HAIFA, Israel, March 12, 2020 – Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:PSTI) (TASE:PSTI), a leading regenerative medicine company developing a platform of novel biological products, today announced it has signed a collaborative agreement with the BIH Center for Regenerative Therapy (BCRT) and the Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT) at Charite’ University of Medicine Berlin to expand its existing framework and research agreement and conduct a joint project evaluating the therapeutic effects of Pluristem’s patented PLX cell product candidates for potential treatment of the respiratory and inflammatory complications associated with the COVID-19 coronavirus.
PLX cells are allogeneic mesenchymal-like cells that have immunomodulatory properties that induce the immune system’s natural regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages, and thus may prevent or reverse the dangerous overactivation of the immune system.
Accordingly, PLX cells may potentially reduce the fatal symptoms of COVID-19 induced pneumonia and pneumonitis. Previous pre-clinical findings of PLX cells revealed significant therapeutic effects in animal studies of pulmonary hypertension, lung fibrosis, acute kidney injury and gastrointestinal injury which are potential complications of the severe COVID-19 infection.
Clinical data using PLX cells demonstrated the strong immunomodulatory potency of PLX cells in patients post major surgery.
Taken together, PLX cells’ potential capabilities with the safety profile observed from clinical trials involving hundreds of patients worldwide potentially position them as a therapy for mitigating the tissue-damaging effects of COVID-19.
“The collaboration with Charité researchers will allow us to expedite our program to potentially enable the use of PLX cells to treat patients infected with COVID-19 that have respiratory and immunological complications.
The fact that PLX is available off-the-shelf, combined with our ability to manufacture large scale quantities, is a key advantage in case a large number of patients may need respiratory support. The primary target is to prevent the deterioration of patients towards Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis.
We intend to start the joint collaboration immediately, with an aim to bringing much needed treatment to a rapidly expanding global health threat,” stated Yaky Yanay, Pluristem President and CEO.
Prof. Hans-Dieter Volk, Director of the BCRT at Charite’ University Medicine Berlin, commented, “Through our long-term collaboration with Pluristem, we have a thorough understanding of PLX cells and their mechanism of action. Charite’s’ unique knowledge, which includes research and
clinical expertise in the immunopathogenesis of viral infections and critically ill patients, provides us an accelerated framework in which we believe PLX cells can be explored as a potential therapy for patients infected with COVID-19.”
The BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) is a cooperative translational research institution of the Charité University Hospital in Berlin and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH). The mission of the BCRT is to develop a translational platform for Regenerative Therapies from bench- to-bedside.
The clinical platforms — Immune, muskuloskleletal, and cardiovascular system — are cross-linked by cross-field clinical fields (cachexia/sarcopenia, genetic diseases) and technology and translation support platforms.
There are extended experiences in clinical trials with cell therapy, including phase 1-3 trials with PLX cells.
The Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies is a spin-off of the BCRT focusing on translation of cell and gene therapies in the major research fields of regenerative medicine and cancer.
It consists of four research fields (endogenous regeneration, tissue engineering, anti-cancer immunotherapy, and rare diseases) and three technology platforms (manufacturing, product characteristics and biomarker, and clinical development and regulatory affairs.
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading regenerative medicine company developing novel placenta-based cell therapy product candidates.
The Company has reported robust clinical trial data in multiple indications for its patented PLX cell product candidates and is currently conducting late stage clinical trials in several indications.
PLX cell product candidates are believed to release a range of therapeutic proteins in response to inflammation, ischemia, muscle trauma, hematological disorders and radiation damage.
The cells are grown using the Company’s proprietary three-dimensional expansion technology and can be administered to patients off- the-shelf, without tissue matching. Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position; a Company-owned and operated GMP-certified manufacturing and research facility; strategic relationships with major research institutions; and a seasoned management team.
This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws.
For example, Pluristem is using forward-looking statements when it discusses expanding its collaborative agreement with the BCRT to conduct a joint project evaluating the therapeutic effects of Pluristem’s patented PLX cells product candidates for potential treatment of the respiratory and inflammatory complications associated with COVID-19, and the timing thereof, the potential of PLX cells in preventing or reversing the dangerous overactivation of the immune system, that PLX cells may potentially reduce the fatal symptoms of COVID-19 induced pneumonia and pneumonitis, and PLX cells’ position as a therapy for mitigating the tissue-damaging effects of COVID-19.
These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; Pluristem may encounter delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing its clinical trials; Pluristem’s products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, Pluristem’s technology may not be validated as it progresses further and its methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; Pluristem may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of its products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with Pluristem’s process; Pluristem’s products may wind up being more expensive than it anticipates; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real clinical settings; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; Pluristem’s patents may not be sufficient; Pluristem’s products may harm recipients; changes in legislation may adversely impact Pluristem; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements.
Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Dana Rubin
Director of Investor Relations 972-74-7107194
HAIFA, Israel, March 3, 2020 – Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:PSTI) (TASE:PSTI), a leading regenerative medicine company developing a platform of novel biological products, today announced it received a response to the proposal it submitted to the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for funding a study designed to demonstrate the superiority of PLX-R18 therapy versus current standard of care in the treatment of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS). At this time, BARDA has chosen not to move forward with the funding of the current proposal. The decision is based on BARDA’s technical considerations as determined by a Technical Evaluation Panel.
Other factors considered by BARDA included BARDA’s current strategic needs, availability of funds and resources, and an aim to balance BARDA’s current portfolio. In its response, BARDA encouraged and invited Pluristem to participate in future relevant BARDA opportunities.
“While we had hoped to receive the funding of the proposal, we understand that at this time there are a set of parameters that led BARDA to this decision.
We will continue to advance our current ARS projects with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), Fukushima Hospital and the University in Japan and pursue additional opportunities and collaborations in this area.
We believe that Pluristem’s extensive platform technology can address a broad range of medical conditions and we plan to continue the future development of PLX-R18’s pipeline in hematological indications, including our ongoing clinical development in incomplete hematopoietic recovery following hematopoietic cell transplants, for which PLX-R18 received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Orphan Drug Designation.
Pluristem has several significant milestones coming ahead and we intend to present these developments in the next few months,” said Yaky Yanay, Pluristem President and CEO.
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading regenerative medicine company developing novel placenta-based cell therapy product candidates.
The Company has reported robust clinical trial data in multiple indications for its patented PLX cell product candidates and is currently conducting late stage clinical trials in several indications.
PLX cell product candidates are believed to release a range of therapeutic proteins in response to inflammation, ischemia, muscle trauma, hematological disorders and radiation damage.
The cells are grown using the Company’s proprietary three-dimensional expansion technology and can be administered to patients off- the-shelf, without tissue matching. Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position; a Company-owned and operated GMP-certified manufacturing and research facility; strategic relationships with major research institutions; and a seasoned management team.
This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws.
For example, Pluristem is using forward-looking statements when it discusses its belief that its extensive platform technology can address a broad range of medical conditions and that it plans to continue the future development of PLX-R18’s pipeline in hematological indications, its intent to continue to advance its current ARS projects with the U.S. NIAID, DOD Fukushima Hospital and the University of Japan, and pursue additional opportunities and collaborations in this area, and its intention to present updates to several significant milestones in the next few months.
These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; Pluristem may encounter delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing its clinical trials; Pluristem’s products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, Pluristem’s technology may not be validated as it progresses further and its methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; Pluristem may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of its products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with Pluristem’s process; Pluristem’s products may wind up being more expensive than it anticipates; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real clinical settings; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; Pluristem’s patents may not be sufficient; Pluristem’s products may harm recipients; changes in legislation may adversely impact Pluristem; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements.
Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Dana Rubin
Director of Investor Relations 972-74-7107194
HAIFA, Israel, February 10, 2020 – Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:PSTI) (TASE:PSTI), a leading regenerative medicine company developing a platform of novel cell therapy products, today issued an update to its shareholders from its Chief Executive Officer and President, Yaky Yanay.
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
Today we announce Pluristem’s update for the second quarter of fiscal 2020, including recent achievements and our next short-term milestones. Recently, Pluristem’s management attended the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, and this year it was clear more than ever that the pharmaceutical industry is significantly increasing its interest in cell and gene therapy.
Many of the discussions and conversations about cell and gene therapy focus on the technological gaps and the lack of manufacturing platforms. As you know, Pluristem considers its manufacturing capabilities to be one of its key competitive advantages.
There is significant interest in our platform technology and in the fact that we have strong industrial manufacturing capabilities and high batch to batch consistency, while maintaining strong pipeline aimed for valuable markets with unmet medical needs.
The discussions during this week confirmed that we hold a leading position in the field of advanced therapies. My goal is to materialize this advantage to also benefit our shareholders.
During this past quarter, we were very focused on completing our pivotal Phase III clinical studies.
We made significant advancements in both of our Phase III studies for PLX-PAD, including achieving the 75% enrollment milestone in our multinational Phase III Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) study and the 50% enrollment milestone in our multinational Phase III study in muscle regeneration following hip fracture.
I am very pleased with the fact that we have kept enrollment rates high.
We have strong cooperation from our clinical sites, and we are pushing forward to complete our mission to be the first company in U.S. and Europe with approved treatments for unmet medical needs such as CLI and muscle regeneration.
As recently announced, we have also concluded a thorough market analysis of the U.S. CLI market. This market access study, which included interviews with dozens of U.S. payers and key opinion leaders, demonstrated what we believe is a significant need with a potential addressable market estimated between $2 and $6 billion for PLX-PAD in the United States.
