DURHAM – Humacyte, clinical-stage biotechnology platform company developing universally implantable bioengineered human tissue, is expanding a collaboration with Fresenius Medical Care, a provider of dialysis products and services.
In February, Alpha Healthcare Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: AHAC), a special purpose acquisition company, and Humacyte announced they had executed a definitive business combination agreement that included a fully committed $175 million financing agreement. The so-called SPAC deal is making Humacyte a public company.
Fresenius Medical Care is the leading participant in the financing.
“Our two teams have worked well to prepare for the commercialization of our HAVs globally since the formation of the partnership, and we look forward to collaborating further to benefit patients, care providers and our two companies,” said Laura Niklason, Chief Executive Officer of Humacyte in a statement
By the terms of the deal, described in a statement issued by the company, Fresenius Medical Care will have the exclusive rights to commercialize Humacyte’s 6 millimeter x 42 centimeter human acellular vessel—and all improvements, modifications, and derivatives—outside of the United States.
The prior deal was formed in 2018 under a distribution agreement, whereby Fresenius Medical Care could commercialize Humacyte’s HAVs in the applications of vascular access for hemodialysis and peripheral arterial disease.
According to the company, it’s HAVs are used in the field of vascular creation, repair, replacement or construction, including renal replacement therapy for dialysis access, the treatment of peripheral arterial disease, and the treatment of vascular trauma.
The updated agreement does not include all uses. Excluded from the agreement is the use of the HAVs by Fresenius Medical Care for coronary artery bypass grafting, pediatric heart surgery, or adhering pancreatic islet cells onto the outer surface of the HAV for use in diabetic patients, the company said.
“During our collaboration with Humacyte we have seen the potential applications for their regenerative platform expand significantly, and we look forward to partnering with Humacyte as they continue their mission to bring an off the shelf and universally implantable bioengineered human tissue to the care of people in need of vascular surgery,” said Frank Maddux, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Fresenius Medical Care in a statement.
“This innovative technology has the potential to provide improved outcomes for patients and reduced medical and economic burdens to the healthcare system,” added Maddux.
In February, Alpha Healthcare Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: AHAC), a special purpose acquisition company, and Humacyte announced it had executed a definitive business combination agreement that included a fully committed $175 million PIPE financing agreement.
Fresenius Medical Care is the leading participant in the PIPE financing.
“Our two teams have worked well to prepare for the commercialization of our HAVs globally since the formation of the partnership, and we look forward to collaborating further to benefit patients, care providers and our two companies,” said Laura Niklason, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Humacyte in a statement
Fresenius Medical Care has a network of more than 4,000 dialysis centers worldwide, and cares for over 300,000 patients with end-stage renal failure, according to a release shared by the company.
