OREANDA-NEWS. Histogenics Corporation (Histogenics) (Nasdaq:HSGX), a regenerative medicine company focused on developing and commercializing products in the musculoskeletal space, announced that it has acquired the development and commercialization rights to NeoCart for the Japanese market from its long-time development partner Purpose Co., Ltd (Purpose).  This agreement is the next step in Histogenics’ strong and evolving relationship with Purpose and provides Histogenics the opportunity to capitalize on the recent advancements in regenerative medicine regulatory pathways in Japan.

“We are pleased that we were able to acquire the rights to NeoCart in Japan from Purpose. We believe that, as in the United States, the Japanese market for cartilage repair is in need of a better and more cost-effective alternative that offers patients a more rapid, consistent and durable recovery with a procedure that is quick and easy for physicians,” stated Stephen Kennedy, Chief Technology Officer of Histogenics.  “Purpose has been an important development and manufacturing partner to Histogenics since we were founded and we are pleased that our relationship has been strengthened based on Purpose's innovative, patent-protected tissue engineering processors that enable us to produce cartilage tissue using a combination of cells, biomaterials and engineering,” continued Mr. Kennedy.

Under the terms of the agreement, Histogenics assumes sole responsibility for and rights to the development and commercialization of NeoCart in Japan.  The Japanese market for cartilage repair is estimated to represent more than 200,000 procedures annually and is growing due to favorable demographic trends, as well as reforms to the national healthcare system related to regenerative therapies. The Japanese Regenerative Medicine Law was passed in 2014 to potentially expedite the clinical development and commercialization pathways for innovative regenerative cell-based medicines that have demonstrated safety and probable efficacy.  Two new products have received full and conditional approval since the law went into effect. In exchange for the transfer of development and commercialization rights, Histogenics will pay a success-based milestone to Purpose upon conditional approval of NeoCart in Japan, as well as commercial milestones and a low single digit royalty on Japanese sales of NeoCart, upon full approval, if any, in Japan. 

“With this new agreement in place, we intend to build upon our initial meetings in 2015 with the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency to further define the regulatory pathway for potential conditional approval of NeoCart, based partly on the Phase II data from NeoCart, and our more than 10 years of manufacturing and process development experience supporting the product,” commented Adam Gridley, Chief Executive Officer of Histogenics. “In parallel, we have initiated discussions with development and commercialization partners for the Japanese and pan-Asia markets to better serve this growing and important region for our products. Lastly, we also intend to explore the appropriate regulatory development pathways for our allogeneic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived future product candidates being developed with our partner, Intrexon.” 

Hiromi Takagi, President of Purpose, Co., Ltd., stated, "Our founder, the late Kazumi Takagi, began this project in order to ‘provide as much relief as possible for the aches, pains, and lack of freedom people might experience as their bodies age and deteriorate,’ and it therefore gives me great joy to know that his vision will take another step toward reality thanks to our new partnership with Histogenics.  Assuming NeoCart receives governmental approval in Japan as well as the US, it is my hope that NeoCart will provide relief and improved quality of life for as many patients as possible."

About Histogenics Corporation
Histogenics is a leading regenerative medicine company developing and commercializing products in the musculoskeletal segment of the marketplace.  Histogenics’ regenerative medicine platform combines expertise in cell processing, scaffolding, tissue engineering, bioadhesives and growth factors to provide solutions to treat musculoskeletal-related conditions.  Histogenics’ first investigational product candidate, NeoCart®, is currently in Phase 3 clinical development.  NeoCart is an autologous cell therapy designed to treat cartilage defects in the knee using the patient’s own cells.  Knee cartilage defects represent a significant opportunity in the United States, with an estimated 500,000 or more applicable procedures each year.  NeoCart is designed to exhibit characteristics of articular, hyaline cartilage prior to and upon implantation into the knee and therefore does not rely on the body to make new cartilage, characteristics not exhibited in other current treatment options.  For more information, please visit www.histogenics.com.

About Purpose Co., Ltd.
Purpose offers its products and services in deference to its core motto: "providing clients with safety, security, and comfort in eco-friendly, life-friendly, and human-friendly ways".  Its flagship product, the "tankless water heater" for homes and businesses, has found consumer appeal not only in Japan, but in North America and Oceania as well.  Purpose boasts a lineup of goods and services that encompass a wide variety of fields, including electronic control devices, information software, manufacturing equipment, and regenerative medicine supporting equipment.  With the help of Dr. Shuichi Mizuno, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School, Purpose developed the "tissue engineering processor (TEP)" based on the precision machining and electronic control technology it has been developing since the late '90s; Purpose's past and continued provision of this device, as well as the support relating to it, has been a crucial part of its financial and technological support of Histogenics during the initial stages of its endeavors.