BioLineRx Announces Initiation of CE Mark Registration Trial for BCM (BL-1040), a Novel Medical Device for Prevention of Cardiac Remodeling Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

JERUSALEM–(BUSINESS
WIRE)–BioLineRx, a biopharmaceutical
development company, announced today the commencement of the PRESERVATION I
clinical trial, a CE Mark registration trial of BCM (BL-1040), a novel medical
device intended for the prevention of cardiac remodeling following an acute
myocardial infarction (AMI). The trial has commenced in Australia, will be followed in Europe, and is
expected to commence in additional countries, including Israel. Ikaria
Inc., which acquired the license for continuation of development and
commercialization of BL-1040 from BioLineRx in July 2009, is now leading
BL-1040’s clinical development as Bioabsorbable Cardiac Matrix (BCM),
previously named IK-5001.

PRESERVATION stands for A Placebo Controlled, Multicenter, Randomized,
Double-Blind Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of IK-5001 for the
Prevention of Remodeling of the Ventricle and Congestive Heart Failure After Acute
Myocardial Infarction.

PRESERVATION I aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness
of BCM (BL-1040) for prevention of ventricular remodeling and congestive heart
failure when administered following AMI. The trial is a placebo-controlled,
randomized, double-blind, multi-country and multi-center trial including
approximately 300 patients which are expected to be recruited across 45 sites.
This includes approximately 50 Australian patients at 11 clinical trial sites.
The BCM device will be administered to subjects who had successful percutaneous
coronary intervention with stent placement after ST-segment elevation
myocardial infarction (STEMI) and they will then be monitored for six months.

Dr. Kinneret Savitsky, CEO of BioLineRx, said, “We are
excited to announce the beginning of this pivotal trial for European
registration of BL-1040/BCM, a unique product for prevention of pathological
cardiac remodeling following AMI. Our strategic partner, Ikaria,
who is leading the development of BL-1040/BCM, is making intensive efforts to
swiftly develop this breakthrough device and we are confident that their
experienced team will carry out the trial to the highest professional
standards. We look forward to the results of the PRESERVATION I trial during
2013.”

About BL-1040 (BCM)

BL-1040 is a medical device, injected to patients following acute myocardial
infarction, intended for prevention of ventricular remodeling and subsequent
congestive heart failure. Ventricular remodeling is the structural alteration
of the damaged heart muscle that occurs following an acute heart attack. Once
this damage occurs, the weakened heart muscle forces the rest of the heart to
compensate. Under this extra workload, the heart muscle dilates, the walls of
the heart thin, and the heart further remodels, thereby causing another cycle
of dilation and overcompensation. The extra workload to the heart causes
further structural damage and can lead to congestive heart failure. BL-1040 is
a liquid polymer which is delivered in a bolus injection via the coronary
artery during catheterization and flows into the damaged heart muscle, creating
a scaffold within injured cardiac muscle, designed to enhance cardiac
mechanical strength during the healing period and prevent pathological
ventricular dilation. BL-1040 degrades within several weeks of injection and is
excreted through the kidneys. Pre-clinical studies in various animal models
have demonstrated BL-1040s safety and efficacy in preventing cardiac wall
thinning and preserving cardiac function.

BioLineRx has successfully completed a phase I/II clinical
trial which examined the safety and feasibility of treating patients with
BL-1040 following acute myocardial infarction. An Independent Safety Monitoring
Board reviewed the data from the study and concluded that clinical development
of the device may continue.

Ikaria acquired the
exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize BCM from BioLineRx in
2009.

More information on the PRESERVATION I trial can be found at
www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About BioLineRx

BioLineRx Ltd. is a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical development company. It
is dedicated to building a portfolio of products for unmet medical needs or
with advantages over currently available therapies. BioLineRxs current
portfolio consists of five clinical stage candidates: BL-1020 for schizophrenia
has commenced a Phase II/III study; BL-1040 for prevention of pathological
cardiac remodeling following a myocardial infarction, is commencing a pivotal
study and has been out-licensed to Ikaria Inc. for a total deal value of $282.5
million, in addition to sales royalties; BL-5010 for non-surgical removal of
skin lesions has completed a Phase I/II study; BL-1021 for neuropathic pain is
in Phase I development and BL-7040 for treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease
(IBD) has completed Phase I. In addition, BioLineRx has eleven products in
various pre-clinical development stages for a variety of indications, including
central nervous system diseases, oncology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular
and autoimmune diseases.

BioLineRx’s business model is based on acquiring molecules
mainly from biotechnological incubators and academic institutions. The Company
performs feasibility assessment studies and development through pre-clinical
and clinical stages, with partial funding from the Israeli Government’s Office
of the Chief Scientist (OCS). The final stage includes partnering with medium
and large pharmaceutical companies for advanced clinical development (Phase
III) and commercialization.

For more information about BioLineRx, please visit www.biolinerx.com.

Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT