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Cytori Therapeutics, an international regenerative medicine company, has received its first orders from Europe and Asia for Celution 800 Systems.
The devices are now being sold into the growing international reconstructive surgery market.
Eleven Celution 800 Systems and related CT-805 single-use consumables were ordered by Cytori’s distributors MBA Grupo, which covers Spain, Italy, and Portugal, and Astrea International, which covers Singapore. The first devices are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2008.
“These opening orders mark a key transition for the company and its products,” said Christopher J. Calhoun, chief executive officer of Cytori. “We achieved our stated goal from last year, which was to accelerate our product introduction to early 2008 by bringing an innovative reconstructive surgery product to physicians and their patients.”
Cytori has regulatory approval for the Celution 800 System in Europe, is seeking clearances in Asia-Pacific, and has forged commercialisation partnerships with distributors in these markets. Cytori is working with its distribution partners and physicians to educate the market about this technology in order to extend its penetration.
Clinical trials are ongoing with Celution 800 to broaden its utility for multiple applications. The products are being manufactured at Cytori’s headquarters in San Diego, CA.
“There is strong receptivity among oncologic and reconstructive surgeons for Cytori’s Celution 800 System, and we are now moving forward with targeted sales,” said Paul Griffin, vice president of international sales and new business development for MBA Grupo.
“This growing demand is due in part to recent reports from successful clinical reconstructive surgery cases. This product line has the potential for significant growth as it is addressing an important, unmet medical market.”
The Celution 800 System provides physicians with a rich source of a patient’s own adipose tissue-derived stem and regenerative cells at the bedside. When these cells are re-combined with more of a patient’s own adipose (fat) tissue in the same surgical procedure, it is referred to as cell-enhanced reconstruction.