During this past quarter we also made important progress with our preparation for commercialization of CLI and advanced our relationships and discussions with potential collaborators and other stakeholders.
We have established a wholly owned subsidiary, based in Berlin, Germany, understanding the importance of a physical presence in our strategic markets, and advancing research and development activities with our long-term partner, the Charité and BCRT (BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies) of Berlin.
As we previously reported, Pluristem submitted a proposal to the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for a project designed to demonstrate the superiority of our PLX-R18 therapy versus current standards of care in the treatment of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS).
We were recently notified by BARDA that the proposal is still being evaluated and a final answer should be provided soon.
We recognize BARDA’s near-term focus may have shifted to the coronavirus threat over the past few weeks and believe that a decision made regarding PLX-R18 will be made within the context of the agency’s broader current and future needs.
Once we receive a response to our proposal from BARDA, we will announce it.
As of December 31, 2019, Pluristem had approximately $17.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, bank deposits and restricted deposits.
We strengthened our cash position in January by an additional approximately $4 million that was raised through our Open Market Sales Agreement with Jefferies LLC from several family offices and institutional investors that have shown long term interest in Pluristem.
The coming quarters are extremely important to us all, as Pluristem is well positioned to successfully meet milestones and become a global leading regenerative medicine company.
Sincerely, Yaky Yanay
Chief Executive Officer and President
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading regenerative medicine company developing novel placenta-based cell therapy product candidates.
The Company has reported robust clinical trial data in multiple indications for its patented PLX cell product candidates and is currently conducting late stage clinical trials in several indications.
PLX cell product candidates are believed to release a range of therapeutic proteins in response to inflammation, ischemia, muscle trauma, hematological disorders and radiation damage.
The cells are grown using the Company’s proprietary three-dimensional expansion technology and can be administered to patients off- the-shelf, without tissue matching. Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position; a Company-owned and operated GMP-certified manufacturing and research facility; strategic relationships with major research institutions; and a seasoned management team.
This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws.
For example, Pluristem is using forward-looking statements when it discusses its next milestones, the pharmaceutical industry’s increasing interest in cell and gene therapy, materializing advantages for the benefit of shareholders, its belief regarding significant need and potential addressable market for PLX-PAD in the United States, preparation for commercialization of CLI, its proposal to BARDA, the timing of BARDA’s response and further shareholder communications.
These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; Pluristem may encounter delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing its clinical trials; Pluristem’s products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, Pluristem’s technology may not be validated as it progresses further and its methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; Pluristem may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of its products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with Pluristem’s process; Pluristem’s products may wind up being more expensive than it anticipates; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real clinical settings; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; Pluristem’s patents may not be sufficient; Pluristem’s products may harm recipients; changes in legislation may adversely impact Pluristem; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements.
Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Dana Rubin
Director of Investor Relations 972-74-7107194
Ayala Michael
Marketing Communications Manager 972-74-7107135
HAIFA, Israel, February 3, 2020 – Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:PSTI) (TASE:PSTI), a leading regenerative medicine company developing a platform of novel biological products, today announced results from a market access comprehensive research study conducted by Marwood Group, a healthcare advisory firm, for the critical limb ischemia (CLI) market in the U.S.
The report included data from published literature as well as direct interviews regarding Pluristem’s PLX-PAD regenerative cell therapy with dozens of physicians, who are key opinion leaders (KOL) in CLI, and with payers covering millions of lives. Pluristem believes that the in- depth report reflects a favorable market for PLX-PAD, which is currently in a global Phase III study with clinical sites in the U.S., Europe, and Israel. According to the report, CLI is a significant unmet need indication, and constitutes a significant burden on the U.S. healthcare system.
The report suggests that the addressable market for PLX-PAD for Rutherford 5 CLI patients that are unsuitable for revascularization is expected to reach $2 billion by 2023.
In addition, the physicians interviewed as part of the study suggest that they would use the PLX product in cases where multiple medical interventions are needed per year.
Based on the report, and assuming such an approach, this could support an annual addressable market in the U.S. of $6 billion.
The incidence of CLI in the U.S. is rising, driven by an aging population and the increase in the prevalence of diabetes, both underlying drivers for CLI.
Currently, there are between 2 and 3 million CLI patients in the U.S., with 500,000 to 600,000 new cases per year. Of these, 30% to 35% are classified as Rutherford 5, the target population in Pluristem’s ongoing Phase III study.
Approximately half of Rutherford 5 and Rutherford 6 CLI patients have diabetes, and this patient population has a 50% higher probability of amputation than patients without diabetes due to the rapid progression of the disease.
About 35% of CLI patients today are unsuitable for revascularization surgery, according to KOLs and market researches in this field, and face high rates of death and amputation, which carries high medical and personal costs.
