Intercytex reforms as U.S: Department of Defense funds Vavelta scar therapy trials for injured soldiers

15-11-2010: Intercytex announced that it has reformed as a private enterprise and that its lead product, the cell therapy (VAVELTA®) will be evaluated by the US military to help treat injured soldiers.

Battlefield mortality has decreased from 30% in World War II to less than 10% in present day conflicts, partly as a result of better medical care. Sadly, this increased survival has been associated with a rise in the number of patients with chronic disabilities including burn and trauma scars. Burns account for approximately 10% of all combat casualties and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which are an increasingly common feature of today’s conflicts, are associated with extensive traumatic skin loss. As a result, burn and trauma scar contractures (where skin around the wound contracts, thickens and becomes inelastic) are a significant and growing problem for injured war heroes.

‘I am really delighted to announce the relaunch of Intercytex on Armistice Day since our lead product, VAVELTA® has the potential to make a real difference to the lives of injured troops’ commented Dr Kemp, Intercytex’s new Chief Executive Officer. ‘VAVELTA® has already been used in a small number of patients suffering from scar contractures and the outcome of these treatments has led to this Phase II trial in military personnel with burn scars. The work is funded by a significant agreement with the US Department of Defence and the clinical trial is scheduled to begin at Pittsburgh University Hospital, US, in 2011 in partnership with the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.’

VAVELTA® is a suspension of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs, which are naturally derived skin cells and not modified in any way) in cell storage medium, for injection into the skin. The newly introduced HDFs are believed to lay down collagen and repair the extracellular matrix to improve skin structure and function.