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Synthetic Liver
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WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--11/07/2003--Exten Industries Inc. (Exten) announced today that its majority owned subsidiary, Xenogenics Corp. ("Xenogenics"), has received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trade Office that its Sybiol(R) synthetic bio-liver device patent will be issued in the next few months.
Jerry Newmin, chairman and CEO of Exten, commented, "We have worked and waited a long time for this patent. It has the possibility of helping hundreds of thousands of people with liver trauma or insufficiency around the world. This original patent was based on the use of primary pig hepatocytes (liver cells). As there have been many design advances since the initial patent filing, including a switch to MultiCell's immortalized liver cells, we intend to file additional new patents covering recent improvements to this device. The team at MultiCell has been instrumental in building a promising new prototype that is ready for initial animal testing."
Xenogenic's synthetic bio-liver device has been re-designed to utilize the immortalized human liver cells lines developed by Exten's wholly owned subsidiary Multicell Technologies Inc. ("MultiCell"). Greg Szabo, president, added, "Our two subsidiaries have worked together to redesign and enhance the Sybiol(R) device around MultiCell's highly functional liver cell lines. Liver diseases affect about one out of every 10 Americans and that incidence appears to be increasing," he added. "Our Sybiol(R) device may well prove someday to be a useful tool in treating these patients."
The Sybiol synthetic bio-liver is an extra-corporeal device designed to support patients who are waiting for liver transplants, who are suffering from episodic liver disease caused by hepatitis, alcoholism, cancer, or from burn or toxic shock syndrome or other liver trauma. The device is designed to increase not only the life spans, but also the quality of life in afflicted patients.
About Exten:
Exten Industries Inc., through its two subsidiaries Xenogenics Corp. and MultiCell Technologies Inc., is engaged in developing liver-based products in the medical device, therapeutic and pharmaceutical testing arenas. Xenogenics is developing the Sybiol(R) synthetic bio-liver device. MultiCell provides hepatic (liver) cells and cell lines to pharmaceutical companies, and is developing cell-based toxicological and drug screening tests and biologics for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. MultiCell's cellular product expertise also enables production of liver-derived therapeutic proteins. Exten's corporate and research headquarters are in Warwick, RI. For more information about Exten and its subsidiaries, visit www.exten.com.
The matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These risks are detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the company's Annual Report, Quarterly Reports and other periodic filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
CONTACT:
Exten Industries Inc., Warwick Greg Szabo or Jerry Newmin, 401-738-7560
SOURCE:
Exten Industries Inc.
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