Sysmex and Siemens Renew Global Partnership for Hemostasis Solutions and Services

President and CEO: Hisashi Ietsugu) and Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics (HQ: NY, USA; CEO: Michael Reitermann) have announced the signing of a five-year global supply, distributorship, sales and service contract extension under which clinical laboratory customers around the world can retain access to the largest portfolio of innovative hemostasis instruments and reagents through 2018. The companies, which began partnering in 1995, also agreed to continue joint product development activities, ensuring customer access to new hemostasis technology. The signing occurred during the 2012 AACC and ASCLS Annual Meetings and Clinical Lab Expo in Los Angeles, California.

The large assortment of hemostasis products covered in this latest agreement is used by clinical laboratories to test for blood disorders in patients and to monitor patients on blood-thinning medication. To date, Sysmex and Siemens have released to market a variety of advanced solutions, including the recently launched Sysmex CS-5100*(1), the top-end model in Sysmex's CS hemostasis analyzer series, the Sysmex® CA-600 Systems*(1), a new line of compact, fully automated hemostasis analyzers, as well as several new Siemens INNOVANCE™ reagents.

"We are pleased to extend our longstanding relationship with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics," said Hisashi Ietsugu, President and CEO of Sysmex Corporation. "Our partnership in the field of hemostasis combines the strength of two leading diagnostics companies whose joint expertise offers best-in-class solutions to the laboratory. We remain committed to further expand our offerings with enhanced clinical utility and workflow efficiency."

"Our shared goal to deliver high quality products and services that address our customers' needs is a key reason for the success of our 17-year relationship," said Michael Reitermann, CEO, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. "Sysmex and Siemens remains a reliable partnership for customers worldwide amidst an evolving hemostasis market. Together, we will continue offering customers the broad portfolio of hemostasis solutions they have come to expect from us and we will also focus on delivering next-generation technologies going forward."

It's Perclot AMP.......No, It's Endoclot AMP

Cryolife last month announced that finally they had some good news regarding the litigation with Medafor, and under terms of the settlement, Medafor has agreed to pay CryoLife $3.5 million in cash. However the Atlanta based CryoLife foray into the powdered Hemostat market segment may still prove "interesting". When making their arrangement with Chinese Starch Medical for rights to Perclot in all territories worldwide excluding China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, North Korea, Iran and Syria. They also included the following in the contract:

  1.5 Product Applicators, Etc. SMI agrees to promptly notify CryoLife of all improvements to applicators, tips and other accessories included within or used in connection with the Products, including all new applicators, tips and other accessories. All such improvements and any such new applicators, tips or accessories to the Products shall be included within the Products and the Parties shall adjust the catalog of Products to reflect these new products, with any transfer price to be negotiated in good faith, but based solely on costs to SMI for such improvements and/or new applicators, tips and accessories. The Parties agree that the Endoscopic applicator system used for powder delivery via gastrointestinal endoscope, as further described on Schedule 2.1 is not an improvement or new applicator and is not included in this Agreement.

2.   Distribution

    2.1  Limitations on SMI Activities. During the term of this Agreement SMI agrees (i) to sell the Products exclusively to CryoLife for use in Permitted Clinical Applications within the Territory, (ii) to refrain from selling or licensing any Products to any Existing Distributor or Third Party for sale or distribution in Permitted Clinical Applications within the Territory, (iii) to refrain from directly or indirectly marketing, promoting, or encouraging any Third Party to market, promote or Distribute the Products for any of the Permitted Clinical Applications within the Territory, (iv) to refrain from licensing or transferring any AMP™ Technology to any Third Party within the Territory for the purpose of manufacturing any Products upon terms or conditions that would enable or allow such Third Party to sell any Products for Permitted Clinical Applications within the Territory. In addition, SMI agrees that it shall refrain until January 1, 2015 from (A) directly, or indirectly selling, permitting to sell, market, promote or encouraging third parties to sell, permit to sell, market or promote any Competitive Product (defined below) for any Permitted Clinical Application within the Territory or (B) licensing or transferring to any Third Party technology that would enable or allow any Third Party to manufacture any Competitive Product within the Territory. The provisions of the foregoing sentence shall be deemed further modified so that SMI may only take the actions described therein if SMI complies with Section 1.4 (and therefore CryoLife does not match the right of first refusal set forth therein). As used herein, “Competitive Product” means any powdered absorbable surgical hemostat that is intended for or could be used for a Permitted Clinical Application. The foregoing limitations do not apply to sales by SMI of those products described on Schedule 2.1.

Read the full document HERE

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Now Cryolife and their partners face the interesting prospect of Chinese made Perclot AMP particles meeting them in the EU re-branded as "Endoclot".  

