Veryan CE Mark approval for BioMimics 3D Stent

16 November 2012

Imperial Innovations Group plc

Veryan receives CE Mark approval for BioMimics 3D™ Stent

Imperial Innovations Group plc (AIM: IVO, 'Innovations'), a leading technology commercialisation and investment group, announces that portfolio company Veryan, a vascular disease specialist, has received CE Mark approval for the BioMimics 3D™ Stent.

The BioMimics 3D stent is a novel platform technology designed for treating the major arteries of the leg in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Its unique design mimics the natural helical geometry of the human vascular system, improving blood flow and reducing kinking and deformation of the stent during movement of the leg, to protect the vessel from damage.

CE Mark approval follows on from meeting the primary endpoints of the MIMICS study, a prospective randomised controlled trial comparing the safety and efficacy of the BioMimics 3D stent with a standard nitinol stent. Follow up assessments of patients involved in the trial have already demonstrated an excellent safety profile and clinical performance at both 6 and 12 months, and will continue for two years.

Prevalence of PAD is increasing due to an aging population with a rising incidence of risk factors such as diabetes and obesity. The multibillion pound global PAD market represents a major opportunity for innovative products enabling minimally invasive endovascular intervention. Veryan is planning to commercialise the BioMimics 3D stent system both in Europe and other global markets where CE Mark approval may expedite the registration process.

Veryan completed a £5 million funding round in October 2011, co-led by Innovations and Seroba Kernal Life Sciences, to progress the company towards a clinical study in the USA to achieve FDA approval. To date, Innovations has invested £9.1 million and has a 46.8% stake in the business.

Susan Searle, Chief Executive Officer, Imperial Innovations, said:

"We are delighted that Veryan, one of our leading assets, has achieved this key milestone in the development of its technology. The results of the MIMICS trial are promising and the CE Mark is an important step towards commercialisation for Veryan."

Chas Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Veryan, said:

"CE Mark is an important milestone for Veryan. In conjunction with the encouraging data from the MIMICS study recently presented at the prestigious VIVA conference in Las Vegas, we are greatly encouraged that the unique geometry of the BioMimics 3D stent will be highly competitive against conventional straight nitinol stents. We believe the ability to take this differentiated platform technology to market may contribute significantly to fulfilling the need for more durable clinical outcomes in patients with PAD undergoing endovascular intervention."

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Imperial Innovations - www.imperialinnovations.co.uk

Innovations creates, builds and invests in pioneering university technologies addressing global problems in healthcare, energy, engineering and the environment. It combines deep understanding of science and technology with commercial acumen and strong investment expertise.

Innovations supports scientist-entrepreneurs in the commercialisation of their ideas by:

·; leading the formation of new companies and providing facilities in the early stages

·; providing significant investment and encouraging co-investment to accelerate the transition from R&D to products

·; providing operational expertise

·; helping to recruit high-calibre industry figures and experienced entrepreneurs as executive management and Board members

Innovations invests in companies based on technologies from or associated with four universities: Imperial College London; and Cambridge University, Oxford University, and UCL supported by its collaborations with Cambridge Enterprise, OSEM and UCL Business. These are the UK's leading research intensive universities, measured by research income.

By raising £140 million in January 2011, Innovations has been able to accelerate the making of, and increase the size of its investments. In the year to 31 July 2012, Innovations invested £37.9 million (2011: £35.1 million) in 29 ventures, and made 11 investments in new companies.

In its current portfolio of 78 companies, Innovations' most advanced assets include Circassia, which develops innovative vaccines for the treatment of a wide range of allergies; and Nexeon, a battery materials and licensing company which develops silicon anodes which extend the life and increase the capacity of lithium-ion batteries.

Veryan - www.veryanmed.com

Veryan is developing innovative solutions to improve the performance of vascular stents using the principles of biomimicry. Veryan's BioMimics 3D™ stent technology involves adapting traditional straight stent designs to a three-dimensional helical shape, which more closely mimics the natural geometry of the human vascular system. BioMimics 3D technology is designed to enhance clinical performance by improving flow conditions in, and bio-mechanical performance of, stented vessels.

Pre-clinical studies have shown that BioMimics 3D stent technology may significantly reduce restenosis (the narrowing of stented arterial segments) and confer significant mechanical benefits: the BioMimics 3D stent is more flexible, kink and fracture resistant than conventional counterparts.