Guildford, UK, 8 July 2009: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) today announces the publication in Stem Cells and Development 1 of pre-clinical data concerning the potential mechanism of action of ReNeuron’s lead CTX neural stem cell line in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. The work was conducted by Professor Paul Sanberg, Dr Carmelina Gemma and colleagues at the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine (part of USF Health), Tampa, Florida, USA. The data were originally presented in conference in the US earlier this year.
The paper describes how the CTX cells were implanted into the brain ventricles in aged rats. The cells, which are known to have angiogenic properties via secretion of growth factors, were seen to stimulate the rapid formation of new neural stem cells in the relevant brain region, a mechanism known as endogenous neurogenesis. The data therefore suggest that the CTX cells may promote regeneration in the ageing brain (where the capacity for neurogenesis has diminished over time) or in situations where the brain has suffered an insult, such as a stroke.
The CTX cell line forms the basis of ReNeuron’s ReN001 therapy for stroke and its ReN009 therapy for peripheral artery disease.
Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said:
“We are very excited by these new data, which suggest answers to some of the key questions regarding how our lead CTX stem cell line actually engenders the very clear positive functional effects we have seen in our earlier pre-clinical studies. This new publication adds further to the very extensive data package we have built around the CTX cell line, as we prepare to take it into an initial clinical trial as our ReN001 therapy for disabled stroke patients.“
1. Increased neuronal proliferation in the dentate gyrus of aged rats following neural stem cell implantation
Park DH, Eve DJ, Sanberg PR, Musso Iii J, Bachstetter AD, Wolfson A, Schlunk A, Baradez MO, Sinden JD, Bickford PC, Gemma C.
Stem Cells Dev. 2009 Jul 1. [Epub ahead of print]
Notes to editors
About USF Health
USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of healthcare based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $360 million in research grants and contracts last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Further information may be found at www.health.usf.edu.
About ReNeuron
ReNeuron is a leading, UK-based stem cell business. Its primary objective is the development of stem cell therapies targeting areas of significant unmet or poorly met medical need.
ReNeuron recently received regulatory approval to commence a Phase I clinical trial in the UK with its lead ReN001 stem cell therapy for disabled stroke patients. The Company is developing stem cell therapies for a number of other conditions, including peripheral arterial disease and diseases of the retina.
ReNeuron has also developed a range of stem cell lines for non-therapeutic applications – its ReNcell® products for use in academic and commercial research. The Company’s ReNcell®CX and ReNcell®VM neural cell lines are marketed worldwide under license by USA-based Millipore Corporation.
ReNeuron’s shares are traded on the London AIM market under the symbol RENE.L. Further information on ReNeuron and its products can be found at www.reneuron.com.
Further information
Enquiries:
Michael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer – ReNeuron +44 (0) 1483 302560
Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer – ReNeuron
Jonathan Birt, Susan Quigley – Financial Dynamics +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
Stewart Wallace, Adam Cowen – Collins Stewart +44 (0) 20 7523 8350