CorMatrix Cardiovascular Receives U.S. Patent for Injectable Biomaterial

CorMatrix Cardiovascular Inc. has received a U.S. patent for an augmented injectable extracellular matrix (ECM) bioscaffold.

The augmented ECM bioscaffold induces stem cell proliferation and differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes, and, thereby, angiogenesis and remodeling, i.e. tissue repair, of cardiovascular tissue.

“The issuance of a U.S. patent is a significant milestone in our patent prosecution efforts,” said David B. Camp, chairman and CEO of CorMatrix. “Having a priority date of 2005 establishes CorMatrix as the leader in the field of cardiovascular regenerative medicine.”

U.S. Patent No. 8,568,761 is based on one of multiple pending U.S. applications with claims directed toward ECM bioscaffolds that are augmented with a variety of bioactive components, such as TGF-2, TGF-β and DNA.

“Capturing and directing stem cell function for truly regenerating tissues requires the appropriate microenvironment, not just stem cells,” said Robert Matheny, M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon and chief scientific officer for CorMatrix. “The future of regenerative therapy will be directed toward enhancing our effective matrices with factors that fully capture and augment regeneration. This patent, the ones following, and our current portfolio effectively differentiate CorMatrix from other regenerative companies.”

In addition to the Extracellular Matrix platform of devices already on the market in both the United States and Europe, CorMatrix plans to initiate human safety trials for heart failure in Europe with its proprietary formula and device for application of the ECM. The allowance of the U.S. Patent No. 8,568,761 broadens the already established intellectual property file held by CorMatrix for cardiac tissue repair and heart failure treatments.

The decellularized matrix material serves as a bioscaffold to allow vascular ingrowth from adjacent tissues to deliver progenitor cells and nutrients to the matrix, which then differentiate into tissue-specific cells and structures. The ECM material is gradually replaced as the patient’s own cells reinforces and rebuilds the diseased or damaged site. During repair, the matrix is naturally degraded and resorbed, leaving remodeled functional tissue where damaged or injured tissue would normally be expected. The safety of extracellular matrices has been well established in a number of different clinical applications and more than 500 published papers. Since 1999, an estimated 2 million patients worldwide have received an extracellular matrix implant.

CorMatrix Cardiovascular Inc. was founded in 2001 as a privately held medical device company focused on developing biomaterial that repairs damaged cardiovascular tissues. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., the company currently is researching, developing and commercializing its CorMatrix ECM technology for various cardiovascular applications. The firm has U.S. clearance and European approval (with a CE Mark) for its ECM technology as an implant for pericardial closure, cardiac tissue repair, as well as clearance for carotid repair.