Guildford, UK, 9 April 2009: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) today announces the publication of a paper in the journal Biotechnology Letters* demonstrating successful automation of the manufacturing of its ReN001 neural stem cell line for stroke.
The research was conducted in collaboration with the remedi Project at Loughborough University. ReNeuron’s standard cell manufacturing process was adapted and transferred to an automated system using a commercially available robotic cell culture system – the CompacT SelecT designed and manufactured by The Automation Partnership, an innovative UK-based company focused on the development of advanced automated systems for the global life sciences market. With minor modifications of the standard process, the robot was programmed to successfully manufacture a batch of cells. The growth rate and the quality characteristics of the cells were identical to those manufactured manually.
Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said: “The successful automation of our ReN001 manufacturing process heralds two exciting advances. Firstly, ReNeuron has access to a precise platform allowing optimisation of its cell culture process, leading to lower costs and increased yield. Secondly, we anticipate that automation will deliver a more reliable scale of manufacture progressing the therapy into later stage trials and beyond.”
Professor David Williams, Director of the Research School of Health and Life Sciences at Loughborough University, and leader of remedi commented: “The automation of therapeutic stem cell manufacturing is critical to the development of scalable, reproducible, regulatory compliant and hence commercially viable stem cell products. We look forward to further collaboration with ReNeuron, a world leader in the development of scalable stem cells, to demonstrate the value of automated cell manufacturing platforms in the later stage development of their clinical stem cell products.
* Reference: Thomas RJ, Hope AD, Hourd P, Baradez M, Miljan E, Sinden JD, Williams DJ (2009) “Automated, serum-free production of CTX0E03: a therapeutic clinical grade human neural stem cell line.” Biotechnology Letters online first.
View paper at www.springerlink.com/content/100138/?Content+Status=Accepted
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
About The remedi Project and Loughborough University
remedi is an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded Innovative Manufacturing Grand Challenge led by Professor David Williams of the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University. Grand Challenges are intended to drive step changes in the capability, impact and excitement of UK Manufacturing Research. remedi therefore takes a strongly manufacturing led perspective on regenerative medicine – an emerging new industry.
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 worldwi de 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.