Histogen Announces Initial Close of Series A Financing Round

  

SAN DIEGO, May 2, 2008 - Histogen, Inc., a regenerative medicine company developing solutions based on the products of newborn fibroblasts, today announced the initial close of Series A financing at $5.35 million. The round was completed by private and corporate investors, including Secure Medical Inc., CellCeuticals Skin Care Inc., and Leonard H. Lavin, founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Alberto-Culver Company.

Histogen will utilize the round to fund Phase 1 clinical trials for hair growth and complete 510k submissions for wound and hernia repair applications. The round will also enable the Company to upscale manufacturing for Exceltrix, Histogen's human Extracellular Matrix product, and HGEN-001, Histogen's proprietary liquid formulation.

"We are pleased that we have exceeded our original target for the Series A round, and have added highly experienced investors to our list of shareholders," said Gail K. Naughton, Ph.D., CEO of Histogen. "With the close of this financing, we look forward to bringing additional talent to our already seasoned team, and getting our first products to market within the next 12 months."

The initial close of Series A financing will allow Histogen to maintain timelines for product introductions, including the Company's first tissue engineering products, which are slated for launch in late 2008 and early 2009. From two product families, Exceltrix and HGEN-001, which are derived from a single manufacturing process, Histogen forsees a breadth of applications in a variety of markets, from research tools to cosmeceuticals.

About Histogen
Histogen, launched in 2007, seeks to redefine regenerative medicine by developing a series of high value products without the use of embryonic stem cells or animal products. Through Histogen's proprietary bioreactors that mimic the embryonic environment, newborn fibroblasts are encouraged to naturally produce the vital proteins and growth factors from which the company has developed its rich product portfolio. Histogen has two product families - Exceltrix, Histogen's human Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and HGEN-001, Histogen's proprietary liquid formula.

Hair Restoration Specialist Dr. Craig Ziering Joins Histogen Scientific Advisory Board

 

SAN DIEGO, April 23, 2008 - Histogen, Inc., a regenerative medicine company developing solutions based on the products of newborn fibroblasts, today announced that Dr. Craig Ziering, renowned hair transplant surgeon and founder of Ziering Medical, has joined Histogen's Scientific Advisory Board.

A leading authority in hair transplant surgery, Dr. Ziering has performed over 12,000 procedures in his career, and currently operates hair restoration centers in California, Utah and Nevada. He is certified by both the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery and the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, serves on the advisory board for companies including Merck and Lexington International, and is Surgical Faculty for the Procedural Dermatology Fellowship at the University of California at Irvine.

Dr. Ziering is recognized as an expert in the art and science of hair transplant surgery, including his work as an Extreme Team Surgeon for television's Extreme Makeover and appearances on Dr. 90210 and the Today Show. He also remains an active participant in research, and serves as a strong advocate of hair cloning as a future treatment for hair loss.

"Dr. Ziering's expertise in the areas of hair growth and restoration will be invaluable to Histogen as the Company moves toward clinical trials for our HGEN-001 formula as an injectable for hair growth," said Dr. Robert Kellar, Histogen's Vice President of Research and Development. "His understanding of maintaining and stimulating healthy hair follicles and his clinical background make him an ideal addition to Histogen's Scientific Advisory Board."

Histogen's proprietary HGEN-001 liquid formula has potential in a variety of areas from research to cosmeceutical products, but the Company sees hair regrowth as a homerun application with real potential impact. The formula's unique combination of proteins and growth factors has been shown to both stimulate resting hair follicles and induce new follicle formation.

"I am excited to join Histogen's Scientific Advisory Board, and look forward to bringing this promising product through clinical trials," said Dr. Ziering. "Recent research findings on the capabilities of wnt proteins and growth factors to induce hair follicle formation are compelling, and show great potential for the more than 50 million Americans affected by hair loss."

Histogen's injectable for hair growth will begin clinical trials in late 2008, with product launch planned for 2015. Data will be presented at International Investigative Dermatology 2008, taking place May 14-17, 2008 in Kyoto, Japan.

