< Blood Service News - 10.10.2011

FRCBS and TiGenix sign agreement for distribution of ChondroCelect in Finland

TiGenix NV and the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service (FRCBS) announce that they have signed an exclusive agreement for the distribution of ChondroCelect® in Finland.

TiGenix and the FRCBS have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement to facilitate the successful commercialisation of ChondroCelect® in Finland. The FRCBS is a highly reputed international healthcare organisation with an excellent network and relationships with hospitals and key opinion leaders throughout Finland.

Under the terms of the agreement, the FRCBS will facilitate patients’ access to ChondroCelect®  in Finland by organising local regulatory approvals as a tissue establishment and pharma distribution specialist and providing training and product support to surgeons and healthcare professionals in selected orthopaedic centres. TiGenix is the marketing authorization holder and will be responsible for logistics and the manufacturing of ChondroCelect®.

“With this agreement we made a first important step in our strategic initiative to broaden access to ChondroCelect® outside our core commercial countries;” comments Gil Beyen, Chief Business Officer of TiGenix. “We are happy to have a renowned and international organisation such as the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service as our partner to help us enter into one of Europe’s best developed healthcare markets.”

"The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service has a vital role in Finnish health care, not only in blood product supply but also in tissue services. We have the expertise and quality systems required to make these kinds of new cell therapy products available for Finnish clinicians and patients. We are happy to be in the front line when it comes to new cell therapies", says Michael Jones, Head of Licensing and Alliance Management from FRCBS.