Hancock Jaffe Enters into Sponsored Research Agreement for CoreoGraft with World-Renowned Texas Heart Institute


IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hancock Jaffe Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: HJLI, HJLIW), a company specializing in medical devices that restore cardiac and vascular health, announced today that it has entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement with Texas Heart Institute for the development of HJLI’s CoreoGraft®, an off the shelf conduit intended to be used for coronary artery bypass surgery. Founded in 1962 by world renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Denton A. Cooley, the Texas Heart Institute is recognized internationally for research programs in cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, stem cell and gene therapy, and regenerative medicine, and is dedicated to reducing the devastating toll of cardiovascular disease through innovative and progressive programs in research, education and improved patient care.

Dr. Luiz Sampaio, Co-Director of the Cullen Cardiovascular Research Laboratories at Texas Heart Institute and the Primary Investigator on the CoreoGraft project stated, “We are fortunate to be in a position to be highly selective of the projects we accept at Texas Heart Institute, and we are excited to partner with Hancock Jaffe on this innovative research. I am personally interested in the CoreoGraft because I recognize the potential and unmet clinical need for an alternative to saphenous vein harvesting, which could positively impact the lives of so many people suffering from heart disease globally.”

Dr. Marc H. Glickman, Hancock Jaffe’s Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer stated, “We couldn’t ask for a better partner on the CoreoGraft project than the Texas Heart Institute. We have already begun to collaborate with Dr. Sampaio and his team and their expertise became evident during our first meeting. We look forward to working with such a talented group and will announce our first study at Texas Heart Institute in the coming weeks.”

150,000 coronary artery bypass surgeries are performed each year in the U.S., necessitating between 300,000 and 450,000 bypass grafts to revascularize the heart. Studies have shown that up to 40 percent of saphenous vein grafts become occluded or clogged as early as one year after bypass surgery. The CoreoGraft is a potential alternative to saphenous vein grafting. Heart disease remains the number one killer in the U.S., accounting for over 600,000 annual deaths. Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease.

About Hancock Jaffe Laboratories, Inc.

HJLI specializes in developing and manufacturing bioprosthetic medical devices to establish improved standards of care for treating cardiac and vascular diseases. HJLI currently has three product candidates: the porcine tissue based VenoValve®, which is intended to be surgically implanted in the deep venous system of the leg to treat Chronic Venue Insufficiency; the CoreoGraft®, a bovine tissue based off the shelf conduit intended to be used for coronary artery bypass surgery, and a porcine tissue based heart valve, which based upon its relatively small size and increased output, is an ideal candidate for pediatric aortic/mitral valve replacement.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any statements of stockholders, directors, employees, representatives and partners of Hancock Jaffe Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”) related thereto contain, or may contain, among other things, certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties.  Such statements may include, without limitation, statements identified by words such as "projects," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "potential" or similar expressions.  These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Actual results (including, without limitation, the performance of the new board members described herein) may differ significantly from those set forth or implied in the forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the Company’s control).  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future presentations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

HJLI Press Contacts:

Amy Carmer
Tel: 949-261-2900
Email: ACarmer@HancockJaffe.com 

Jules Abraham
CoreIR
Tel: 917-885-7378
Email: julesa@coreir.com