Cardio3 BioSciences (C3BS),  a leader in the discovery, development and commercialisation of regenerative, protective and reconstructive therapies, announces the signing of a preferred access agreement with Mayo Clinic.

Under this agreement, Mayo grants Cardio3 BioSciences preferred access to technologies developed in the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine, as well as select other Mayo technologies. This agreement is an expansion of a long-standing collaboration which led to the development of C-Cure, Cardio3 BioSciences' product candidate now in advanced clinical trial testing (phase III), an innovative cell therapy based on the discovery of the cardiopoiesis platform by the team of Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. at Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic has identified regenerative medicine as a strategic priority and launched the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine, led by A. Terzic, M.D. The centre is designed to discover, translate, and apply regenerative technologies across medical and surgical specialties.

Cardio3 BioSciences identified cellular therapies as the strategic technological pillar of the Company and is looking to further extend its portfolio in this specific area. Building on its core competences and unique expertise in cellular therapies and cardiovascular diseases developed with C-Cure, now in phase III trial, Cardio3 BioSciences' access to Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine technologies is an extra asset to further strengthen the Company's long-term plan to bring the best innovative therapeutic response to unmet medical needs.

With this agreement, Mayo Clinic and Cardio3 BioSciences' unique expertise and competences will come together to accelerate innovative medical advancements to benefit patients. Mayo Clinic will significantly expand its ability to address unmet needs and Cardio3 BioSciences gains access to a broad portfolio in multiple areas such as cardiology, oncology or others, enabling the company to advance regenerative medicine's potential.

Dr Christian Homsy, chief executive officer, of Cardio3 BioSciences, said: "We are extremely pleased to significantly extend our collaboration with Mayo Clinic. With the development of the cardiopoiesis platform and the C-Cure clinical programme, we have built over the past years a solid foundation and mutual trust that will drive our future scientific collaboration. Securing this agreement with the nation's leading clinical institution offers remarkable opportunities, building on the strength of both organisations. Mayo will continue to invent new concepts, while Cardio3 will offer its development expertise to those technologies, as well as guidance in the early development phases, to the Mayo research teams. This agreement is in line with our business development strategy defined earlier this year, and enables our company to rapidly and significantly enlarge its product portfolio with high quality research programmes across multiple therapeutic areas."

"We are excited for the opportunity to expand our collaboration with Cardio3 and accelerate the delivery of novel therapies to patients," says Clark Otley, M.D., Medical Director of Mayo Clinic Ventures, which works to commercialise Mayo Clinic technologies for the benefit of patients worldwide.

Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in Cardio3 Biosciences.