• Advanced Cell Technology (ACT; Los Angeles) said it has reached a supply agreement with the Biologics Delivery Systems Group (BDS) of Cordis (Miami Lakes, Florida) for BDS to supply catheters for Phase II human clinical trial of ACT's myoblast therapy for the treatment of heart failure. ACT's myoblast therapy successfully completed Phase I human clinical trials in 2007 using the therapy safely in more than 40 patients. The FDA has okayed Phase II human clinical trials, expected to begin shortly. ACT's myoblast therapy involves the transplantation of expanded autologous myoblasts (adult progenitor stem cells) derived from a small biopsy of skeletal muscle from a patient's leg. The technology allows for the expansion of myoblasts into hundreds of millions of cells over a period of two to three weeks. The resulting myoblasts are then transplanted back into the patient's scarred heart tissue through the use of a catheter-based procedure. The Phase II human clinical trial will be a multi-center study following a similar protocol used in the company's Phase I study. That study demonstrated safety and evidence of significant heart function improvement in congestive heart failure patients.

• Angiotech Pharmaceuticals (Vancouver) has entered a license agreement for exclusive worldwide rights to market and distribute the Option inferior vena cava (IVC) filter from Rex Medical. Implanted into the body's inferior vena cava to prevent pulmonary embolism(PE), the Option IVC filter is designed for long-term retrieval, post-device implantation and expected to be approved for both permanent and retrievable indications. "We believe that the Option IVC filter is a cornerstone technology for our Interventional business and a 'best-in-class' product that will be significantly differentiated in the marketplace," said Dr. William Hunter, presi-dent/CEO of Angiotech. Rex said it expects to complete enrolment of its U.S. clinical study for the filter in the treatment of PE by the end of 2Q08, with an FDA 510(k) filing completed that the filing for 510(k) approval with the FDA for the Option IVC filter will be completed in the near term. Rex also has filed for the CE Mark for filter.<

• Aporo Biomedical (San Francisco) reported an exclusive global licensing agreement with mNemoscience (Aachen, Germany) for its biodegradable shape memory polymers. Aporo's goal is to deliver transcatheter devices that close defects and then entirely biodegrade. Initially, Aporo will use these materials to treat patent foramen ovale (PFO), an opening between the upper left and right chambers of the heart. The company also plans to use the polymers in devices to treat atrial septal defect, another structural heart disease, and for vascular closure after catheter-based interventional procedures.

• Cardiac Science (Bothell, Washington) reported that it has signed two contracts to supply Powerheart automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and program management services to hundreds of locations worldwide. Cardiac signed one exclusive five-year deal to supply Powerheart AEDs and program management services at all of CH2M HILL's (Englewood, Colorado) locations in the U.S. CH2M HILL provides services in engineering, construction and operations for public and private clients, with more than 23,000 employees in offices around the world. The other deal, with Cummins Engine (Nashville), is designed to supply Powerheart AEDs and program management services for all of Cummins Engine's 222 worldwide locations. The Powerheart AEDs will replace another manufacturer's AEDs in a number of Cummins facilities. Cummins Engine is a manufacturer of diesel engines and power generation products.

• Colubris Networks (Waltham, Massachusetts), a provider of intelligent wireless LANs (WLANs) for enterprises and service providers, reported that Cardiac Science (Bothell, Washington), a maker of automatic public-access automated external defibrillators, selected Colubris WLAN equipment to mobilize its portable ECG devices at healthcare institutions. Colubris said that with mobile wireless ECGs, critical medical tests can be completed more quickly and improve employee productivity. Cardiac Sciences' portable ECG carts communicate with healthcare information systems through its Pyramis ECG data management system, enabling physicians to order ECG tests and review results online. Using Colubris technology, Cardiac Science enables wireless connectivity for its portable ECG carts. Technicians can receive ECG orders instantly and conduct tests at the patient bedside, without having to connect the cart to a physical cable.

• Premier Purchasing Partners (Charlotte, North Carolina) reported that new agreements for vascular grafts have been awarded to three firms: Atrium Medical (Hudson, New Hampshire), Terumo Cardiovascular Systems (Ann Arbor, Michigan) and W.L. Gore & Associates (Flagstaff, Arizona. The 36-month agreements are available to Premier's acute care and continuum of care members of the Premier healthcare alliance.