Oculus Innovative Sciences to Participate in Third Congress of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies in Toronto
Microcyn(R) Technology Demonstrates In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory/Wound Healing Properties
PETALUMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLS), a biopharmaceutical company that develops and markets innovative, stable oxychlorine compounds based on the Microcyn(R) Technology platform that are intended to treat a wide range of infections, including those in chronic and acute wounds, announced that the company will participate in the Third Congress of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies being held in Toronto, Ontario on June 4-8, 2008.
A scientific abstract is being presented during the Congress in which the anti-inflammatory effects of a Microcyn(R) Technology-based product is evaluated relative to mast cell degranulation and vascular permeabilization in vivo. The study was conducted by Claudia Gonzalez-Espinosa, M.D., currently a researcher at the pharmacobiology department of CINVESTAV, Mexico and a former PanAmerican fellow at NIAMS, Bethesda, USA.
The solutions derived from the Microcyn(R) Technology platform have demonstrated the ability to treat a wide range of pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria (including MRSA and VRE), viruses, fungi, and spores in vitro. According to Dr. Andres Gutierrez, Oculus director of medical affairs, "It is important to emphasize that in addition to the compound's potent in vitro anti-infective properties, it may also deliver compelling wound healing benefits including increased oxygen and blood flow to a wound site along with reduction of inflammation. While the anti-inflammatory properties have previously been demonstrated in vitro, now there is in vivo evidence which we believe is worthy of discussion at a prestigious congress such as this."
Additionally, Oculus will be hosting an exhibit to recruit investigators for the next stage of its U.S. clinical program to support a New Drug Application for mild diabetic foot infections. In a recently completed U.S. Phase II clinical trial, the Microcyn(R) Technology-based investigational product demonstrated a 78% success rate (defined as cure or improvement in the signs and symptoms of infection) versus 61% for levofloxacin alone and 70% for combined treatment with the investigational product and levofloxacin after 10 days of therapy. At the test-of-cure visit (14 days later) the success rate for Microcyn(R) was 93% compared to 56% for levofloxacin alone and 83% for combined treatment. There were no serious drug-related adverse events in any of the three treatment arms. This investigational product has the potential to become the first commercially available topical anti-infective product that provides physicians and patients with a powerful alternative to systemic anti-infectives in the treatment of mild diabetic foot infections.
About Third Congress of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies
The primary goal of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies 2008 Congress, sponsored and hosted by the University of Toronto, will be to present the wound care evidence base and transfer the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for improved patient outcomes. This will be accomplished through a five-day meeting that includes a pre-conference day, three plenary sessions, and 10 concurrent streams with more than 100 educational sessions.
About Oculus Innovative Sciences
Oculus Innovative Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets a family of products based upon the Microcyn(R) Technology platform, which is intended to help prevent and treat infections in a wide range of infections, including those in chronic and acute wounds. The Microcyn(R) Technology platform is a novel biocompatible and stable solution containing active oxychlorine compounds. The products are currently commercialized outside the United States (Europe, India and Mexico) for the treatment of infected wounds.
Oculus' principal operations are in Petaluma, California, and it conducts operations in Europe and Mexico through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Oculus Innovative Sciences Netherlands B.V. and Oculus Technologies of Mexico, S.A. de C.V. Oculus' website is www.oculusis.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information herein, some matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about our belief that the design of our Phase II trial should provide important information for the next phase of our clinical program or that our Phase II trials will be sufficient to allow the Company to move forward in its clinical program. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as "intended," "to recruit," and "will be," among others. Forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business that could cause actual results to vary, including risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, the risk that regulatory clinical and guideline developments may change, the risk that scientific data may not be sufficient to meet regulatory standards or receipt of required regulatory clearances or approvals, the risk that clinical results may not be replicated in actual patient settings, the risk that protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, the risk that present trends will continue and that the available market for our products will not be as large as expected, the risk that our products will not be able to penetrate one or more targeted markets, the risk that revenues will not be sufficient to fund further development and clinical studies, the Company's future capital needs, and its ability to obtain additional funding and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2007. Oculus Innovative Sciences disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Oculus and Microcyn are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
Source: Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc.
Released May 15, 2008