The average cost for major amputation in the U.S. is estimated at $47,000, with ongoing annual costs for amputees estimated at $75,000 and estimated lifetime cost of $500,000-$800,000. The current cost of potential amputation, and of treating CLI, is well recognized by payers and many of them see amputation as a cost benchmark for a new treatment like PLX-PAD.
As disclosed in the report, vascular surgeons who typically treat CLI expressed interest in using PLX-PAD, which is provided as an outpatient setting, thus potentially reducing the need for hospitalization. Both KOLs and payers confirmed that amputation free survival (AFS), Pluristem’s primary efficacy endpoint for its Phase III study, is an endpoint that should drive adoption. Pluristem’s Phase III study population includes Rutherford 5 patients who are considered unsuitable for revascularization surgery.
In addition to treating these patients, more than three- quarters of vascular surgeons expressed an unmet need and willingness to use PLX-PAD for patients with non-healing wounds and who already receive two revascularizations, or more, annually.
“Based on this thorough market report, it is clear to us that CLI patients, and especially those unsuitable for revascularization that are suffering from a very poor quality of life and carry a heavy burden on the health care system, require better medical solutions.
We believe that this market report highlights payers’ and physicians’ interest in PLX-PAD as an alternative method of care for CLI patients,” said Yaky Yanay, Pluristem President and CEO. “We also believe that this market report validates our understandings regarding the potential substantial market for our PLX-PAD product in the U.S., and the importance of implementing novel regenerative medicine in CLI to control increased healthcare spending. Pluristem is committed to finding a solution for CLI and believes that our Phase III study will show promise in preventing amputation and help improve the lives of millions of CLI patients.”
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading regenerative medicine company developing novel placenta-based cell therapy product candidates.
The Company has reported robust clinical trial data in multiple indications for its patented PLX cell product candidates and is currently conducting late stage clinical trials in several indications.
PLX cell product candidates are believed to release a range of therapeutic proteins in response to inflammation, ischemia, muscle trauma, hematological disorders and radiation damage.
The cells are grown using the Company’s proprietary three-dimensional expansion technology and can be administered to patients off- the-shelf, without tissue matching. Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position; a Company-owned and operated GMP-certified manufacturing and research facility; strategic relationships with major research institutions; and a seasoned management team.
Marwood Group is a healthcare focused strategic advisory and financial services firm headquartered in New York City with offices in Washington, D.C. and London. Marwood Group’s consulting practice, Marwood Group Advisory, is a leading healthcare-focused strategic advisory firm that provides due diligence, market access, and life cycle management consulting services for life sciences companies and investors.
Marwood operates at the intersection of healthcare policy analysis, market diligence and strategic consulting; Marwood’s senior team includes former healthcare and life sciences operators, investment bankers, and veterans of top-tier strategy consulting firms as well as former senior-level government officials and policy makers.
To inquire about Marwood’s work in the life sciences sector, please contact Nayan Ghosh at nghosh@marwoodgroup.com.
This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws.
For example, Pluristem is using forward-looking statements when it discusses the potential size of the U.S. market for patients suffering from CLI, the potential benefits and use of PLX-PAD in the treatment of CLI over the current standard of care in the context of preventing amputations and in place of revascularization, the belief that the market report highlights payers’ and doctors’ interest in PLX- PAD as an alternative method of care for CLI patients, the belief that the market report validates its understanding regarding the potential market for its PLX-PAD product in the U.S. and the importance of implementing novel regenerative medicine in CLI to control increased healthcare spending, and the belief that its Phase III study will show promise in preventing amputation and help improve the lives of millions of CLI patients.
These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; Pluristem may encounter delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing its clinical trials; Pluristem’s products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, Pluristem’s technology may not be validated as it progresses further and its methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; Pluristem may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of its products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with Pluristem’s process; Pluristem’s products may wind up being more expensive than it anticipates; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real clinical settings; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; Pluristem’s patents may not be sufficient; Pluristem’s products may harm recipients; changes in legislation may adversely impact Pluristem; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements.
Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Marwood Group Advisory, LLC (“Marwood”).
Marwood undertakes no obligation to provide the recipient of the information herein with any additional or supplemental information or any update to or correction of the information contained herein.
Neither Marwood nor its affiliates, nor their respective employees, officers, directors, managers or partners, shall be liable to any other entity or individual for any loss of profits, revenues, trades, data or for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any nature arising from any cause whatsoever, even if Marwood has been advised of the possibility of such damage. Marwood and its affiliates, and their respective employees, officers, directors, managers or partners, shall have no liability in tort, contract or otherwise to any third party. The information herein is proprietary to Marwood. Any duplication or use of such material is not permitted without Marwood’s written consent.
Dana Rubin
Director of Investor Relations 972-74-7107194
Ayala Michael
Marketing Communications Manager 972-74-7107135