SANUWAVE Health, Inc. announced that the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) has performed an interim analysis on the efficacy and safety results in the Phase III supplemental clinical trial using the dermaPACE(R) for treating diabetic foot ulcers.

The DMC performed an analysis of the primary efficacy endpoint of the rate of 100% complete wound closure at the 12-week endpoint for the dermaPACE treated patients as compared to the sham-control patients and the safety data. The DMC has completed its review and noted there were no safety issues. The DMC reported the Monitoring Success Criterion for the primary efficacy endpoint of 100% complete wound closure at 12 weeks has not been met and, assuming similar trends for any additional patents enrolled, will likely not be met at the next predefined analysis point of 170 patients. The Monitoring Success Criterion is a predictive probability of dermaPACE achieving statistical significance in the rate of 100% complete wound closure at 12 weeks as compared to the rate for sham-control.

As per its charter, the DMC's review was limited to only the 12-week endpoint data. The DMC has requested to the Company the ability to review complete closure rates at later points in the study, as patients were followed for up to 24 weeks and the DMC noted the Company had positive results at the 20-week endpoint in the first study of 206 patients completed in 2011.

SANUWAVE is actively working with the FDA regarding the data requests from the DMC. The interaction with the FDA will determine if the Company discontinues enrollment and moves to lock the database and unblind the data with the intention of filing a PMA with the FDA in late 2015, or continues the dermaPACE clinical study. The Company expects to have feedback from the FDA by the end of this quarter and will provide an update to shareholders at that time.

SANUWAVE retained Musculoskeletal Clinical Regulatory Advisers, LLC  (MCRA) in January 2015 to lead the Company's interactions and correspondence with the FDA for the dermaPACE, which have already commenced. MCRA has successfully worked with the FDA on numerous PMAs for various musculoskeletal, restorative and general surgical devices since 2006.

Glenn Stiegman, MCRA's Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, explained, "MCRA has been following the developments of the dermaPACE clinical trial process closely. We are pleased SANUWAVE has asked us to work with them to develop and execute an FDA strategy to assist in leading the dermaPACE to approvability."

Kevin A. Richardson II, Chairman of the board of directors of SANUWAVE, commented, "We chose MCRA for their extensive PMA experience with the FDA over the past decade. Their depth in regulatory and clinical science makes them an excellent partner for working hand-in-hand with our team and the FDA. We look forward to interactions with the FDA on enhancements to our rigorous study design. The dermaPACE, with its novel biologic regenerative effects, holds promise to heal diabetic foot ulcers and increase limb preservation, thus improving quality of life for these patients and their families and significantly easing the economic burden on an overwhelmed healthcare system that cares for these patients. We continue to work towards our ultimate goal of obtaining FDA approval for dermaPACE and commercializing the technology in the U.S. where millions of people suffer from costly and debilitating diabetic foot ulcers."