MONT-SAINT-GUIBERT, Belgium, January 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The Belgian biotechnology company, Cardio3BioSciences, a leader in the discovery and development of regenerative and protective therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, today announces it has secured a total of €3.1 million in non-dilutive funding from the Walloon Region and the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

The Walloon Region funding takes the form of recoverable cash advances and will be used to industrialise a number of Cardio3 BioSciences projects including establishing a new bioreactor for the production of the Company's lead product, C3BS-CQR-1 (C-Cure®), a highly innovative stem cell approach for the treatment of heart failure. The funding also supports Cardio3 BioSciences' protein therapeutic programme which is aimed at the treatment of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and the regulatory approval of its advanced medical device, C-Cath®.C-Cath is a proprietary catheter designed to maximize the delivery efficiency of regenerative therapeutics to the heart.

The FP7 funding was awarded to Cardio3 BioSciences as part of a €5.9 millionaward from the European Commission to a Collaborative Research Consortium, BAMI (Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cellsfor Acute Myocard Infarct) of which Cardio3 BioSciences is a part.BAMIinvolves 21 partners in 11 European countries and is conducting the largest trial of adult stem cell therapy the treatment of heart attack patients.

Dr Christian Homsy, CEO of Cardio3 BioSciences comments on today's announcement: "We very much welcome the continued strong support of the Walloon region and this new funding from the European Commission which will help drive a number of projects within the company as we apply our technologies to address a range of cardiac diseases. The Walloon region has played a significant role through the history of Cardio3 BioSciences helping to bring us to the point where our core revolutionary technology, C-Cure, for the treatment of heart failure, has passed through successful completion of its Phase II clinical development stage and is expected to enter Phase III in 2012."

About Cardio3 BioSciences

Cardio3 BioSciences is a leading Belgian biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of regenerative and protective therapies for the treatment of cardiac disease. The Company's lead product candidate, C3BS-CQR-1 (C-Cure), is a highly innovative stem cell approach for the treatment of heart failure, one of the world's most pressing unmet medical needs. Based on a comprehensive strategy developed by Cardio3 BioSciences and leveraging technology licensed from Mayo Clinic, the C-Cure development program is designed to direct the patient's own stem cells into new heart cells with the potential to rebuild the heart.

The Cardio3 BioSciences team has extensive experience in developing and commercializing new pharmaceutical products and medical technologies and the Company's current strategy is to drive the clinical development of

C-Cure and to market the product itself, if marketing authorisation is obtained, on a wide geographical scale.

Cardio3 BioSciences was founded in July 2007 and is based in Mont-Saint-Guibert (near Louvain-la-Neuve) in the Walloon region of Belgium. In addition to its relationship with Mayo Clinic, Cardio3 BioSciences draws on clinical expertise from the renowned Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium.

About Heart Failure

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is characterized as the inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood supply to the body. Leading causes of heart failure include coronary artery diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes. Heart failure is a common, costly, disabling, and potentially deadly condition affecting 5.8million people in the US and at least 15 million people in the European Union. With the exception of heart transplant, there isn't a cure for heart failure at the moment.

Disclosures

C3BS-CQR-1, C-Cure, C-Cath, Cardio3 BioSciences and the Cardio3 BioSciences logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cardio3 BioSciences SA, in Belgium, other countries, or both.

Mayo Clinic holds equity in Cardio3 BioSciences as a result of intellectual property licensed to the company.

This press release contains forward-looking, which reflect our current expectations and projections about future events, and involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. These forward-looking statements are further qualified by important factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including timely submission and approval of anticipated regulatory filings; the successful initiation and completion of required Phase III studies; additional clinical results validating the use of adult autologous stem cells to treat heart failure; satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; and actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities. As a result, of these factors investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements.  We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information, please contact:

Cardio3 BioSciences
Dr Christian Homsy, CEO
Anne Portzenheim, Communication Manager
http://www.c3bs.com
Tel : +32-10-39-41-00
aportzenheim@c3bs.com

CitigateDeweRogerson
Chris Gardner/Nina Enegren
Tel : +44(0)207-638-9571
nina.enegren@citigatedr.co.uk

Hill & Knowlton
Katia Delvaille
Tel : +32-2-737-95-00
kdelvail@hillandknowlton.com

SOURCE Cardio3 BioSciences