AVITA Medical Acquires Manufacturing Facility to Support Planned U.S. Launch of RECELL Device

AVITA Medical has acquired a manufacturing facility to support the planned U.S. launch of the RECELL Autologous Cell Harvesting Device in the treatment of burns. The facility is currently operated by a Fortune 500 contract manufacturer that assembles the RECELL Device for AVITA Medical. AVITA Medical has taken over operations of the 2,200 square meter (23,000 square foot) manufacturing plant, located in Ventura, Calif., and has retained key employees.
 
“Having direct control over the manufacturing of RECELL will ensure that we have the capacity to meet commercial demand, including the planned U.S. launch and the BARDA procurement, and provide us further control over our production processes and timelines,” said Dr. Michael Perry, CEO. “Acquiring this facility that has a track record of producing RECELL allows us to realize the benefits of in-house production while maintaining the continuity of proven manufacturing and quality processes and systems.”
 
Housed within the Ventura facility is the segregated, vendor managed inventory warehouse that AVITA Medical constructed to meet the requirements of the RECELL Device procurement component of the contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. BARDA has provided funding under an ongoing federal contract. 
 
The RECELL Device is an investigational medical device in the United States that is designed to enable medical professionals to produce, at the point-of-care, a REGENERATIVE EPIDERMAL SUSPENSION (RES) using a small sample of the patient’s own skin. The autologous suspension contains cells necessary to regenerate epidermis and provides a new way to achieve permanent closure in burns and other wounds while reducing the amount of skin harvested at the time of surgery. Reduction in donor-site skin requirements has important benefits from both clinical and health economic perspectives.
 
A U.S. Premarket Approval (PMA) application for the treatment of burn injuries is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company expects completion of the FDA review of the PMA during the third quarter of calendar 2018, followed by U.S. approval and market launch.
 
AVITA Medical is a regenerative medicine company with a technology platform positioned to address unmet medical needs in burns, chronic wounds, and aesthetics indications. AVITA Medical’s patented and proprietary collection and application technology provides innovative treatment solutions derived from the regenerative properties of a patient’s own skin. The medical devices work by preparing a REGENERATIVE EPITHELIAL SUSPENSION, an autologous suspension comprised of the patient’s skin cells and wound healing factors necessary to regenerate natural healthy epidermis. This autologous suspension is then sprayed onto the areas of the patient requiring treatment.
 
In the United States, the RECELL Device is an investigational device limited by federal law to investigational use. In September 2017, AVITA Medical submitted to the FDA a PMA for the RECELL Device for the treatment of burn injuries. In all countries outside of Europe, AVITA’s portfolio is marketed under the RECELL Device brand to promote skin healing in a wide range of applications including burns, chronic wounds, and aesthetics. The RECELL Device is TGA-registered in Australia, and China Food and Drug Administration-cleared in China.
 
In Europe, the company’s portfolio of medical device products received CE-mark approval as three tailored product presentations, with three individual brand names. The RECELL Autologous Cell Harvesting Device is designed for the treatment of burns and plastic reconstructive procedures; REGENERCELL Autologous Cell Harvesting Device has been formulated for chronic wounds including leg and foot ulcers; and RENOVACELL Autologous Cell Harvesting Device is tailored for aesthetic applications including the restoration of pigmentation.