Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Establish a Research Collaboration to Study the Repair and Regeneration of the Colon following Colectomy

Holliston, MA, Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. (OTCQB: HRGN) (“Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the technology to regenerate organs inside the body to treat severe diseases, today announced that it officially executed a sponsored research agreement (SRA) with Drs. Stephen Badylak, George Hussey and Vincent Anto at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a center of the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC focused on developing regenerative therapies to address organ and tissue failure. The program will focus on the use of Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology’s cell-based scaffold platform to repair the colon following colon resection in a rodent model of colectomy.

Colectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the complete removal of the colon or partial removal of sections that are obstructed or diseased due to conditions such as cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease. About 300,000 colectomies are performed annually in the US. Complications associated with the procedure include leaks where the colon has been reconnected, narrowing of the intestine, holes called fistulas that leak into the abdomen, infection, blood clots and dead tissue, or necrosis, that results from poor circulation. Post-operative complications are well documented and cost an average of $15,000 to $20,000 per patient with an annual overall cost to the health care system of $1B.

“We are building on our platform technology by applying it to other gastrointestinal organs. Developing a product to repair and/or regenerate the colon following colectomy will expand our pipeline and further our product portfolio for repairing and regenerating tubular organs within the gastrointestinal tract”, commented Jerry He, Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology 's Chief Executive Officer.

“The program is designed to test several versions of our cell-based scaffold technology to repair tubular organs in the digestive system. Establishing a use for the technology to minimize or eliminate many of the complications associated with colectomy has the potential to significantly reduce the costs to the health care system”, commented Dr. William Fodor, Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology’s Chief Scientific Officer.