Hyaluronic acid

SUMMIT, N.J., Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vascarta Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing innovative treatments for pain and inflammation, announced today the successful completion of its phase 1 clinical trial evaluating VAS-101 (Vasceptor®) for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). The study was conducted at Clinical Research Australia in Perth under the direction of Principal Investigator Dr. Adrian Lopresti. Publication and/or presentation of the data is expected in the coming months. The 60-patient, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated VAS-101, a proprietary curcumin gel, applied topically every other day for 28 days. The primary objective was to assess the effects of VAS-101 on pain in adults with chronic knee OA. Secondary objectives included evaluating the therapy's impact on safety and tolerability, quality of life, daily function, and the use of analgesics. Dr. Lopresti commented: "When taken orally, curcumin is limited by low absorption, which reduces its therapeutic potential. In this study, VAS-101 administered topically demonstrated promising pain-relieving effects in people with knee osteoarthritis. These findings suggest that Vascarta's Vasporta™ transdermal technology may overcome the bioavailability challenges of oral curcumin, enabling rapid, localized pain relief at much lower doses." About VAS-101 Curcumin is a well-known natural compound with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, but its clinical utility has been constrained by poor oral bioavailability. VAS-101 is a highly concentrated, patented curcumin gel formulated using Vascarta's proprietary Vasporta™ transdermal delivery platform, designed to enhance both local and systemic bioavailability. Unmet Need in Knee Osteoarthritis According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 21% of U.S. adults were diagnosed with arthritis between 2019 and 2021, with the knee being the most affected joint (World Health Organization). Current treatment options often progress from oral medications to invasive interventions such as intra-articular corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma, or ultimately, surgical knee replacement. There remains a significant unmet need for non-invasive, effective, and well-tolerated therapies that can provide pain relief for patients, particularly those who cannot tolerate long-term NSAID use. Leadership Perspective "Osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent and disabling chronic conditions," said Dr. Richard Prince, Vascarta Chairman, CEO & President. "The completion of this Phase 1 trial marks an important milestone in the development of VAS-101 and supports our vision to deliver a safer, effective, and non-invasive alternative for millions of patients worldwide." About Vascarta Vascarta is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on innovative topical and transdermal delivery of therapeutics for inflammatory conditions, with lead programs in osteoarthritis and sickle cell disease. For more information about Vascarta's clinical programs, please contact: Dr. Richard Prince, Chairman, CEO & President – [email protected] Media Inquiries: David Hymson – [email protected] SOURCE Vascarta Inc. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Innovative hyaluronic acid technology delivers enhanced control and precision, significantly lowering the risk of rectal toxicity during prostate radiation treatment.1-4Initial cases have now been performed in Japan. WAYNE, Pa., Aug. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE: TFX), a leading global provider of medical technologies, today announced Barrigel™ rectal spacer is now available for purchase in Japan, effective immediately following regulatory approval, insurance coverage acceptance and appropriate use criteria issuance by Japanese academic societies. First cases commenced earlier this month following the approval from the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) for Barrigel™ rectal spacer, the first and only sculptable non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) rectal spacer proven to significantly reduce radiation that reaches the rectum during prostate radiation therapy.1,5,6,7“Japan commercialization represents a key milestone in our global expansion strategy for the Barrigel™ rectal spacer,” said Liam Kelly, Chairman, President and CEO of Teleflex. “This launch supports our mission to offer the next-generation, NASHA rectal spacer that enables precise, symmetrical placement1,2,7—providing physicians with effective and proven control over the shape and placement of the implant.8 We remain committed to making Barrigel™ rectal spacer the standard of care for men undergoing prostate cancer radiation therapy.” In 2022, prostate cancer was the most common cancer among men in Japan, with 104,318 new cases—accounting for 18 percent of all cancer diagnoses nationwide.9 Barrigel™ rectal spacer is indicated for prostate cancer patients with T1-T3b disease.5 A U.S. clinical study found that 98 percent of men who were treated with Barrigel™ rectal spacer met the primary endpoint of achieving at least a 25 percent reduction in radiation to the rectum.1 Patients who met the primary endpoint averaged an 85 percent reduction in rectal V54 Gy radiation to the rectum, and Barrigel™ rectal spacer is proven superior in the reduction of acute and long-term Grade 1+ GI toxicity at 3 and 6 months compared to control.1,6Yoshiko Inoue, Teleflex Managing Director, Japan, said with the launch of Barrigel™ rectal spacer in Japan, more men will have access to a solution that helps minimize the rectal side effects of prostate cancer radiation therapy.1 “We’re proud to support this important advancement and remain committed to educating healthcare professionals on the value of rectal spacing and its adoption throughout Japan,” she said. Beginning in late May, training took place in Chiba, Japan under the direction of Dr. Jun Itami, who is among the top radiation oncologists in the country. “Barrigel™ rectal spacer is unique in that it does not