long-acting protein therapy products in development based on this technology:

  • EPODURETM to produce and deliver erythropoietin for many months from a single administration, has demonstrated elevation and stabilization of hemoglobin levels in anemic patients for six to more than 36 months in a Phase I/II dose-ranging trial, and is about to commence a Phase IIa safety/efficacy trial in dialysis patients in Q2 2012 in Israel. An Investigational New Drug application has been filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") to initiate a Phase IIb study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EPODURE in the treatment of anemia in dialysis patients in the U.S.
  • INFRADURETM for sustained production and delivery of interferon-alpha for use in the treatment of hepatitis is awaiting final approval of two Phase I/II trials in Israel in hepatitis C, slated to commence in Q3 2012, and is filed for Orphan Drug Designation with the FDA to treat hepatitis D.
  • HEMODURETM for sustained production and delivery of clotting Factor VIII therapy for the sustained prophylactic treatment of hemophilia is now in development.

Medgenics is focused on the development and manufacturing of its innovative Biopumps, aiming to bring them to market via strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical and/or medical device companies.

In addition to treatments for anemia, hepatitis and hemophilia, Medgenics plans to develop and/or out-license a pipeline of future Biopump products targeting the large and rapidly growing global protein therapy market, which is forecast to reach $132 billion in 2013. Other potential applications for Biopumps include multiple sclerosis, arthritis, pediatric growth hormone deficiency, obesity and diabetes.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including (without limitation) those regarding the Company's financial position, its development and business strategy, its product candidates and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created by such laws. Forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by their use of the terms and phrases such as "estimate," "project," "intend," "forecast," "anticipate," "plan," "planning, "expect," "believe," "will," "will likely," "should," "could," "would," "may" or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. All such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Should any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those included within these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no undue reliance should be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. As a result of these factors, the events described in the forward-looking statements contained in this release may not occur.

Source: Medgenics, Inc.

Medgenics, Inc.
Dr. Andrew L. Pearlman, +972 4 902 8900
andrew.pearlman@medgenics.com
or
LHA
Anne Marie Fields, 212-838-3777
afields@lhai.com
@LHA_IR_PR
or
Abchurch Communications
Adam Michael, Joanne Shears or Jamie Hooper
+44 207 398 7719
jamie.hooper@abchurch-group.com
or
Nomura Code Securities (Joint Broker)
Jonathan Senior, +44 207 776 1219
or
SVS Securities plc (Joint Broker)
Alex Mattey or Ian Callaway
+44 207 638 5600

distributed by