NEW YORK and MELBOURNE, Australia, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mesoblast Limited (Nasdaq:MESO; ASX:MSB)
today announced its licensee in Japan, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., has filed to extend marketing approval of TEMCELL®1
HS Inj. for use in patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). TEMCELL is already approved for the treatment of acute graft
versus host disease (aGVHD), and was the first allogeneic cellular medicine to receive full regulatory approval in Japan.
The parties have amended their License Agreement in order for JCR to access Mesoblast’s mesenchymal stem cell
(MSC) wound healing patents to enable it to develop and commercialize TEMCELL for EB. Mesoblast will receive royalties on TEMCELL
product sales for EB.
JCR has received Orphan Designation for TEMCELL in the treatment of EB based on promising results from an
investigator-initiated trial at Osaka University Hospital where TEMCELL was subcutaneously administered. JCR also intends
to seek a label extension for TEMCELL in Japan for intravenous delivery of TEMCELL.
Mesoblast will have access to clinical data generated by JCR in Japan to support development and commercialization of its MSC
product candidate remestemcel-L in markets outside Japan for EB and other wound healing applications. Mesoblast plans to file for
United States FDA regulatory approval of remestemcel-L shortly for the treatment of aGVHD.
There are many genetic and symptomatic variants of EB, with all sharing the prominent symptom of extremely fragile
skin that blisters and tears from minor friction or trauma. Internal organs and bodily systems can also be seriously affected by
the disease. EB is always painful, often pervasive and debilitating, and is in some cases lethal before the age of 30. The
international branch of the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association (DEBRA International) reports that there are
approximately 25,000 people with EB in the United States. Currently, there are no effective treatments available2.
References
1. TEMCELL® HS Inj. is a registered trademark of JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.
2. https://www.debra.org/itwonthurttowatch
About Mesoblast
Mesoblast Limited (Nasdaq: MESO; ASX:MSB) is a world leader in developing allogeneic (off-the-shelf) cellular medicines. The
Company has leveraged its proprietary technology platform to establish a broad portfolio of late-stage allogeneic (off-the-shelf)
product candidates with three product candidates in Phase 3 trials – acute graft versus host disease, chronic heart failure and
chronic low back pain due to degenerative disc disease. Through a proprietary process, Mesoblast selects rare mesenchymal lineage
precursor and stem cells from the bone marrow of healthy adults and creates master cell banks, which can be industrially expanded
to produce thousands of doses from each donor that meet stringent release criteria, have lot to lot consistency, and can be used
off-the-shelf without the need for tissue matching. Mesoblast has facilities in Melbourne, New York, Singapore and Texas and is
listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (MSB) and on the Nasdaq (MESO). www.mesoblast.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement includes forward-looking statements that relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
these forward-looking statements. We make such forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
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guarantee of future performance or results, and actual results may differ from the results anticipated in these forward-looking
statements, and the differences may be material and adverse. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements
about the timing, progress and results of Mesoblast’s preclinical and clinical studies; Mesoblast’s ability to advance product
candidates into, enroll and successfully complete, clinical studies; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals;
and the pricing and reimbursement of Mesoblast’s product candidates, if approved. You should read this press release together with
our risk factors, in our most recently filed reports with the SEC or on our website. Uncertainties and risks that may cause
Mesoblast’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by
such statements, and accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any
obligations to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
developments or otherwise.
