LENEXA, Kan., Jan. 4, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mediware® Information Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:MEDW) today announced that it has acquired substantially all the assets of St. Louis-based Transtem, LLC, a provider of software that manages the collection and transplantation of adult stem cells in cellular-based therapies and medical research. The acquisition continues the expansion of Mediware's blood management expertise and extends the company with software and domain expertise in a rapidly growing field that includes cancer treatment and regenerative medicine. Details related to the acquisition were not released.
Commenting on the acquisition, Mediware's president and chief executive officer, Thomas Mann said: "The use of adult stem cells is a rapidly growing area of healthcare that is showing tremendous potential. In 2009 more than 60,000 adult stem cell transplantations were performed globally in the treatment of cancer and certain blood diseases. Additionally, the field of regenerative medicine in the U.S. and abroad is rapidly accelerating with more than 3,600 stem cell clinical trials now in progress.
"This is cutting-edge healthcare that is pursuing cures for such large patient population diseases as myocardial infarction (MI), critical limb ischemia (CLI), Parkinson's disease, diabetes, cancer and many others. Importantly, there is a growing demand for a comprehensive software solution to effectively manage the collection and preparation of the therapeutic cell solutions as well as streamline donor, patient and treatment data management."
Transtem was founded by cellular therapy professionals to address day to day needs that were not being met with other technology solutions. Their work evolved into an innovative stem cell management software solution that provides a total patient and program management focus. This includes collection, processing, transplantation, and post-transplant monitoring and reporting of patient outcomes.
"Managing the collection, processing and therapeutic use of multiple fractions of adult stem cells is a highly complex process, but it is also a natural extension of Mediware's core blood management focus where we have deep clinical and regulatory expertise," continued Mr. Mann. "It's also an area where our existing customers in the U.S. and abroad have expressed a desire for additional support. By acquiring Transtem's products and expertise, we have the opportunity to take a leadership role in an emerging area of healthcare as well as bring innovative new capabilities to our large base of hospitals, academic research centers and specialty outpatient providers."
The Transtem solution stands out because of its comprehensive ability to support the collection and processing needs of cell therapy labs and cord blood banks, as well as the clinical needs of transplant centers and research facilities. The product's depth is attributed to the fact that the software was designed by active cell therapy professionals.
"We designed the Transtem solution because we couldn't find a technology solution that addressed our needs in a meaningful way," said Jonathan Wofford, president of Transtem. "We started with a vision that integrated donors, products and patients, and created a management solution that supported requirements specific to cellular therapy. This includes donor, collection and processing needs, as well as the patient, therapy and administrative management processes that are unique in cellular therapies."
Mr. Wofford has more than nine years experience in the field of cellular therapies and has worked with prestigious organizations such as the St. Louis Cord Blood Bank at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center. In 2005 he was recognized by the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) for outstanding clinical research related to the use of umbilical cord blood for adult transplant recipients and in 2008 spoke before members of Congress on the need for a national cord blood inventory and in support for the reauthorization of funding for the National Marrow Donor Program.
The Transtem solution has immediate appeal in the United States and will be quickly introduced to Mediware's existing customers which include many of the largest and most prestigious medical centers. Further, the Transtem solution has applicability to international markets, especially in the U.K. where more than 50 percent of hospitals use Mediware's JAC Medication Management technologies.
About Mediware
Mediware delivers interoperable best-of-breed software systems that improve efficiencies and address safety concerns, enabling healthcare organizations to improve care processes while decreasing costs. Core Mediware solutions include blood management technologies for hospitals and blood centers; medication management solutions for hospitals, behavioral health facilities, infusion and specialty pharmacy providers; and business intelligence-based performance management solutions for clinical, regulatory and financial aspects of the broader healthcare market. For more information about Mediware products and services, visit our website at www.mediware.com.
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About the Transtem Solution
Transtem was designed by cellular therapy professionals to provide a comprehensive solution for cell therapy labs, cord blood banks, transplant centers and academic medical centers to collect, process, transfuse and track adult stem cells used in the treatment of cancer and blood related disease. Transtem's unique capabilities combine a focus on donors, products and patients to provide a 360-degree view of treatments and outcomes.
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Act") and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created thereby. Such forward-looking statements are not necessarily based on historical facts and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risk and uncertainties include but are not limited to those disclosed in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not intend to, and undertakes no obligation to, update forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time. The Company regularly posts important information to the investor relations section of its website.