LEADING RESEARCH CENTER TO TEST BIOARTIFICIAL PANCREAS
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (July 15, 2008) - Cerco Medical, a privately held research company, today announced the start of collaborative research with Professor Jonathan Lakey at the University of California, Irvine.
Dr. Lakey was recently appointed Professor and Director of Research in the Department of Surgery at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. He is well known as a leader in transplantation of islets of Langerhans as a therapy for type 1 diabetes. He led the Human Islet Laboratory at the University of Alberta, Edmonton during the development of the Edmonton Protocol. The company and Prof. Lakey’s group have planned animal experiments designed to demonstrate that the Islet Sheet can function for extended periods without immune suppression.
“Professor Lakey is credited with many of the top advances in islet transplantation. Cerco Medical is pleased to work with him on this promising therapy,” commented Scott R. King, President of Cerco Medical. “We hope to make islet transplantation available to millions more people.”
Dr. Lakey commented, “I have a long history of working with the Cercomed team. I am pleased to expand, and further develop in vitro and in vivo studies to lead to the pivotal clinical trials.”
Cerco Medical’s proprietary Islet Sheet contains islets of Langerhans protected by a polymer coating which eliminates the need for the immune-suppressing drugs used in the Edmonton Protocol. The Islet Sheet can be retrieved at any time providing a measure of safety unavailable with other technologies. The Company believes that the transplantation of Islet Sheet encapsulated islets will become the treatment of choice for restoring insulin-dependent diabetics to normal health.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, debilitating autoimmune disease resulting in loss of islets. It is the leading cause of kidney failure, adult blindness and non-traumatic amputations and reduces life expectancy by 15 years and is enormously costly to the health care system.
The funding for this research is coming from the Hanuman Medical Foundation.
Cerco Medical announces the granting of European Patents on its proprietary encapsulation technology
San Francisco, CA – September 23, 2004 – Cerco Medical announced today that it has received notice that the European Patent Office intends to grant its European patent application for the fabrication and use of alginate in medical devices. This grant when taken together with Cerco Medical’s previously issued US. Patent Number 6,125,225 provide the company with a very strong Intellectual Property position for its first product, the Islet Sheet, as well as other new medical product opportunities as they arise.
“This grant is very important to the company, reflecting significant advances in our core technology. Such advances in thin sheet fabrication were previously thought not possible. Through our efforts they are now routine, easily reproduced, and form the foundation of our first product, the Islet Sheet,” remarked Scott R. King, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Coupled with certain trade secrets, we are highly confident that we will be able to maintain a defined competitive advantage in any markets we wish to compete in either as Cerco Medical or through any prospective partners.”
Cerco Medical is in the preclinical stage of developing its proprietary encapsulation technology to be initially applied to type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the human body’s ability to produce insulin has been arrested due to an autoimmune disorder. Individuals with type 1 diabetes are currently faced with multiple daily insulin injections as well as frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels for the remainder of their lives.
Islet transplantation into individuals with type 1 diabetes to eliminate the need for insulin injections is now a proven medical protocol due to the pioneering efforts of Dr. James Shapiro and Dr. Jonathan R.T. Lakey at the University of Alberta at Edmonton. Over 330 patients worldwide have received islet transplants under the Edmonton Protocol.
The Edmonton Protocol is limited by the requirement for toxic immune suppression drugs. Application of Cerco Medical’s proprietary and patented technology is designed to eliminate the need for immune suppression and enable the Edmonton Protocol to be extended to a larger number of individuals with type 1 diabetes.
The company will shortly have European patents in all countries required to defend our major markets.
Islet Sheet Medical changes name to Cerco Medical; Kurt E. Amundson joins Cerco Medical as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
San Francisco, CA – June 10, 2004 – Cerco Medical announced today it has changed its name from Islet Sheet Medical LLC to Cerco Medical. Kurt E. Amundson has joined the company as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
“I am delighted to have Mr. Amundson join our team as we move into a robust development stage of the company and product,” remarked Scott R. King, President and Chief Executive Officer. “As part of our resumption of pre-clinical studies we sought a name with more breadth as we expect our technology, now focused on type 1 diabetes, will have multiple applications,” Mr. King continued.
Cerco Medical is in the preclinical stage of developing its proprietary encapsulation technology to be initially applied to type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the human body’s ability to produce insulin has been arrested due to an autoimmune disorder. Individuals with type 1 diabetes are currently faced with multiple daily insulin injections as well as frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels for the remainder of their lives.
Islet transplantation into individuals with type 1 diabetes to eliminate the need for insulin injections is now a proven medical protocol due to the pioneering efforts of Dr. James Shapiro and Dr. Jonathan R.T. Lakey at the University of Alberta at Edmonton. Over 330 patients worldwide have received islet transplants under the Edmonton Protocol.
The Edmonton Protocol is limited by the requirement for toxic immune suppression drugs. Application of Cerco Medical’s proprietary and patented technology is designed to eliminate the need for immune suppression and enable the Edmonton Protocol to be extended to a larger number of individuals with type 1 diabetes.
In addition, Cerco has announced that Kurt E. Amundson has joined the company as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Amundson brings over 15 years of managerial experience in the Life Science Industry with a broad range of experience in both private and public companies. Mr. Amundson’s last ten years have primarily focused on bringing private companies into the public domain, financial management of public companies, fund raising in both the domestic and international markets, and pursuing business development opportunities.
