Avita Medical’s ReCell technology safe, effective for patients suffering with depigmented skin lesions

Jul 8 2015

Demonstrates 78% Repigmentation compared to 0% in Control Groups

Avita Medical Ltd. (ASX: AVH), (OTCQX: AVMXY), a regenerative medicine company specializing in the treatment of wounds and skin defects, today announced that statistically significant data from a randomized controlled study demonstrated that its single-use autologous cell suspension technology ReCell^® was safe and effective in skin repigmentation for patients suffering with depigmented skin lesions caused by vitiligo and piebaldism. Results of the study have been published online and in the July 2015 print issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the official publication of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

“The researchers found a 78 percent response rate amongst the active group versus zero percentage in the control groups, showing real statistical significance and further validating the science behind our lead product, ReCell^®,” commented Adam Kelliher, Chief Executive Officer of Avita Medical. “The application of the Regenerative Epithelial Suspension™ (RES™) created in the ReCell^® device is again shown to be a safe and effective treatment for conditions linked to pigmentation.”

The prospective, observer-blinded, randomized, within-patient controlled pilot study of 10 patients evaluated the treatment of ReCell^® after CO₂ laser ablation compared to two control treatment groups, CO₂ laser ablation and no treatment, on three separate depigmented test lesions for each patient.

Specifically, the study, which took place at the Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders (Stichting Nederlands Instituut voor Pigmentstoornissen or SNIP) in the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam, demonstrated that the median repigmentation in 10 patients (mean age 34; 6 males, 4 females) was 78 percent for sites treated with ReCell^® six months post-treatment, compared to 0 percent for each of the two control sites for the same timeframe (p=.001). Furthermore, 70 percent of the sites treated with ReCell^® showed greater than 73 percent repigmentation of their depigmented test lesion. ReCell^® was well-tolerated and patients did not experience any long term side effects, infections or treatment-area scars. Importantly, patients were satisfied with ReCell^®, with 70 percent assessing ReCell^® site repigmentation as good or excellent.

Andrew Quick, VP of Research & Technology at Avita Medical, said:

We continue to collaborate with prominent institutions to design and implement trials to high standards, and we are pleased to see results showing superior clinical outcomes with ReCell^® in robust studies with rigorous designs. Publication of these statistically significant data in the prestigious Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology is an important milestone for Avita Medical and we are grateful to the team at the Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders for their thoroughness and objectivity in conducting the study at a level of paramount quality.

Albert Wolkerstorfer MD, PhD, of the Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, and Principal Investigator, commented:

These results add to the growing evidence base demonstrating that the melanocytes, cells which are responsible for the skin’s color, originating from the transplanted suspension directly enter the wound bed, proliferate, and successfully produce pigmentation in the depigmented area.