Research collaboration

23 March 2016

Collagen Solutions Plc

(the "Company" or the "Group")

Collaboration with The Blond McIndoe Research Foundation

Collagen Solutions plc (AIM: COS), the developer and manufacturer of medical grade collagen components for use in regenerative medicine, medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics, announces a research collaboration with Blond McIndoe Research Foundation ('BMRF'), a not for profit centre for regenerative medicine based at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, a world leading centre for the treatment of burns.

The pilot study will investigate the use of primary human skin cells used in formulation with Collagen Solutions products with a view to developing more effective treatments for burns, thereby reducing the burden and limitation of skin grafting. It is hoped that the combination of BMRF's experience in culturing cells specifically for treatment of burns and the use of high quality medical grade collagen will also enable the use of more effective application technologies for these types of injuries.

Dr Stewart White, Chief Executive Officer of Collagen Solutions said: "With over 13,000 UK hospital admissions* each year and 486,000** in the USA requiring medical attention, the care and treatment of burns presents a significant clinical need. We are extremely pleased to announce our collaboration with BMRF to work towards improved patient care. The experience the foundation has in the treatment of burns and wound care using the patient's own cells is truly world leading. Initially the project will confirm that our functional collagen formulations will provide a successful scaffold for these living cells. Based on successful outputs, we will then go on to jointly create a delivery process which can increase the ease of handling of these products by clinicians, alongside greater efficacy of the treatments themselves."

Maxine Smeaton, Chief Executive Officer of BMRF said: "We are delighted to announce this important partnership with Collagen Solutions. Working together we are utilising each other's experience and expertise in order to accelerate this vital work in cell delivery technologies. Collaborations of this nature are crucial to achieving high quality, impactful research that results in improved outcomes for people who have experienced serious, life-changing burn wounds."

*http://www.britishburnassociation.org/

**http://www.ameriburn.org/

Enquiries:

For Further information on the Blond McIndoe Research Foundation visit: www.blondmcindoe.org

Background to BMRF:

The Blond McIndoe Research Foundation (BMRF) is a not-for-profit centre for regenerative medicine. Our research supports people who have experienced life-changing damage or disfigurement as a result of serious burns, major soft tissue trauma or disease. Our programmes are focused on advancing wound healing techniques and technologies that aim to repair, restore and regenerate tissue and reduce debilitating scarring in order to improve function, form and comfort. Our co-location and strategic alliance with Clinicians at The Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH) in East Grinstead underpins our collective aspiration to deliver patient oriented innovations. 

We were founded in the name of surgical pioneer Sir Archibald McIndoe who treated many injured airmen during WW2, known as The Guinea Pig Club, and foresaw the need to advance the science of healing in order to benefit future generations. The pioneering spirit continued over the years leading to many significant developments such as ground breaking discoveries in graft rejection research which paved the way for the first microsurgical techniques such as toe to hand transplant. Some of our more recent innovations have included the development of sprayed skin cells for children's burns and new biomaterials designed to reconstruct tissue damaged by high energy trauma, such as blast injuries.