ReNeuron will present strongly positive pre-clinical efficacy data on its soluble receptor, ReN1820, at the �Research Insights into Interstitial Cystitis (I.C.) Symposium’ on October 30th 2003 in Alexandria, V.A., USA.
ReN1820 is a functional antagonist of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), consisting of the portion of the NGF receptor responsible for NGF binding. This soluble receptor has been expressed at high yield in bacteria and is now being tested pre-clinically to choose the lead clinical indication.
First author, Dr Paul Stroemer, will present data from a well recognised, rodent, acute chemical, I.C. model. In this model, the bladder nerve endings become hypersensitive, leading to early, frequent and strong contractions of the bladder as it is filled slowly with saline. ReN1820 was able to markedly reduce the frequency and strength of contractions and to significantly delay the onset of bladder contractions.
The experimental work was performed in conjunction with King’s College London and the University of Bristol.
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic disease of the bladder of fertile women and has similar symptoms to urinary tract infection, although the urine is sterile. This market is under-developed, with only a single compound approved for this indication in the USA. The number of sufferers worldwide exceeds 1.5 million and women with this disorder are said to have a lower quality of life than renal dialysis patients.
Notes to editors
ReNeuron Holdings PLC is a UK bio-pharmaceutical company developing proprietary treatments for neurological disorders. Its focus is the development of innovative neural stem cell transplantation technology for the treatment of brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and stroke. The Company is also exploiting the use of its stem cell lines as a drug discovery platform through its ReNcell product, which is marketed to pharmaceutical companies and academia for use as a drug discovery tool and for general research. ReNeuron’s stem cells also have the capability to form neural networks suitable for use in biosensors, currently being developed as a potential detection tool to combat bio-terrorism or as a drug-screening tool in the pharmaceutical industry.
In 2001, ReNeuron acquired exclusive rights to a family of patents and technologies developed by leading researchers at the University of Bristol. These researchers had identified the immunoglobulin-like (Ig2) region of the high affinity (TrK-A) NGF receptor as responsible for NGF binding.
Further information
Dr Martin Edwards, Chief Executive Officer, ReNeuron Holdings PLC
44 (0)1483 302560