Vericel Announces FDA Acceptance of Biologics License Application for NexoBrid for the Treatment of Severe Thermal Burns

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ: VCEL) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing the recently submitted Biologics License Application (BLA) for NexoBrid (concentrate of proteolytic enzymes enriched in bromelain) for eschar removal (debridement) in adults with deep partial-thickness and/or full-thickness thermal burns. The FDA assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target date of June 29, 2021. In addition, the FDA communicated that it is not currently planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application. 

“The FDA’s acceptance of the NexoBrid BLA for review represents another important milestone toward our goal of providing a new standard of care for eschar removal in patients with severe burns,” said Nick Colangelo, President and CEO of Vericel. “We look forward, together with MediWound, to working with the FDA during the BLA review process as we seek marketing approval for NexoBrid in the United States.”

Sharon Malka, CEO of MediWound added, “The acceptance of the NexoBrid BLA is a major milestone for MediWound and it is gratifying to know NexoBrid is one step closer to being available to help burn victims in the United States. We thank all of the investigators, their teams, our employees and all our partners, especially BARDA and Vericel, for their commitment to the program.”

Vericel will host a virtual Analyst and Investor Day on Friday, October 16, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. EST which will focus on NexoBrid. In addition to a general corporate update, Vericel executives will facilitate discussions with burn surgeon thought leaders on current burn debridement practices and how NexoBrid, upon approval, could change the current treatment paradigm for debridement of severe thermal burns.

About Vericel Corporation
Vericel is a leader in advanced therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets. The company markets two cell therapy products in the United States. MACI (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. Epicel (cultured epidermal autografts) is a permanent skin replacement for the treatment of patients with deep dermal or full-thickness burns greater than or equal to 30% of total body surface area. The company also holds an exclusive license from MediWound Ltd. for North American rights to NexoBrid, a registration-stage biological orphan product for debridement of severe thermal burns. Funding and technical support to MediWound Ltd. for development of NexoBrid is provided by the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.vcel.com.