Guildford, UK, 29 June 2006: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE) today announces that it will be presenting significant new data concerning both its c-mycERTAM stem cell expansion technology and its ReN001 stem cell line for stroke at leading international stem cell and neuroscience conferences.

ReNeuron’s c-mycERTAM expansion technology is activated by the presence of a chemical safety switch, 4-hydroxy tamoxifen (4-OHT), which is added to the stem cell growth medium to initiate cell division whilst maintaining the genetic stability of the cells. Removal of 4-OHT will arrest cell division prior to transplantation of the cells. These new results show that the c-mycERTAM transgene is highly specific to 4-OHT and will not be switched on inappropriately by other related ligands that might be present in a clinical setting such as the drug, tamoxifen, and naturally occurring steroids and hormones such as estradiol, progesterone and testosterone.

These findings represent a significant addition to the overall safety profile of ReNeuron’s c-mycERTAM technology platform in terms of its potential to generate stem cell lines appropriate for therapeutic use. The presentation of these findings is one of three poster presentations that ReNeuron will make at the 4th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research in Toronto, Canada on 29 June to I July 2006.

Separately, ReNeuron has demonstrated that its ReN001 stem cell line for stroke will survive in pre-clinical rodent models regardless of whether an anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressant drug regimen is used in conjunction with the transplantation of the cells. This finding further demonstrates the potential utility of ReN001 as a cell-based therapeutic agent where these adjunctive therapies may be required. ReNeuron is presenting these findings at the FENS 5th Forum of European Neuroscience meeting in Vienna, Austria, on 8 -12 July 2006.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said:

“These new findings further illustrate the robustness and significant safety characteristics of our cell expansion technology and the ReN001cell line developed from it. We have already developed a broad safety and efficacy data package for ReN001 and the c-mycERTAM cell expansion platform. These further findings will serve to enhance this data package ahead of the clinical trial application for ReN001 in stroke which we intend to file later this year.”

Notes to editors

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-mycERTAM 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. Subject to successful completion of pre-clinical testing, the Company plans to file for approval to commence initial clinical trials in stroke by the end of 2006, with trials commencing as soon as possible thereafter.

The Group has also generated pre-clinical efficacy data with its ReN005 stem cell therapy for Huntington’s disease, a rare, genetic and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects around 1 in 10,000 people. This programme is in pre-clinical development.

In addition to its stroke and Huntington’s disease programmes, ReNeuron is developing stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease, Type 1 diabetes and diseases of the retina.

ReNeuron has also leveraged its stem cell technologies into non-therapeutic areas – its ReNcellTM range of cell lines for use 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.

Further information

ReNeuron

Michael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer
John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer

Tel: 44 (0)1483 302 560

Financial Dynamics

David Yates
Sarah Macleod

Tel: 44 (0)20 7831 3113

Downloads

Back