InVivo Therapeutics Opens First Ex-U.S. Site in Canada for INSPIRE Study
- Leading Spinal Cord Researcher Dr. Michael Fehlings and Toronto Western Hospital Join INSPIRE -
InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. (NVIV) today announced that it has received approval from the Toronto Western
Hospital’s Research Ethics Board to enroll patients as part of the INSPIRE study. Michael Fehlings, M.D., Ph.D., has been named
Principal Investigator at the site. Dr. Fehlings is currently Director of the Spinal Program at Toronto Western Hospital at the
University Health Network, Professor in the Department of Surgery, full member of the Institute of Medical Sciences School of
Graduate Studies, a Scholar in the McLaughlin Centre of Molecular Medicine, a Scientist in the McEwen Centre for Regenerative
Medicine, a Senior Scientist at the Krembil Research Institute, Director of the University of Toronto Neuroscience Program,
Co-Director of the University of Toronto Spine Program, and Krembil Chair in Neural Repair and Regeneration. Dr. Fehlings has
published over 400 peer-reviewed articles principally in the area of spinal cord injury and complex spinal surgery.
Dr. Fehlings said, “Spinal cord injury is a devastating condition for which innovative bioengineered regenerative strategies
hold considerable promise. Accordingly, our centre is pleased to assist with translating this exciting technology for people with
paralysis from spine trauma into the clinic.”
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Fehlings, one of the global leaders in spinal cord injury research, and the Toronto Western
Hospital to the INSPIRE study,” Mark Perrin, InVivo’s CEO and Chairman, said.
About The INSPIRE Study
The INSPIRE Study: InVivo Study of Probable Benefit of the Neuro-Spinal Scaffold™ for Safety and
Neurologic Recovery in Subjects with Complete Thoracic AIS A Spinal Cord Injury, is designed to demonstrate the safety and
probable benefit of the Neuro-Spinal Scaffold™ for the treatment of complete T2-T12/L1 spinal cord injury in support of
a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) application for approval. For more information, refer to https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT02138110.
About the Neuro-Spinal Scaffold™ Implant
Following acute spinal cord injury, surgical implantation of the biodegradable Neuro-Spinal Scaffold within the
decompressed and debrided injury epicenter is intended to support appositional healing, thereby reducing post-traumatic cavity
formation, sparing white matter, and allowing neural regeneration across the healed wound epicenter. The Neuro-Spinal
Scaffold, an investigational device, has received a Humanitarian Use Device (HUD) designation and currently is being evaluated
in the INSPIRE pivotal probable benefit study for the treatment of patients with complete (AIS A) traumatic acute spinal cord
injury.
About InVivo Therapeutics
InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. is a research and clinical-stage biomaterials and biotechnology company with a focus on
treatment of spinal cord injuries. The company was founded in 2005 with proprietary technology co-invented by Robert Langer, Sc.D.,
Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Joseph P. Vacanti, M.D., who then was at Boston Children’s Hospital and who
now is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2011, the company earned the David S. Apple Award from the American
Spinal Injury Association for its outstanding contribution to spinal cord injury medicine. In 2015, the company’s investigational
Neuro-Spinal Scaffold received the 2015 Becker’s Healthcare Spine Device Award. The publicly-traded company is headquartered
in Cambridge, MA. For more details, visit www.invivotherapeutics.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by words such as "believe,"
"anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "will," "may," "should," "expect," “designed to,” “potentially,” and similar expressions, and
include statements regarding the safety and effectiveness of the Neuro-Spinal Scaffold, progress toward achievement of OPC for The
INSPIRE Study, the expected timing of full enrollment in the study, and the timing of the submission of the Humanitarian Device
Exemption (HDE). Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations, and are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but
are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the company’s ability to successfully open additional clinical sites for
enrollment and to enroll additional patients; the timing of the Institutional Review Board process; the impact of achieving the OPC
on the FDA approval process; the company’s ability to commercialize its products; the company’s ability to develop, market and sell
products based on its technology; the expected benefits and efficacy of the company’s products and technology in connection with
the treatment of spinal cord injuries; the availability of substantial additional funding for the company to continue its
operations and to conduct research and development, clinical studies and future product commercialization; and other risks
associated with the company’s business, research, product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and
strategies identified and described in more detail in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2015, and its other filings with the SEC, including the company’s Form 10-Qs and current reports on Form 8-K. The company does not
undertake to update these forward-looking statements.
InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp.
Brian Luque, 617-863-5535
Investor Relations
bluque@invivotherapeutics.com
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