ProChon Biotech, Ltd., an innovator of tissue regenerative technologies to relieve pain and restore the mobility and quality of life for sufferers of articular cartilage injuries, today announced that it selected Lonza’s Hopkinton, Mass. facility to manufacture its proprietary fibroblast growth factor (FGF2v) variant in the United States.

FGF2v is a key regulator of cellular processes involved in blood vessel formation, wound healing and the remodeling of bone and cartilage. It is a critical component of ProChon’s BioCart^™ Cartilage Regeneration System, it enhances a patient’s cells to grow more predictably and in only ten to fourteen days, compared to up to six weeks with other technologies.

“With an unparalleled track record in contract manufacturing, Lonza is the ideal partner to manufacture our fibroblast growth factor system,” said Patrick O’Donnell, chief executive officer of ProChon. “As we accelerate the BioCart clinical program at medical centers across the country, it is vitally important to have immediate access to our core technology and working with Lonza will make this a reality.

“ProChon is committed to growing the company in Massachusetts and bringing additional revenue and jobs to the Commonwealth, as evidenced by this announcement and our recent partnership with our contract research organization, Southborough-based Averion International,” added O’Donnell. “We look forward to working with Lonza to develop FGF2v as we move toward our goal of bringing mobility to millions of people who suffer from cartilage injuries.”

“We are very pleased to enter this collaboration with ProChon to advance a critical new biotherapy for cartilage regeneration,” said Dr. Stephan Kutzer, head of Lonza Custom Manufacturing. “We look forward to supporting ProChon with innovative development services and the latest in biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and expect this to be the basis for a successful, long-term relationship.”

About Lonza

Lonza is one of the world's leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries. Its products and services span its customers’ needs from research to final product manufacture. Lonza is the global leader in the production and support of active pharmaceutical ingredients both chemically as well as biotechnologically. Biopharmaceuticals are one of the key growth drivers of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Lonza has strong capabilities in large and small molecules, peptides, amino acids and niche bioproducts which play an important role in the development of novel medicines and healthcare products. Lonza is a leader in cell-based research, endotoxin detection and cell therapy manufacturing. Lonza is also a leading provider of value chemical and biotech ingredients to the nutrition, hygiene, preservation, agro and personal care markets.

Lonza is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. In 2008, Lonza had sales of CHF 2.937 billion. Further information can be found at www.lonza.com.

About ProChon Biotech, Ltd.

Founded by world leaders in the field of regenerative medicine, ProChon is a privately-held biotechnology company focused on modulating the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) system to enable it to create more effective solutions for tissue regeneration. ProChon’s products combine cell regeneration technologies with proprietary growth factors and biocompatible scaffolds to restore injured or chronically damaged tissues to normal. ProChon has filed patent applications, licensed patents for core technologies and products, and has been granted patents in the United States, Europe, Israel and Australia. ProChon’s R&D facility resides in Ness Ziona, Israel and the executive management team is based in Woburn, Massachusetts. Additional information can be found at www.prochon.com.