Lamed to Sell Fish-Skin Wound-Treatment Product in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND and ISAFJORDUR, ICELAND--(Marketwired - Feb 9, 2015) - The German healthcare company Lamed GmbH will market and distribute the Kerecis fish-skin wound-treatment product in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The Kerecis Omega3 wound-treatment product is fish skin that has had its cells removed, leaving behind an acellular dermal matrix that looks like skin and contains Omega3 and other skin components. When inserted into or on damaged human tissue, the Kerecis Omega3 products recruit the body's own cells, are incorporated into the wound, and ultimately are converted into functional, living tissue.

Lamed provides surgical-repair products used in fields such as vascular and reconstructive surgery. The company, which is headquartered in Munich, Germany, has an extensive network of sales consultants in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Germany has four million chronic wounds per year, 30 000 of which require amputation. Treatment costs about six billion euros (US$ 6.8 billion). Austria and Switzerland are facing similar situations. One percent of the population will get at least one chronic wound during their lifetimes. These numbers are likely to rise as the population ages and diabetes becomes more prevalent. 

Statements

G. Fertram Sigurjonsson, President and CEO, Kerecis Limited
"About one-third of all non-healing wounds in Europe are in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Lamed's sales consultants work with doctors in those markets to provide advanced surgical remedies to patients. In addition to its strong sales network, Lamed possesses the skills and resources to work with the region's insurance authorities and help ensure payment for our product."

Lazaros Ayvatoglou, Chairman of Lamed GmbH
"The incidence of diabetes in Germany, Switzerland and Austria is rising rapidly, resulting in an increased number of non-healing wounds. This leads to longer hospital stays and more amputations. We are impressed by the treatment results that the Kerecis Omega3 wound treatment offers patients and look forward to offering the product in the German-speaking markets in Europe."

About Kerecis

Kerecis develops tissue-regeneration biologic matrixes consisting of patented Omega3-containing fish skin. Biologic matrixes are materials made from human or animal tissue where the original material is intact, but all cells and antigenic materials have been removed. The Kerecis fish-skin material accelerates wound healing and enables tissue reconstruction.

This FDA-approved material offers advantages over existing human- and porcine-derived products, including improved manufacturing economics and a lower risk of disease transfer. Since it is derived from fish, the material is both kosher and halal compatible, eliminating cultural and religious constraints to usage, with equivalent or better clinical performance than alternative approaches.

The Kerecis technology has received U.S. patents, and has patents pending in multiple countries around the world. Production takes place in Kerecis' manufacturing facilities in Iceland. Distributor inquiries are welcome. For more information, visit www.kerecis.com.

About Lamed

Lamed GmbH was founded in 1989 by Lazaros Ayvatoglou. Lamed GmbH has since then developed a presence in the German-speaking healthcare markets with products in fields such as vascular and reconstructive surgery. The company provides high-quality, scientifically proven innovations to the German, Swiss and Austrian markets.