Due diligence and confidential discussions now
moving into negotiations for products in both the tendon repair and
aesthetics franchises
VANCOUVER, Sept. 13, 2017 /CNW/ - RepliCel Life Sciences
Inc. (OTCQB: REPCF) (TSXV: RP) (FRA:P6P2) ("RepliCel" or the
"Company"), a company developing next-generation technologies in
aesthetics and orthopedics, is pleased to announce that it
anticipates maturing discussions will lead to one or more new
partnership agreements in the near-term. The Company's strategic
focus on partnering has resulted in it being currently engaged in
multiple negotiations with potential strategic partners.
"The release of our positive clinical data earlier this year and
the recent unveiling of our next-generation dermal injector
prototypes have aggressively bolstered partnership negotiations,"
says RepliCel President and CEO, R. Lee
Buckler. "We remain confident of our ability to execute one
or more partnerships for the dermal injector on our way to it being
CE-marked by mid-2018, and have also generated significant
partnership interest in our biologic assets among strong regional
players. We believe it is highly likely that one of these will
culminate in a partnership transaction in the near-term."
RepliCel's partnership strategy is driven by an intent to
identify and negotiate transactions with partners prepared to be
investors and co-development partners for defined regional markets
that will eventually provide access to their established commercial
distribution channels.
In Asia, partnership
discussions are focused on the Company's dermatology and
tendinopathy programs, as well as the Company's next-generation
dermal injector, which is expected to be European market-ready next
year. The Company is working with a Canadian firm specializing in
Canada-China transactions, to move multiple parties
in China/Hong Kong through due diligence into term
sheet discussions and negotiations.
In Japan, RepliCel is working
with CJ Partners, the country's leading business development
experts in regenerative medicine, to explore potential partnerships
for its dermatology and tendinopathy programs with potential
Japanese industry partners. The Company's fibroblast program
(underlying RepliCel's dermatology and tendinopathy programs) has
already been the subject of the first stages of review by the
Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency
(PMDA).
RepliCel is also engaged in a number of other partnership
discussions, at various stages of due diligence, in other parts of
the world, including the United
States, Europe, and the
Middle East. These discussions
span the range of the Company's product portfolio, including the
co-development of RCH-01 for men and women with hair loss due to
androgenetic alopecia outside of Asia (where it is already exclusively licensed
to Shiseido Company).
The partnership discussions are primarily focused on regional
licensing and co-development by commercialization partners with
strong track records in their region, as well as proven market
expertise in dermatology, aesthetics, or orthopedics. Each is
expected to involve material investment (both upfront and upon
milestones), as well as the commitment of expertise, capabilities,
finances, and infrastructure to the co-development and eventual
commercialization of the products under discussion.
About RepliCel Life Sciences
RepliCel is a
regenerative medicine company focused on developing autologous cell
therapies that address conditions caused by a deficit of healthy
cells required for normal tissue healing and function. The
Company's product pipeline is comprised of three clinical-stage
products: RCT-01 for tendon repair, RCS-01 for skin
rejuvenation and RCH-01 for hair restoration. RCH-01 is under
exclusive license by Shiseido Company for certain Asian countries.
All product candidates are based on RepliCel's innovative
technology, utilizing cell populations isolated from a patient's
healthy hair follicles.
RepliCel is also developing a proprietary injection device
(RCI-02) optimized for the administration of its products and
licensable for use with other dermatology applications. Please
visit http://replicel.com/ for additional information.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this
news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements consist of
statements that are not purely historical, including any statements
regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the
future. Forward looking statements in this news release include
statements relating to: the status of the Company's current
partnership discussions; the expected results and timing of same,
including that the Company anticipates entering into partnership
agreements in the near-term; the benefits the Company may obtain
from any partnership; the timing in which the Company's dermal
injector is expected to become market-ready; and that each
partnership is expected to involve material investment and other
components. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and
involve known and unknown risks which may cause actual results and
the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements, including: the risk
that the Company may be unable to agree on definitive partnership
agreement terms with any party; the risk that any proposed
partnership will fail in the due diligence process; the risk that
the Company will receive negative results from the Company's
clinical trials; the effects of government regulation on the
business of the Company and any potential partners; risks
associated with future approvals for clinical trials; risks
associated with the Company obtaining all necessary regulatory
approvals for its various programs in applicable jurisdictions;
risks associated with the Company's ability to obtain and protect
rights to its intellectual property; risks and uncertainties
related to potential litigation; risks and uncertainties associated
with the Company's ability to raise additional capital; and other
factors beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes
that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements
are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of
activity or performance. Further, any forward-looking statement
speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and,
except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect
events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is
made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New
factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for
management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance
the impact of such factors on the Company's business or the extent
to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement. Readers should consult all of the
information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk
factor disclosure outlined in the Company's annual report on Form
20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2016 and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on Edgar at www.sec.gov
and with the British Columbia Securities Commission on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
SOURCE RepliCel Life Sciences Inc.