About Histogen
Histogen, launched in 2007, seeks to redefine regenerative medicine by developing a series of high value products without the use of embryonic stem cells or animal products. Through Histogen's proprietary bioreactors that mimic the embryonic environment, newborn fibroblasts are encouraged to naturally produce the vital proteins and growth factors from which the company has developed its rich product portfolio. Histogen has two product families - Exceltrix, Histogen's human Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and HGEN-001, Histogen's proprietary liquid formula.

About Ziering Medical
Ziering Medical was established in April of 2003 as a private practice dedicated exclusively to the specialty of hair restoration. Founder and Medical Director Dr. Craig L. Ziering is an industry pioneer, leader and lecturer who remains in constant pursuit of seeking and developing new technology such as the Ziering Whorl and Sneak Peek Long Hair Transplant. Ziering Medical performs facial hair aesthetics and corrective procedures for scars, as well as laser therapy and medical solutions for men and women. By combining art and science to create exceptional, natural looking results, Dr. Ziering's refined eye for aesthetics perfectly complements his advanced surgical skills. Providing excellence in hair restoration to patients from around the world, Ziering Medical is headquartered in Beverly Hills with offices in Newport Beach, Encino, Rancho Mirage, California, Las Vegas, Nevada and Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit www.zieringmedical.com

Alberto-Culver Founder Leonard Lavin Joins Histogen Board of Directors

 

SAN DIEGO, February 14, 2008 - Histogen, Inc., a regenerative medicine company developing solutions based on the products of newborn fibroblasts, today announced that Leonard Lavin, founder and chairman emeritus of the Alberto-Culver Company, has joined Histogen's Board of Directors.

In addition to his distinguished career with Alberto-Culver, a Fortune 1000 consumer products company, Leonard Lavin's experience and interests cross various industries. In 1946, Lavin joined Halgar, Inc., a company specializing in toiletry products, where he was instrumental in building the company into one of the leaders in its field. Lavin also formed the Excello Sales Agency, where he gained exclusive advertising and sales rights for Stopette spray deodorant, which went on to become the number one product of its kind.

Leonard Lavin and his wife Bernice bought Alberto-Culver Company in 1955 for $400,000, and turned it into a multi-billion dollar company. By positioning his products and making innovative use of television advertisements, Lavin has supplied the world with some of the most well known hair, skin and personal care products.

"Mr. Lavin's extraordinary business acumen will be invaluable as Histogen enters a tremendous stage of growth in 2008," said Gail K. Naughton Ph.D., Histogen founder and Chairman of the Board. "Leonard has proven himself to be a marketing genius, and having someone with his expertise join the board truly validates Histogen's distinctive business model."

Histogen, launched in 2007, seeks to redefine regenerative medicine by developing a series of high value products without the use of embryonic stem cells or animal products. The company's business plan benefits from the lessons learned at Advanced Tissue Sciences, and focuses on near, mid and long term products that are either self-pay or reimbursable.

"I am excited to be a new director on Histogen's board, and look forward to contributing to the company's success" said Lavin." The field of regenerative medicine offers many potential therapeutic and cosmetic benefits, and Histogen's unique technology positions the company to be a global leader in the field."

Through Histogen's proprietary bioreactors that mimic the embryonic environment, newborn fibroblasts are encouraged to naturally produce the vital proteins and growth factors from which the company has developed its rich product portfolio.

  What is Hair Cloning & Multiplication ?

   Hair multiplication or cloning is a promising technique under development to against male pattern baldness.
     İdea of hair cloning is basically healthy hair cells (dermal papillae) can be extracted from donor site that back of head.These healthy hair cells extracted from donor site, can be cloned by some culturing methods and the produced new cells can be injected back in the recipient area(bald area) where these injected cells(dermal papillae) would act healthy so can produce back healty hairs.

    Some of university and firms (Adherence Research Institute, Technical University of Berlin, University of Pennsylvania, Durham University ) are known to research on hair cloning ,however This technique is still in research phase and isn't used in hair clinical yet.