impose time constraints during injection and offers excellent visibility under ultrasound1-4. This allows physicians to monitor the injection in real time and place the required amount precisely1,7 where needed for each individual patient,” said Dr. Itami. “As a result, a reliable distance between the prostate and rectum can be maintained, enabling safer and more robust radiation therapy planning, representing a new standard in rectal protection during radiation therapy1.” About Barrigel™ Rectal SpacerBarrigel™ rectal spacer is the first and only hyaluronic acid rectal spacer that separates the prostate from the rectum to protect the rectum during radiation therapy treatment for prostate cancer.1 Barrigel™ rectal spacer is made from Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid (NASHA).5 Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally present in the human body and is highly biocompatible and fully absorbable. NASHA has a proven history of safety and efficacy in a wide variety of medical applications in men, women and children worldwide.2,10 Barrigel™ rectal spacer has been proven to significantly reduce unwanted side effects from prostate cancer radiation therapy1 and is cleared for rectal spacing in the United States, Australia, Europe and Japan.11 Barrigel™ rectal spacer is indicated for prostate cancer patients with T1-T3b disease.5 For more information about Barrigel™ rectal spacer, please visit https://barrigel.com/hcp/barrigel-control-matters. Barrigel™ Rectal Spacer Important Safety InformationBarrigel™ rectal spacer is intended to temporarily position the anterior rectal wall away from the prostate during radiotherapy for prostate cancer and, in creating this space, it is the intent of Barrigel™ rectal spacer to reduce the radiation dose delivered to the anterior rectum. Barrigel™ rectal spacer is composed of biodegradable material and maintains space for the entire course of prostate radiotherapy treatment and is intended to be absorbed by the patient’s body over time.Barrigel™ rectal spacer should only be administered by qualified and properly trained physicians with experience in ultrasound guidance and injection techniques in the urogenital/pelvic area.As with any medical treatment, there are some risks involved with the use of Barrigel™ rectal spacer. Potential complications associated with the use of Barrigel™ rectal spacer include, but are not limited to: pain associated with Barrigel™ rectal spacer injection; needle penetration of the bladder, prostate, rectal wall, rectum, or urethra; injection of Barrigel™ rectal spacer into the bladder, prostate, rectal wall, rectum, urethra, or intravascularly; local inflammatory reactions; infection; urinary retention; rectal mucosal damage, ulcers, necrosis; bleeding; constipation; and rectal urgency. More information on indications, contraindications, warnings and instructions for use can be found in the Instructions For Use at www.barrigel.com. Caution: Federal (USA) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. About Teleflex Incorporated As a global provider of medical technologies, Teleflex is driven by our purpose to improve the health and quality of people’s lives. Through our vision to become the most trusted partner in healthcare, we offer a diverse portfolio with solutions in the therapy areas of anesthesia, emergency medicine, interventional cardiology and radiology, surgical, vascular access, and urology. We believe that the potential of great people, purpose driven innovation, and world-class products can shape the future direction of healthcare. Teleflex is the home of Arrow™, Barrigel™, Deknatel™, LMA™, Pilling™, QuikClot™, Rüsch™, UroLift™ and Weck™ – trusted brands united by a common sense of purpose. At Teleflex, we are empowering the future of healthcare. For more information, please visit teleflex.com. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on our management’s current beliefs and expectations, but are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results or company actions to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. These risks and uncertainties are identified and described in more detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Teleflex, the Teleflex logo, Arrow, Barrigel, Deknatel, LMA, Pilling, QuikClot, Rüsch, UroLift, and Weck are trademarks or registered trademarks of Teleflex Incorporated or its affiliates, in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2025 Teleflex Incorporated. All rights reserved. *Study sponsored by Palette Life Sciences, now part of Teleflex** Data from the Barrigel Pivotal Study analyzed using the same methodology as the Fischer-Valuck study***Drs Gejerman, Chao, Lederer, and Orio are paid consultants of Palette Life Sciences, now part of Teleflex. References Mariados NF, Orio PF III, King MT et al. JAMA Oncol (2023).*Svatos M, Chell E, King MT et al. Med Phys (2024).*Gejerman G, Goldstein MM, Chao M et al. Pract Radiat Oncol (2023).***Williams J, Mc Millan K, Chao M et al. J Med Imag Radiat Sci (2022).Japan Injectable Gel Instructions for Use (2025)Data on file. As of 4/01/2025.King MT, Svatos M, Orio PF III et al. Pract Radiat Oncol (2023).*Fischer-Valuck BW, Chundury A, Gay H, Bosch W, Michalski J. Hydrogel spacer distribution within the perirectal space in patients undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer: Impact of spacer symmetry on rectal dose reduction and the clinical consequences of hydrogel infiltration into the rectal wall. Pract Radiat Oncol. 2017;7(3):195-202.**Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Laversanne M, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Soerjomataram I, Bray F (2024). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer.Restylane® celebrates 25 years of natural-looking results with its signature line of hyaluronic acid fillers. 2021.Data on file Teleflex. 2025 Contacts:TeleflexLawrence KeuschVice President, Investor Relations and Strategy Developmentinvestor.relations@teleflex.com610-948-2836 Media ContactGlenn SilverFINN Partners National Media Relations Specialistglenn.silver@finnpartners.com646-871-8485 APM1275