Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ increases investment in Humacyte, accompanies human acellular vessel developer's stock market launch
WALTHAM, Mass.,ÌýAug. 30, 2021Ìý--ÌýÄ¢¹½´«Ã½, the world's leading provider of products and services forÌýindividuals with renal diseases, is investing an additionalÌýUSD 25 millionÌýin the U.S.Ìýmedical company Humacyte, Inc. In connection with the merger of Humacyte with aÌýspecial purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ is increasing itsÌýposition in the newly combined entity as the lead investor of a private investment inÌýpublic equity (PIPE). Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ acquired a stake in Humacyte in 2018 forÌýUSD 150 million and agreed then on a strategic partnership. The combined company,Ìýwhich will be called Humacyte, is listed and trades on the Nasdaq exchange under HUMA.ÌýÄ¢¹½´«Ã½'s original stake in Humacyte will be exchanged for shares in theÌýcombinedÌýcompany.
Humacyte is developing implantable human acellular vessels for multiple vascular repair,Ìýreconstruction and replacement. These vessels are biologically produced blood vesselsÌýmade from banked human smooth muscle cells; they are manufactured to be non-Ìýimmunogenic and are to be available "off the shelf" when needed by a patient. AmongÌýnumerous applications, the product is now being investigated in a clinical study for use asÌýa vascular access for hemodialysis patients, and may prove more effective thanÌýconventional synthetic grafts and fistulas in reducing infection as well as central venousÌýcatheter use. Other possible applications include reconstruction and repair from traumaticÌýinjury,Ìýand forÌýimplantsÌýforÌývariousÌývascularÌýdiseases.
"Humacyte's regenerative medicine technology has great potential in many areas ofÌýhealthcare," saidÌýFranklin W. Maddux, MD, Global Chief Medical Officer of FreseniusÌýMedical Care. "We are committed to helping Humacyte achieve market approvals withÌýthis renewed investment, to bring their technology into the mainstream of healthÌýdelivery. This will bring benefits worldwide in the care of patients needing repair orÌýreconstruction of the human vasculature. In this way, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ isÌýconsistently pursuing our strategic goal of driving medical progress with innovativeÌýtherapeutic approaches, recognizing the powerful advances this represents in bringingÌýregenerativeÌýmedicineÌýtoÌýpeople inÌýneed."
Humacyte and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ had already expanded their collaboration in June:ÌýIn addition to the vascular access and peripheral arterial disease applications, FreseniusÌýMedical Care was granted exclusive rights to market the human acellular vessel outsideÌýtheÌýUnited States, including enhancements and modifications for vascular traumaÌýapplications.
"Our partnership with Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ has developed very positively over the lastÌýthree years, and we are very pleased with the company's renewed commitment to ourÌýshared goals," saidÌýLaura Niklason, MD, PhD, the Chief Executive Officer of Humacyte.Ìý"Our two teams have worked well to prepare for the commercialization of our humanÌýacellular vessels globally since the formation of the partnership, and we look forward toÌýcollaborating further to benefit patients and care providers, as well as the growth of ourÌýtwoÌýcompanies."
The biotechnology-derived blood vessel is an investigational product and is currentlyÌýsubject to late-stage clinical trials inÌýthe United StatesÌýandÌýEurope. Humacyte plans toÌýfile for regulatory approval in both markets after their completion Ä¢¹½´«Ã½Ìýwill support the approval processes and plans the introduction in other marketsÌýworldwideÌýwithÌýHumacyte.
Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ is the world's leading provider of products and services for individuals withÌýrenal diseases of which around 3.7 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis treatment.ÌýThrough its network of more than 4,100 dialysis clinics, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ provides dialysisÌýtreatments for approximately 346,000 patients around the globe. Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ is also theÌýleading provider of dialysis products such as dialysis machines or dialyzers. Along with its coreÌýbusiness, the Renal Care Continuum, the company focuses on expanding in complementary areasÌýand in the field of critical care. Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ is listed on the Frankfurt Stock ExchangeÌý(FME)ÌýandÌýon the NewÌýYorkÌýStockÌýExchangeÌý(FMS).
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Disclaimer
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. ActualÌýresults could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to various factors,Ìýincluding, but not limited to, changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, legal changes,Ìýregulatory approvals, impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic results of clinical studies, foreign exchangeÌýrate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. TheseÌýandÌýotherÌýrisks andÌýuncertainties areÌýdetailedÌýinÌýFreseniusÌýMedicalÌýCareÌýAGÌý&ÌýCo.ÌýKGaA'sÌýreportsÌýfiledÌýwithÌýthe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ AG & Co. KGaA does not undertake anyÌýresponsibilityÌýtoÌýupdateÌýtheÌýforward-lookingÌýstatementsÌýinÌýthisÌýrelease.
