WASHINGTON, DC, December 21, 2011 – The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the international organization representing the interests of the regenerative medicine community, today announced that with the addition of Genzyme-Sanofi, it has reached 100 members, its target for membership growth in 2011. In addition, to accommodate its growing international membership, the group announced that it has launched a European chapter, the Alliance for Advanced Therapies. Major companies and organizations joining ARM in the second half of 2011 include Genzyme/Sanofi, Roche, Healthpoint, Life Technologies, Cellular Dynamics, and Unite 2 Fight Paralysis. ReNeuron and TiGenix also recently joined as founding members of the European chapter.
“In the two years since ARM was launched in the Fall of 2009, we have experienced a tremendous growth in membership as the regenerative medicine community has recognized the importance of speaking with one voice and having a strong presence in Washington and internationally,” said Gil Van Bokkelen, PhD, Chairman of ARM and CEO of Athersys. “Our peers in the industry are embracing our call for a national strategy for regenerative medicine, and there is growing support in Congress for legislation that was introduced this year that will help bring these promising new products to patients.”
“During the past year, we have seen many important developments in the field of regenerative medicine,” said Leanna Caron, Vice President and General Manager, Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Genzyme, a Sanofi company. “Now more than ever the industry needs a coordinated effort, and we look forward to working with ARM to realize the promise of these revolutionary technologies.”
“The field of regenerative medicine is rapidly growing in Europe, and there is clearly a need for an advocacy group to help coordinate efforts here as ARM has successfully accomplished in the United States,” said Eduardo Bravo, CEO of Tigenix, based in Leuven, Belgium. “We are excited to be one of the founding members of the European chapter, and look forward to working with our U.S. counterparts to bring the potential of advanced therapies to patients throughout Europe.”
“Welcoming our 100th member within two years of ARM’s establishment is an important milestone that demonstrates the momentum behind our efforts,” said Keith Murphy, Chairman of ARM’s Membership Committee and CEO of Organovo. “ARM now represents a significant portion of U.S. companies in the field with a uniquely diversified membership, from start-ups to global pharmaceuticals, investors, major research institutes, universities and patient groups.”
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc., Advanced BioHealing Inc., Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy, LLC, Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., Akron Biotechnology, LLC, Aldagen, Inc., Allosource, ALS Association, Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO), American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Athersys, Inc., Axogen Inc., Beckman Coulter Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, BioLife Solutions,Inc., BioSyntech Inc., California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Californians for Cures, CaridianBCT Inc., Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, Cell Line Genetics, Inc., Cell Society, Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc., Cellular Dynamics International Inc., Celsense, Inc., Corning Inc., Cyntellect Inc., Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., Fate Therapeutics, Inc., Fibralign Corporation, Fisher BioServices, Follica Inc., Friends of Cancer Research, GE Healthcare, Genetics Policy Institute, Genzyme/Sanofi, Geron Corporation, Harvard Bioscience Inc., Healthpoint Biotherapeutics Ltd., Humacyte Inc., Intercytex Ltd., International Stem Cell Corporation, Invetech Pty. Ltd, iPierian, Inc., ISTO Technologies, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Juventas Therapeutics, Inc., Kentucky Seed Capital Fund, Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, & Byers, Life Technologies Corporation, Lonza Group Ltd., MaxCyte Inc., MC2 Biotek Group, MedPace, Inc., Mesoblast Ltd., EMD Millipore Corporation, Missouri Coalition for Life Saving Cures, Nebraska Coalition for Life Saving Cures, New York Neural Stem Cell Institute, New York Stem Cell Foundation, Novitas Capitol, Organogenesis Inc., Organovo, Inc., Parkinson’s Action Network, Pathfinder Cell Therapy Inc., Pervasis Therapeutics Inc., Pfizer Inc., PharmaCell, Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative, Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC, Proxy Biomedical Ltd., Q Therapeutics Inc., Regenerative Medicine Foundation, Regenesis Biomedical Inc., Regenicin Inc., ReNeuron Group plc, Rhinocyte Inc., Roche, Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Sangamo Biosciences Inc., Sistemic Ltd., STEMCELL Technologies Inc., StemBioSys, LLC, StemCells, Inc., Student Society for Stem Cell Research, Tarix Pharmaceuticals LTD, Tengion Inc., The Cleveland Clinic, Theregen Inc., TiGenix NV, Tissue Genesis Inc., Triathlon Medical Ventures, Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, University College London, University of Louisville & Jewish Hospital Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, VentriNova Inc., ViaCyte Inc., Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) is a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization that promotes legislative, regulatory, reimbursement, and financing initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine. ARM also works to increase public understanding of the field and its potential to transform human healthcare, and provides services to support the growth of its member companies and organizations. Prior to the formation of ARM, there was no advocacy organization operating in Washington, DC to specifically represent the interests of regenerative medicine companies, research institutions, investors, and patient groups supporting more rapid adoption of technologies in our field. To learn more about ARM or to become a member, click here.
