WIXOM, Mich., April 16, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:RMTI), a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company offering innovative products and services targeting end-stage renal disease (ERSD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and iron deficiency anemia, reported today that the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) providing oversight for the ongoing SFP Phase 2b dose-range study reviewed the unblinded cumulative interim study data and informed the Company that it has identified no safety concerns. The DSMB also determined there is no need to add the highest dose group of 20 ug/dl and recommended continuation of the study with the current five dose groups.
Mr. Robert L. Chioini, Chairman, CEO and President of Rockwell stated, "We are again encouraged by the DSMB's favorable comments regarding our current SFP Phase 2b study. These recommendations from the DSMB suggest that the data from this study will meet the study objective of identifying the dose of SFP to be carried forward into the subsequent Phase 3 clinical program. We also expect to reach our target for completion of enrollment very soon, as screening for new patients has already met its objective and has been stopped. The successful completion of our SFP development program remains our top priority."
About SFP:
SFP is a novel, investigational, physiological iron maintenance therapy designed to treat or prevent iron deficiency anemia in ESRD patients. SFP is a proprietary, water-soluble form of iron that travels directly to the bloodstream and transfers iron at a cellular level, similar to normal healthy iron uptake. SFP is intended as a continuous maintenance treatment consisting of small doses administered with every dialysis session to maintain iron status tests stable within target, as per Kidney Disease Quality Outcomes Initiative (KDOQI) recommendations. Clinical trials to date suggest that SFP delivered during each dialysis treatment, via the Company's dialysate, has the ability to maintain optimal iron balance and avoid liver toxicity while decreasing associated pharmaceutical intravenous (IV) iron administration costs. Recent academic studies have shown that more frequent maintenance doses of iron improve the therapeutic response and benefits of recombinant erythropoietin treatments. Rockwell has licensed exclusive world-wide rights and has secured patents for SFP in multiple countries, including the three largest dialysis markets in the world: the United States, Japan, and the European Union. The total U.S. market for IV iron is approximately $500 million annually while global market potential is approximately $850 million.
About Rockwell Medical Technologies:
Rockwell is a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company offering innovative products and services initially targeting end-stage renal disease (ESRD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and iron deficiency anemia. An established manufacturer and leader in delivering high-quality hemodialysis concentrates/dialysates to dialysis providers and distributors in the U.S. and abroad, Rockwell provides products that are used to maintain human life by removing toxins and replacing critical nutrients in the dialysis patient's bloodstream. Dialysis is a process that duplicates kidney function for patients who suffer from ESRD. There are approximately 375,000 ESRD patients in the United States, a number that is growing at an annual rate of 4 percent, and approximately 2 million ESRD patients world-wide.
The Company is currently developing unique, proprietary renal drug therapies for iron treatment. These exclusive renal drug therapies support disease management initiatives to improve the quality of life and care of dialysis patients and are designed to deliver safe and effective therapy, while decreasing drug administration costs and improving patient convenience. Rockwell is developing a pipeline of drug therapies not only for iron deficiency in kidney disease, but for other critical care conditions such as oncology and gastroenterology. Please visit www.rockwellmed.com for more information.
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "projected," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Rockwell's SEC filings. Thus, actual results could be materially different. Rockwell expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.