TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Mar 6, 2015) - Hemostemix Inc. (the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE: HEM) announced today the expansion of its phase II clinical trial for critical limb ischemia to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at Toronto General Hospital. As one of the preeminent research centers in Canada, Toronto General Hospital brings a history of innovating cardiovascular therapies and extensive clinical expertise to this ongoing multicenter international trial.
Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD) caused by reduced blood flow to the legs. Amputation or death occurs in up to 50% of patients during the first year following diagnosis of CLI. Demand for a treatment is on the rise, as CLI predominately affects the growing population aged 50 and older.
"The Hemostemix trial involves targeting the patient's diseased tissue with proprietary cells that are grown from the patient's own blood and able to form new blood vessels," said Dr. Hardean Achneck, vice president of clinical research and operations at Hemostemix. "The design of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study represents the gold standard for clinical trials."
Dr. Thomas Lindsay, head of the Division of Vascular Surgery in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at Toronto General Hospital, serves as principal investigator of the trial. He is a world-renowned vascular surgeon with more than 25 years of experience in treating patients with PAD and CLI. "Dr. Lindsay's leadership and clinical expertise are great assets to the trial's success," said Dr. Achneck.
"Adding Toronto General Hospital to our growing number of sites in this international trial furthers our mission to bring a CLI product to market," said Dr. Elmar Burchardt, president and CEO of Hemostemix. "Our successful track record of Hemostemix technology to date brings hope to CLI patients."
About the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre is the premier cardiac center in Canada. Since it opened in 1997, the Centre has saved and improved the lives of cardiac and vascular patients from around the world. Each year, approximately 55,000 patients receive innovative and compassionate care from multidisciplinary teams in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and the Centre trains more cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons than any other hospital in Canada. The Centre is based at the Toronto General Hospital and the Toronto Western Hospital, both members of University Health Network. For more information, visit www.petermunkcardiaccentre.ca.
About Hemostemix
Hemostemix is a public clinical-stage company that develops and commercializes innovative blood-derived cell therapies for medical conditions not adequately addressed by current treatments. Hemostemix Inc. is traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol HEM. For more information, visit hemostemix.com or email office@hemostemix.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, Inc. nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
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