Guildford,UK, 20 November 2006: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE:RENE.L) and Millipore Corporation (NYSE:MIL), announce the market launch of ReNeuron’s patented ReNcell^TM neural stem cell lines for non-therapeutic applications. These products are the only immortalised human somatic neural stem cell lines on the market today.

The launch follows the establishment of a manufacturing and distribution agreement signed by ReNeuron and Chemicon International, Inc., now part of Millipore, earlier this year. Under the terms of this multi-year agreement, Millipore will exclusively manufacture and supply ReNeuron’s ReNcell^TM CX and ReNCell^TM VM cell lines and cell media to the worldwide stem cell research community within academia and the pharmaceutical industry. ReNeuron will receive royalty payments on cell line and media sales made by Millipore.

The ReNcell^TM lines have been specifically generated by ReNeuron for application as models for regenerative medicine. The cell lines and media are available either individually or as a kit and represent a convenient solution for scientists needing reproducible results with neurons easily derived from human cells. The cell lines are particularly useful in drug discovery applications, where the development of these pathways can be monitored during drug screening.

Further information concerning the ReNcell^TM neural cell lines may be found by contacting Millipore Tech Service at +1 951 676 8080 (or 1 800 548 7853 in the US), or by visiting www.millipore.com.

Michael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer of ReNeuron, said: “We have been encouraged by the level of enquiries from potential customers for the ReNcell^TM lines leading up to market launch, and we look forward to our continuing collaboration with Millipore as the scientific research and commercial potential of these cell lines is realised in the months and years ahead.”

Michelle Greene, Millipore Marketing Director, said: “The ReNcell^TMneural cell lines have the ability to readily differentiate into neural cell types and will replicate indefinitely. The cells display the same marker patterns as normal cells and are able to grow and remain stable, even after prolonged culturing. Neurons derived from these cells show the physiological properties of mature neurons, a valuable characteristic when validating research results using these ReNcell^TMproducts.”

Notes to editors

About ReNeuron Group plc
ReNeuron is a leading, UK-based adult stem cell therapy business. The Group is applying its novel stem cell platform technologies in the development of ground-breaking stem cell therapies to serve significant and unmet or poorly-met clinical needs.

ReNeuron has used its c-mycER^TAM technology to generate genetically stable neural stem cell lines. This technology platform has multi-national patent protection and is fully regulated by means of a chemically-induced safety switch. Cell growth can therefore be completely arrested prior to in vivo implantation.

The Group’s lead stem cell therapy, ReN001 for chronic stroke disability, is in late pre-clinical development. The Company plans to file for approval to commence a Phase I clinical study in stroke by the end of 2006, with the study commencing as soon as possible thereafter. There are an estimated 50 million¹ stroke survivors worldwide, approximately half of which are left with permanent disabilities. The healthcare costs of caring for these patients is estimated to amount to $45 billion² in the US alone. ReNeuron has also leveraged its stem cell technologies into non-therapeutic areas � its ReNcell^TM range of cell lines for use in
research and in drug discovery applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

ReNeuron’s shares are traded on the London AIM market under the symbol RENE.L, and its warrants are traded under the symbol RENW.L.

Further information on ReNeuron and its products can be found at www.reneuron.com.

1. MOSES (Morbidity and mortality after stroke � Eprosartan vs nitrendipine for secondary prevention) study, Feb 2006
2. American Heart Association, Reporting Standardsfor Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stent Placement, (Stroke, 2004; 35:e112).

About Millipore Corporation
Millipore is a leading provider of products and services that improve productivity in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and in clinical, analytical and research laboratories. The Company is organized in two operating divisions. Its Bioprocess Division helps enables pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to optimize their manufacturing productivity, ensure the quality of drugs, and scale up the production of difficult-to-manufacture biologics. Its Bioscience division helps to optimize laboratory productivity and workflows.

Its products and enabling technologies that are used in the laboratory are essential for the research and development of biologically based life science therapeutics.
Millipore has a deep understanding of its customers’ research and manufacturing process needs, and offers reliable and innovative tools, technologies and services. The Company is part of the S&P 500 index and employs approximately 5,800 employees in more than 47 offices worldwide.

For additional information on Millipore Corporation, please visit its website at: www.millipore.com.

Further information

ReNeuron
Michael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer
John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer
Tel:44 (0)1483 302 560

Financial Dynamics
David Yates
Nicola Daley
Tel: 44 (0)20 7831 3113

This announcement contains forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business achievements/performance of ReNeuron and certain of the plans and objectives of management of ReNeuron with respect thereto. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as “should”, “expects”, “estimates”, “believes” or similar expressions. This announcement also contains forward-looking statements attributed to certain third parties relating to their estimates regarding the growth of markets and demand for products. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect ReNeuron’s current expectations and assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of factors could cause ReNeuron’s actual financial condition, results of operations and business achievements/performance to differ materially from the estimates made or implied in such forward-looking statements and, accordingly, reliance should not be placed on such statements.

Back