PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Castle Creek
Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc. ("CCP Holdings") today announced it
has reached an agreement to acquire Fibrocell Science, Inc.
(Nasdaq: FCSC), a cell and gene therapy company focused on
transformational autologous cell-based therapies for skin and
connective tissue diseases.
With the resources of CCP Holdings' subsidiary, Castle
Creek Pharmaceuticals, LLC ("Castle Creek"), a privately held
biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for
patients with rare, serious or debilitating dermatologic
conditions, Fibrocell's gene therapy platform can be advanced
into additional areas of high, unmet need with the potential to
develop multiple, promising new therapies.
"Our current licensing and development collaboration with
Fibrocell, which began in April 2019,
has cemented a shared focus on delivering the first approved
therapies for families who are impacted by rare dermatologic
conditions like epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a chronic, painful and
debilitating disease that leads to severe blistering starting early
in life and can only be treated with palliative care including
extensive bandaging," said Greg
Wujek, Chief Executive Officer of Castle Creek. "As one
company, we will be in a strong position to push forward initially
with two late-stage clinical development programs targeting
different types of EB with investigational gene and topical
therapies, and one potential therapy for scleroderma."
EB is a rare genetic condition that leads to extremely fragile
skin resulting in mild to severe blistering, skin erosion and
peeling of the epidermis layers in response to minor injury. There
are currently no treatment options approved by the U.S. Food &
Drug Administration (FDA) for any form of EB.
Both companies have advanced investigational therapies for the
treatment of multiple types of EB into late-stage clinical
research. Fibrocell's lead gene therapy candidate, FCX-007, is
being evaluated in a Phase 3 pivotal trial for the treatment of
recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). In addition,
Fibrocell is evaluating FCX-013 for the treatment of moderate to
severe localized scleroderma in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Castle
Creek is committed to continuing that research and development.
Castle Creek will also continue Phase 2b development of CCP-020 for epidermolysis
bullosa simplex (EBS) and other forms of EB.
"Fibrocell's unique and innovative gene therapy platform
provides us with development opportunities that will strengthen the
combined company as a leader for EB and other rare conditions where
there are limited options for affected patients," said Dr.
Mary Spellman, Chief Medical Officer
and Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Castle
Creek. "We are truly excited about the future of the new company
and the benefits we can bring to patients."
About Castle Creek Pharmaceutical Holdings,
Inc.
Castle Creek Pharmaceutical Holdings is a privately
held holding company that holds and invests in companies in the
orphan dermatology space.
About Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Castle Creek
Pharmaceuticals is a privately held biopharmaceutical company
developing innovative therapies for patients with rare, serious or
debilitating dermatologic conditions. The company, with offices in
Parsippany, New Jersey and
Chicago, Illinois, is dedicated to
developing and bringing novel therapies to those living with
epidermolysis bullosa. For more information,
visit: www.castlecreekpharma.com.
Media contact:
Adam Daley
Berry & Company Public Relations
212-253-8881
adaley@berrypr.com
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SOURCE Castle Creek Pharmaceuticals