Sernova Receives Issued Patent in the United States for Its Cell Pouch(TM) and Therapeutic Cell Transplantation Technologies

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 23, 2015) - Sernova Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SVA), is pleased to announce that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued Sernova a patent that helps protect Sernova's entire Cell Pouch System ™.

This patent entitled "Methods and Devices for Cellular Transplantation" includes claims covering implantable polymer devices such as the Cell Pouch™ itself, as well as methods using the same combined with therapeutic cells such as self-cells, donor cells, stem cells and genetically modified cells as well as surgical tools for cell transplantation. This new patent provides Sernova with patent protection through 2030. Sernova currently has over 55 issued patents and patent pending applications worldwide covering its therapeutic cell transplantation and local immune protection technologies.

The USPTO grants a patent after a vigorous search of the existing technology and a determination that a claimed invention is novel and nonobvious over that technology. Gaining such patent protection is commercially important because the Unites States represents one of the world's largest markets for Sernova's various therapeutic products in development.

"Since 2009, we have pursued patent rights around the world for our cell transplantation and local immune protection technologies and we will continue our rigorous strategy to secure and protect our proprietary technologies," stated Dr. Philip Toleikis, Sernova's President and CEO.

Within its patented technological armamentarium, Sernova uses biocompatible polymers to develop unique, highly vascularized subcutaneous tissue chambers for the placement, survival and long term function of therapeutic cells. Over the past six years, Sernova has demonstrated an excellent safety profile and efficacy benefit for its technologies in small and large animal models of disease and, more importantly, in humans with severe diabetes where transplanted therapeutic cells become highly vascularized and able to produce their therapeutic product.

About Sernova

Sernova Corp. is a clinical stage regenerative medicine company developing medical technologies for the treatment of chronic debilitating metabolic diseases such as diabetes, blood disorders including hemophilia and other diseases treated through replacement of proteins or hormones missing or in short supply within the body. Sernova is developing the Cell Pouch™, an implantable medical device for therapeutic cells (donor, xenogeneic or stem cells) which then release proteins and/or hormones as required. The therapeutic cells are protected from immune attack by Sernova's proprietary local immune protection technology.

Forward-Looking Information

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