Hemostemix Announces the Passing of its Principal Founder, Roger Bergersen
March 16, 2020Calgary, Alberta, March 16, 2020 – Hemostemix Inc. (“Hemostemix” or the “Company”) (TSXV: HEM; OTC: HMTXF). Roger Bergersen, principal founder of TheraVitae Inc. (now Hemostemix), passed away in his sleep on February 27, 2020.
Roger’s passion for wanting to help people with critical illnesses through stem cells began in 2005 after traveling to Bangkok to have ACP-01 injected into his own heart by the company TheraVitae Ltd. His heart was damaged during a medical procedure in 2005, resulting in congestive heart failure and an ejection fraction of 18%. After the procedure, Roger’s ejection fraction increased to nearly 30%, greatly extending his life.
On discovering Roger’s background in investment banking, TheraVitae Ltd.’s principals asked Roger to help bring the technology to North America. With the help of strategic partners in Canada, Roger was instrumental in securing Hemostemix initial funding, recommended its first board of directors, was instrumental in the company’s public offering, and introduced its current president to the Company.
Throughout the years, Roger continued to hold steadfast to the exceptional viability of the Hemostemix technology. Roger worked with the company continually in several capacities up until his death to help make it a success because he knew first hand the importance of making its life-saving technology available to the legions of people suffering who could benefit from it.
Roger started his investment banking career with Merrill Lynch, and went on to work with stock brokerages, and consult with start-ups and various corporations over decades. For the most part of the last 15 years since his initial injection of ACP-01, Roger maintained good health; it was a matter, unfortunately, of poor medical attention during the last two years that led to his decline in health.
“The board of directors and management of Hemostemix are very grateful for Roger’s exceptional counsel and insights, and for his significant contributions to the company’s founding and success over the last 15 years” said Thomas Smeenk, President & CEO. “His shared values, ethics and perseverance are literally the foundation of our success,” Smeenk said.
ABOUT HEMOSTEMIX
Hemostemix is a publicly traded autologous stem cell therapy company, founded in 2003. A winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, the Company developed and is commercializing its lead product ACP-01 for the treatment of CLI, PAD, Angina, Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy and other conditions of ischemia. ACP-01 has been used to treat over 300 patients, and it is the subject of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial of its safety and efficacy in patients with advanced critical limb ischemia who have exhausted all other options to save their limb from amputation.
On October 21, 2019, the Company announced the results from its Phase II CLI trial abstract presentation entitled “Autologous Stem Cell Treatment for CLI Patients with No Revascularization Options: An Update of the Hemostemix ACP-01 Trial With 4.5 Year Followup” which noted healing of ulcers and resolution of ischemic rest pain occurred in 83% of patients, with outcomes maintained for up to 4.5 years.
The Company owns 91 patents across five patent families titled: Regulating Stem Cells, In Vitro Techniques for use with Stem Cells, Production from Blood of Cells of Neural Lineage, and Automated Cell Therapy. For more information, please visit www.hemostemix.com.
Contact: Thomas Smeenk, President, CEO & Founder
Suite 1150, 707 – 7th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 3H6, 905-580-4170
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,” “potential,” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will,” “would,” “may,” “could,” or “should” occur. Although Hemostemix believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of Hemostemix management on the date such statements were made. By their nature forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to fund operations and access the capital required to continue operations, the Company’s stage of development, the ability to complete its current CLI clinical trial, complete a futility analysis and the results of such, future clinical trials and results, long-term capital requirements and future developments in the Company’s markets and the markets in which it expects to compete, risks associated with its strategic alliances and the impact of entering new markets on the Company’s operations. Each factor should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Hemostemix expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties are contained in the Company’s filing with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.
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