Bioheart has planned to establish two centres of excellence in the region, to provide its cell therapy procedures to patients of congestive heart failure (CHF) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

'We feel that the Middle East region is a splendid second site for our centres of excellence. There is easy access to both of the sites that we are considering, Jordan and Turkey, from other countries in the Middle East as well as from Europe and South Asia,' said Dr Karl Groth, chairman and CEO, Bioheart.

'Increasing economic wealth in the Mena has been accompanied by urbanisation. Cardiovascular disease, a corollary to urban life, has been increasing rapidly and is now the region's leading cause of death, accounting for 25 to 45 per cent of total deaths. Over the past few decades, daily per capita fat consumption has increased in most countries in
the region, ranging from a 13.6 per cent increase in the Sudan to a 143.3 per cent increase in Saudi Arabia.'

'Ischemic heart disease is the predominant cause of cardiovascular disease, with about three ischemic heart disease deaths for every stroke death. Also more prevalent in the Middle East than in the rest of the world, rheumatic heart disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, but the number of hospitalisations related to this problem is declining rapidly. Cell technologies have not been used for treatment of rheumatic heart disease, but one can reason that they would be effective.'

The company has commenced work in Jordan on its Regen trial, a Phase I Clinical Trial to test genetically modified MyoCell in patients suffering from Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). The first patient is expected to receive treatment in July.

'The facilities and physicians in Jordan and Turkey are comparable to the best facilities and physicians in the United States,' added Peggy A Farley, chief operating and financial officer.

'Bioheart has plans for establishing a cell manufacturing facility in Jordan as well,' she said.-TradeArabia News Service