ReNeuron, the UK-based stem cell research and development company, is pleased to announce that a consortium led by it has been awarded a £2.2 million grant from the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under its Technology Programme.
The grant will fund a three-year stem cell bioprocessing project entitled ‘Therapeutic Products from Human Stem Cells’. The aim of the project is to utilise the specific research, development and commercial expertise of the consortium members to develop and manufacture stem cell therapeutics for clinical and subsequent commercial application to address neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The project will support translational research to develop manufacturing processes and delivery systems for ReNeuron’s stem cell therapies, as well as offering potential access to patients through the academic collaborators in due course.
The other consortium members are Angel Biotechnology Limited, RegenTec Limited, The Institute of Psychiatry and Kings College London. All consortium members are well-known to each other and are leading organisations in their fields of expertise.
Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, is today announcing details of all projects successful in securing funding under the DTI Technology Programme.
Professor Trevor Jones, Chairman of ReNeuron commented:
“I am delighted that ReNeuron and its fellow consortium members have been awarded this important grant. Not only is it an endorsement by the DTI and government of the importance of translational stem cell research in the UK, but also an endorsement of ReNeuron’s world-class technologies and expertise in this field, as well as those of the consortium members.
“The grant is an important contribution to ReNeuron’s ongoing funding requirements as it moves its lead cell therapy programmes closer to the clinic.”
Notes to editors
ReNeuron is a privately held UK bio-pharmaceutical company and a pioneer in stem cell research and development. The Company has leading edge, proprietary stem cell technologies from which it is developing groundbreaking cell therapy products. ReNeuron’s focus is on cell therapy treatments designed to reverse the effects of major diseases such as stroke, diabetes and diseases of the retina.
ReNeuron believes its approach to stem cell therapy confers significant advantages over competitor technologies, in terms of the Company’s ability to generate stable, functional cell lines with the characteristics necessary for scale-up to a viable cell therapy product capable of treating large patient populations.
ReNeuron has demonstrated convincing efficacy data in a pre-clinical model of stroke, and its ReN001 stem cell therapy for stroke is now in late pre-clinical development. The Company aims to have approval to commence clinical trials with ReN001 by the end of 2005.
ReNeuron has broadened its product pipeline by initiating programmes to develop stem cell therapies for Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and diseases of the retina.
More information on ReNeuron and its programmes can be found on the Company’s website at www.reneuron.com.
Further information
Michael Hunt, Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director, ReNeuron
Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer, ReNeuron
44 (0) 1483 302560
David Yates/Lucy Briggs, Financial Dynamics
44 (0) 20 7831 3113