Cardio3 BioSciences Announces Significant Progress in its Programme for the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction

By Cardio3biosciences, PRNE
Sunday, December 19, 2010

Pre-Clinical Results Show 70% Reduction in Infarct Size

MONT-SAINT-GUIBERT, Belgium, December 20, 2010 - The Belgian biotechnology company, Cardio3 BioSciences, a leader in the
discovery and development of regenerative and protective therapies for the
treatment of cardiovascular diseases, today announces positive pre-clinical
results from its in-house product candidate C3BS-GQR-1, a "cardiopoietic"
cocktail designed to treat patients suffering from acute myocardial
infarction in order to protect cardiac tissue from damage and direct heart
stem cells to mature and restore pump function. This therapeutic candidate
diversifies the product portfolio of Cardio3 BioSciences offering
regeneration without the need for stem cell injection. This newest innovation
builds on an ongoing collaboration with Mayo Clinic investigators.

C3BS-GQR-1 aims to effectively treat acute myocardial infarction (heart
attack) by protecting heart tissues at the time of injury, and by promoting
activation of resident progenitor cells. C3BS-GQR-1 greatly increases the
potential of self-repair exploiting thereby the intrinsic regenerative
capacity of the heart itself.

The Cardio3 BioSciences blinded study demonstrates that in an established
large animal model of myocardial infarction,C3BS-GQR-1 successfully protects
the myocardium and directs the maturation and commitment of resident cardiac
stem cells into functional tissue. This led to a significant70% reduction in
scar size versus baseline,six weeks after infarction, as well as an increase
in heart wall thickening and contractility measured by Magnetic Resonance
Imaging. Microscopic analysis tracked the outcome of "cardiopoietic" cocktail
treatment on resident cardiac stem cell function in the repair of the injured
heart.

Dr Christian Homsy, CEO of Cardio3 BioSciences, said: "The 70% reduction
in infarct size observed in this pre-clinical study, if further validated in
human trials, has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of acute
myocardial infarction. The prospect of such a significant regenerative
response occurring in the freshly injuredheart would profoundly influence
quality of life in these patients. C3BS-GQR-1 will be further developed as a
sustained release formulation either as a standalone product or coupled with
other therapeutic platforms like drug eluting stents. The progressof our
C3BS-GQR-1 programmedeepens our product pipeline, opens new avenues for the
treatment of heart attacks and reinforcesour position as a leader in cardiac
regenerative medicine. This creates a solid base in addressing acute
myocardial infarction complementing our existing clinical focus on heart
failure and our lead product C3BS-CQR-1 (C-Cure(R)), which has also recently
demonstrated significant functional and clinical benefit in a Phase II
clinical trial."

About Cardio3 BioSciences

Cardio3 BioSciences is a leading Belgian biotechnology company
focused on the discovery and development of regenerative and protective
therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

The Company's lead product candidate, C3BS-CQR-1 (C-Cure), is
a highly innovative stem cell approach for the treatment of heart failure,
one of the world's most pressing unmet medical needs. Based on a
comprehensive strategy developed by Cardio3 BioSciences and leveraging
technology licensed from Mayo Clinic, the C-Cure development programme is
designed to direct the patient's own stem cells into new heart cells with the
potential to rebuild the heart.

The Cardio3 BioSciences team has extensive experience in
developing and commercialising new pharmaceutical products and medical
technologies and the Company's current strategy is to drive the clinical
development of C-Cure and to market the product itself, if marketing
authorisation is obtained, on a wide geographical scale.

Cardio3 BioSciences was founded in July 2007 and is based in
Mont-Saint-Guibert (near Louvain-la-Neuve) in the Walloon region of Belgium.

Disclosures

Mayo Clinic holds equity in Cardio3 BioSciences as a result of
intellectual property licensed to the company.

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release
are forward-looking, which reflect the Company's or, as appropriate, the
Company's directors' current expectations and projections about future
events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of
risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could
adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events
described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to,
changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events,
performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated
development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release
regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation
that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the
Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any
update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release
as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events,
conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking
statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives
nor any of its or their parent or subsidiary undertakings or any such
person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying
such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept
any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements
contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted
developments. No undue reliance should be placed on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

For more information contact:

    Cardio3 BioSciences

    Dr Christian Homsy, CEO                 Tel: +32-10-39-41-00

    Anne Portzenheim,
    Communication Manager                   Tel : +32-10-39-41-00
                                            aportzenheim@c3bs.com
                                            www.c3bs.com

    Citigate Dewe Rogerson                  Tel : +44(0)207-638-9571

    Chris Gardner/Nina Enegren              chris.gardner@citigatedr.co.uk

    Hill & Knowlton                         Tel : +32-2-737-95-00
    Katia Delvaille                         kdelvail@hillandknowlton.com

Cardio3 BioSciences, Dr Christian Homsy, CEO, Tel: +32-10-39-41-00, Anne Portzenheim, Communication Manager, Tel : +32-10-39-41-00, aportzenheim at c3bs.com, Citigate Dewe Rogerson, Tel : +44(0)207-638-9571, Chris Gardner/Nina Enegren, chris.gardner at citigatedr.co.uk, Hill & Knowlton, Tel : +32-2-737-95-00, Katia Delvaille, kdelvail at hillandknowlton.com

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