Smith Medical Partners Announces Logistics Agreement For Cardium's National Distribution Of Excellagen(™)

Agreement underscores Smith Medical Partners' specialty product full-service model

Wood Dale, Ill /PRNewswire/ - Smith Medical Partners, the specialty pharmaceutical subsidiary of H. D. Smith, today announced an exclusive logistics and cold chain services agreement with Cardium Therapeutics (NYSE Amex: CXM), a health sciences and regenerative medicine company, to support its recently launched wound care product, Excellagen™. Excellagen is a professional-use, syringe-based wound care product used in the management of diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers and other dermal wounds.

"The secure and efficient distribution of specialty pharmaceutical products is a critical and growing need for the U.S. healthcare system – particularly because so many innovative medicines require specialized handling and dispensing," stated Dave DuRoss, president, Smith Medical Partners. "Combining our logistics expertise with the manufacturing capabilities of leaders such as Cardium enables us to support the launch and distribution of specialty products that impact patient care, like Excellagen."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 26 million people in the United States had diabetes in 2010(1). Diabetic foot ulcers, a major complication of diabetes, occur in 15 percent of diabetes patients and precede 84 percent of all lower leg amputations(2). H. D. Smith and Smith Medical Partners are well positioned to provide distribution and specialized services along the entire specialty pharmaceutical supply chain – from the manufacturer to the patient.

"As a growing segment of H. D. Smith's business, Smith Medical Partners seeks to be a leader in the specialty marketplace, offering a full-service model of support for manufacturers and customers – from bench to bedside," said Dale Smith, H. D. Smith Chief Executive Officer. "The partnership with Cardium is the latest reflection of our ongoing commitment to patients across the country – ensuring that the healthcare providers and local pharmacies they depend on have the medicines they need, when they're needed. We are pleased to work alongside Cardium in this critical mission to deliver medical advances for patients."

About Smith Medical Partners
As a wholly owned subsidiary of H. D. Smith, Smith Medical Partners focuses on specialty pharmaceutical distribution and services. Smith Medical Partners delivers to healthcare providers lifesaving medicines and supplies, including a full line of brand pharmaceuticals, injectables, vaccines and a robust generics portfolio. Licensed in all 50 states, Smith Medical Partners combines national reach with accessibility. With a knowledgeable team focused on providing exceptional customer care and offering valuable insight on item selection, patient assistance programs and reimbursement solutions, Smith Medical Partners services hundreds of specialty pharmacies and thousands of physician offices and clinics of all sizes. More than just product dispersal, Smith Medical Partners provides flexible offerings that facilitate cost-containment and efficiency throughout the supply chain, including helping manufacturers procure credentialed comparator products for clinical trials, third-party logistics and back-end telesales support for new and end of life cycle commercial products.

Additional information about Smith Medical Partners can be found at smpspecialty.com.
(1) http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p0126_diabetes.html
(2) Brem H, Tomic-Canic M. Cellular and molecular basis of wound healing in diabetes. J Clin Invest. 2007; 117(5): 1219-1222. doi:10.1172/JCI32169.

SOURCE Smith Medical Partners