As can be seen HERE the original Chinese Xijing Hospital trial changes for the use of AMP show the changes from perclot to "endoclot", but the endoclot webpage discusses AMP particles....see HERE. 

The CRY Q2 Earnings Conference Call is scheduled for 7/31/2012. 
Click the images below to enlarge

Study to Investigate the Safety and Effectiveness of TissuGlu in Abdominoplasty Surgeries Without the Use of Postoperative Drains

Cohera Medical, Inc.®, a leading innovator and developer of absorbable surgical adhesives and sealants, today announced the start of a no-drain clinical trial in 30 patients at two prominent surgery centers in Germany.  The study will investigate the safety and effectiveness of TissuGlu® Surgical Adhesive in the reduction of wound drainage, post operative seroma and related complications in abdominoplasty patients without the use of drains.

Currently, most patients who undergo abdominoplasty procedures and other large flap procedures require the insertion of drains to remove fluids that accumulate under the skin at the surgical site. In some cases, drainage is inadequate and the excess fluid accumulation (seroma) requires additional procedures for removal. The drains are often painful for the patient, can lead to infection and can impact the recovery process.

TissuGlu adheres the tissue flap created during the surgical procedure to the underlying tissue, helping to reduce the space where fluids can accumulate thereby eliminating the need to use surgical drains.  The ability to perform the procedure without drains would lead to a more comfortable recovery and a quicker return to normal activity for patients.

"We are excited to be part of this study utilizing TissuGlu to eliminate postoperative drains," said Dirk Richter, MD, of Wesseling, Germany.  "We look forward to enrolling more patients and believe that conducting abdominoplasty procedures without the need for drains would represent a significant improvement in patient care and comfort in these procedures.  The initial patients enrolled appear to be doing very well, with no seromas or complications reported in the first 48 hours after surgery."

"Initiation of this 'no drain' trial represents a major goal for TissuGlu," said Patrick Daly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cohera Medical.  "We continue to make positive patient outcomes a priority and believe the elimination of post-surgical drains is an important milestone."

Drain management and discomfort is the leading patient complaint for plastic surgery procedures according to the top plastic surgery publications.  In addition, complication rates from seroma formation range from 15% to 52% following abdominoplasty procedures.

China Biologic Receives SFDA Manufacturing Approval Certificate for Human Coagulation Factor VIII

China Biologic Products, Inc., a leading fully integrated plasma-based biopharmaceutical company in China, today announced that its indirectly owned subsidiary, Shandong Taibang Biological Products Co., Ltd. ("Taibang") has received a manufacturing approval certificate from the China State Food and Drug Administration ("SFDA") for Human Coagulation Factor VIII ("FVIII"). With this certificate, the only approval remaining for Taibang's commercial production of FVIII is the SFDA's good manufacturing practice ("GMP") certification of the FVIII production line itself.

Taibang began research for FVIII in 2007 and successfully developed the technology in 2008. The Company conducted clinical trials from 2009 to 2010. In June 2010, the Company submitted required materials to Center for Drug Evaluation for approval to start manufacturing and passed on-site products verification in January 2011. The Company received official manufacturing approval certificate on June 21, 2012. FVIII will be primarily used in the treatment of hemophilia A.

Mr. David Gao, Chairman & CEO, said, "Receiving SFDA manufacturing approval represents the culmination of more than five years of work and the first technological approval of a coagulation factor product developed by Taibang. With the addition of Factor VIII, we should soon be able to offer three major categories of blood products: albumin products, immunoglobulin products and coagulation factor products. This will further strengthen our competitive position as a leading plasma-based biopharmaceutical company in China."

"We are very proud to bring FVIII to hemophilia A patients in China," continued Mr. Gao. "We believe that Human Coagulation Factor VIII addresses a critically unmet need of a large patient population and helps ease under-supply of coagulation products. Although it is not possible to specify a definitive timeframe in which we will receive GMP approval, we expect our FVIII production to be inspected by SFDA and then GMP certified by the end of 2012. Going forward, we intend to continue to develop and manufacture life-enhancing, effective, quality-assured products."

About China Biologic Products, Inc.

China Biologic Products, Inc., is a leading fully integrated plasma-based biopharmaceutical company in China. The Company's products are used as critical therapies during medical emergencies and for the prevention and treatment of life-threatening diseases and immune-deficiency related diseases. China Biologic is headquartered in Beijing and manufactures over 20 plasma-based products through its indirect majority-owned subsidiaries, Shandong Taibang Biological Products Co., Ltd. and Guiyang Dalin Biologic Technologies Co., Ltd. The Company also has an equity investment in Xi'an Huitian Blood Products Co., Ltd. The Company sells its products to hospitals and other healthcare facilities in China. For additional information, please see the Company's website www.chinabiologic.com .