Research Update
ReNeuron Group plc
04 April 2006
ReNeuron announces initial pre-clinical data with its ReN003 retinal stem cell
programme and signs collaboration agreement with Schepens Eye Research Institute
Guildford, UK, 4 April 2006: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) today announces
initial survival efficacy data with its ReN003 stem cell therapy programme for
diseases of the retina. The joint research, led by Professors John Greenwood
and Stephen Moss at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology in London, showed
expansion of human retinal progenitor cells with markers of photoreceptors over
multiple population doublings. These progenitors showed an ability to engraft
and protect the photoreceptor layer of the retina from degeneration in a retinal
dystrophic model.
The research was funded by a Medical Research Council stem cells strategic
research grant, and will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association
for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on
30 April to May 4, 2006.
In order to further its ReN003 retinal stem cell programme, ReNeuron today also
announces that it has entered into a collaborative research agreement with the
Schepens Eye Research Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, US. The
research programme under this collaboration will take place in the laboratories
of Dr Michael Young, and aims to establish the key conditions for growing
retinal stem cell lines that can be developed into a scalable, efficacious and
safe therapy that utilises ReNeuron's proprietary c-mycERTAM expansion
technology. The objective is to develop these stem cell lines to treat major
blindness- causing diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, retinitis
pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy, which together represent a major unmet
medical need.
Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said:
'I am delighted that ReNeuron is working so closely with both the UCL Institute
of Ophthalmology and the Schepens, two of the world's major research and
clinical centres in the field of retinal diseases. Our new collaboration with
Schepens will combine their important patented technology and know-how with
ReNeuron's versatile stem cell platform, with the aim of generating novel stem
cell therapies for these major retinal diseases. Future collaborations with
both institutions offer the potential to take these therapies through to the
clinic in the most efficient way possible.'
Enquiries:
ReNeuron Tel: 44 (0)1483 302 560
John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer
Michael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer
Financial Dynamics
David Yates / Sarah MacLeod Tel: 44 (0)20 7831 3113
Notes to Editors
About UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (IO) is one of the largest research institutes in
the world dedicated to furthering the understanding of vision and eye disease
with a mission to bring new innovative therapies to the clinic for the benefit
of patients worldwide. The IO is part of UCL Biomedicine, one of the largest
aggregates of biomedical science anywhere in the world. It was rated 5*
(highest possible rating) in the last 2 research assessment exercises.
The IO faculty of 40 scientists embraces a wide range of talent extending from
investigators of fundamental cell processes to clinician scientists running
clinical trials. The IO partners with Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation
Trust and has strong links with other eye hospitals in the UK and Europe. Stem
cell biology is strongly represented at IO with four MRC-funded projects
currently running, one of which supports the collaborative work described above.
A recently accredited clinical stem cell facility is being used to treat
patients with ocular surface disease. The IO is also world leader in gene
discovery and gene therapy in ocular disease.
The range of eye diseases being studied by IO staff is wide, but areas of
particular interest include retinal degeneration, including that affecting young
people and also age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma. AMD is the
most common cause of untreatable blindness in the industrial world.
About the Schepens Eye Research Institute
Founded in 1951, The Schepens Eye Research Institute is the largest independent
eye research institute in the Americas. An affiliate of the Harvard Medical
School, the Institute has made a major impact on ophthalmic practice
internationally. Its faculty has published over 4,000 scientific papers and has
trained more than 600 vision scientists and ophthalmic specialists from the
United States and more than 40 countries around the world. Schepens scientists
participate in interactive research teams whose goals are to develop more
powerful methods to diagnose non-invasively eye diseases, and to create novel
treatments based on ocular gene therapy, retinal and stem cell transplantation,
low vision aids and rehabilitation, corneal transplantation, and tissue- and
bio-engineering.
About ReNeuron Group plc
ReNeuron is a leading, UK-based adult stem cell therapy business. The Company
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 Company'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 later this year, with trials commencing as soon as
possible thereafter.
The Company has also generated pre-clinical efficacy data with its ReN005 stem
cell therapy for Huntington's disease, a rare, genetic and fatal
neurodegenerative disorder which affects around 1 in 100,000 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 ReNcell 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.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements with respect to the
financial condition, results of operations and business achievements/performance
of ReNeuron and certain of the plans and objectives of management of ReNeuron
with respect thereto. These statements may generally, but not always, be
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