Regenerative Medicine Approach Delivers Healing and Cost Savings for Chronic Wounds

NORTHRIDGE, CA and PERTH, AUSTRALIA and CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwired) -- 05/01/16 -- Avita Medical (ASX: AVH) (OTCQX: AVMXY)

• Early intervention key for optimum treatment of chronic wound patients
• ReGenerCell" healing of diabetic foot ulcers described as 'remarkable'
• Combined treatment has potential to considerably reduce woundcare costs

Early intervention with ReGenerCell" can kick-start the closure of hard-to-heal ulcers, and save public health bodies significant money, according to leading UK vascular surgeons who are experienced users of the medical device, Avita Medical said today.

The regenerative medicine company, specializing in the treatment of wounds and skin defects (ASX: AVH), (OTCQX: AVMXY), reported that presentations about using the device for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and venous leg ulcers (VLU) were made last week in London at the Charing Cross Symposium, one of the largest global gatherings for vascular surgeons. Faster healing and reduction in pain were both highlighted as benefits of deploying ReGenerCell" by Mr. Paul Hayes, Cambridge Universities Hospitals Trust, UK, and Mr. Harvey Chant, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. The ReGenerCell" device allows medical professionals to use a small skin sample to quickly create a Regenerative Epithelial Suspension (RES"), which can then be applied to trigger wound healing.

Mr. Chant, in Diabetic Vascular Disease and Wound Healing sessions, which focused on saving limbs, relayed to the audience how he had deployed ReGenerCell" as part of a multi-disciplinary approach for diabetic foot treatment. In a recent pilot study of seven patients, treatment with the device healed five patients, which was encouraging as all other approaches had failed. "With the UK projected to have 4 million diabetics by 2025 any approach that could significantly reduce the burden of this debilitating condition for the patient and the health system must be explored," he said.

"Frontline treatment has to be about the basics -- diabetic control, infection control and correct footwear," Mr. Chant said. "However, once patients have an ulcer, current treatment is lengthy and could end in amputation. By using ReGenerCell" as part of the treatment toolbox at an earlier stage, the healing we have achieved has been remarkable, allowing most patients to get back to full function more quickly and improving their quality of life."

Mr. Hayes, who is resident at Addenbrooke's Hospital, during the 'Innovations Showcase' gave the first public presentation of the recent pilot multi-centre randomised controlled trial of ReGenerCell" in VLUs, a condition that imposes considerable costs on healthcare services, which are rising steadily because prevalence increases with age.

In his presentation, Mr. Hayes explained that 52 patients (average age 69.7 years) with co-morbidities including well-controlled diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, arthritis and cardiovascular disease, participated in the trial, run at seven hospitals, comparing ReGenerCell" and conventional VLU treatment, to conventional treatment alone. Mr. Hayes said the trial showed statistical significance in the primary endpoint of wound closure, with VLUs in the ReGenerCell" group closing on average 9.1 cm2 compared to 1.2 cm2 in the control. Patients in the treated group also reported a significant decrease in pain two weeks after treatment and consistent improvements with all evaluated areas as wounds healed. Positive changes in re-epithelialisation were observed by weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6 with some cases achieving 100% closure by week 12, while slower wounds demonstrated a healing trajectory. A more marked healing rate was observed in larger ulcers, Mr. Hayes reported.

"I think the burden of chronic wounds to the NHS is huge and under-recognised," Mr. Hayes said. "With ReGenerCell" we have a one-off 30-minute procedure that shows it can kick-start healing. Any upfront cost for this therapy is more than exceeded by other savings. We have patients who have suffered VLUs for years, even decades, and any approach that breaks this cycle is worthy of exploration."

Adam Kelliher, CEO of Avita Medical, said: "These presentations once again show that our novel approach to chronic woundcare, using a patient's regenerative healing capability, can alleviate patient suffering at an earlier stage, help them regain their quality of life and ultimately reduce costs to financially-stretched healthcare systems."

ABOUT CHARING CROSS SYMPOSIUM

The Charing Cross Symposium first took place in 1978 at Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith, London, and is the longest running vascular and endovascular symposium in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

This year's symposium focused on challenges in complete optimal vascular disease management, catering for all vascular specialists.

For further information, visit: www.cxsymposium.com

ABOUT AVITA MEDICAL LIMITED

Avita Medical develops and distributes regenerative products for the treatment of a broad range of wounds, scars and skin defects. Avita's patented and proprietary collection and application technology provides innovative treatment solutions derived from a patient's own skin. The Company's regenerative product portfolio includes ReCell� for burns aimed at plastic reconstructive procedures, ReGenerCell" for chronic wounds and ReNovaCell" of restoration of pigmentation and cosmesis. ReCell®, ReGenerCell" and ReNovaCell" are patented, CE-marked for Europe. ReCell® is TGA-registered in Australia, and CFDA-cleared in China. In the United States, ReCell® is an investigational device limited by federal law to investigational use, and a pivotal U.S. trial is well underway aimed at securing FDA approval.

To learn more, visit www.avitamedical.com.

Avita Medical Ltd
Adam Kelliher
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: +44 (0) 1763 269770
[email protected]

Avita Medical Ltd
Tim Rooney
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: + 1 (818) 356-9400
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Avita Medical Ltd
Gabriel Chiappini
Company Secretary
Phone: +61(0) 8 9474 7738
[email protected]

UK/EU
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Gemma Howe/Sue Charles
Phone: +44 (0)20 7866 7860
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USA
The Ruth Group
Lee Roth
Investor Relations
Kirsten Thomas
Public Relations
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Australia
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Rudi Michelson
Investor Relations / PR
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[email protected]

Source: Avita Medical

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