Avita Medical introduces ReCell Spray-On Skin for chronic leg ulcers

Avita Medical Ltd. (ASX: AVH), the regenerative medicine company, announced today that it has launched ReCell Spray-On Skin for the treatment of chronic leg ulcers, a market estimated at over US$1 billion.

ReCell® used in the treatment for chronic ulcers was presented at the International Flebology Conference (CIF), held in Ferrara, Italy, from the 29 Sept - 1 October 2011. Over 230 vascular surgeons from throughout Europe attended the congress.

Dr Giuliano Magi, M.D., and colleagues in a presentation entitled "Autologous transplantation of epidermal cells in difficult to treat ulcers of the lower limbs" reported results from their work at the S. Giuseppe Hospital in Arezzo, Italy, on treatment of an initial 10 patients suffering from unhealed chronic ulcers as part of a larger ongoing study. The patients' ulcers had previously been treated during the preceding 24 months per the current standard of care, including compression therapy alone or in combination with skin grafts. Depth, area, volume and extent of ulcers prior to and post-treatment with ReCell were objectively quantified using a 3D laser scanner.

Of 10 patients included in the pilot study, 1 was lost to follow-up due to an unrelated accident. Of the remaining 9, complete (100%) healing was achieved in 8 patients and approximately 90% re-epithelialization was achieved in the remaining patient at the 4-week endpoint.

Dr. Magi, lead investigator of the study, stated, "ReCell has demonstrated a very high success rate in the treatment of chronic leg ulcers. Although we have only a limited sample size, the outcomes in these recalcitrant ulcers are clinically outstanding and cost-effective for the healthcare system. Furthermore patients report an immediate decrease in pain and are resuming normal activities straight after the ReCell procedure making it more acceptable to the patients themselves."

Dr. Jean Luc Gerard, a vascular surgeon at the H. Mondor Hospital in Paris, France, an attendee at the congress, said, "The treatment with ReCell appears to yield extremely positive results and represents a potential breakthrough in the cure of difficult-to-heal leg ulcers. I will be using ReCell in my clinic in the near future and am optimistic that similar outstanding results may be achieved."