RENE.L Regulatory News (RENE)

8 Nov 2007 07:30

Angel Biotechnology Holdings Plc08 November 2007 8 NOVEMBER 2007 ANGEL BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS PLC ("Angel" or "the Company") Angel announces GMP manufacturing contract with ReNeuron Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, (AIM: ABH) the biopharmaceutical contractmanufacturer, is pleased to announce an extension to its GMP manufacturingcontract with ReNeuron Group plc, a leading player in the field of stem celltherapeutics. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed. Under the existing contract started in the second quarter this year, Angel ismanufacturing to GMP a cell bank and clinical grade material (drug substancelots) for ReNeuron's ReN001 cell line for Stroke. The original contract hasbeen extended to undertake additional cell expansion work. This contract extension further strengthens Angel's manufacturing relationshipwith ReNeuron. The relationship was founded when the companies joined forcesin a consortium that was awarded a £2.2m, 3-year, grant by the UK Department ofTrade and Industry (DTI) in January 2005. The current contract is the thirdthat the companies have collaborated together on, working with ReNeuron's ReN005adult stem cell line for Huntington's disease, in addition to the current ReN001cell line for Stroke. This contract is being delivered from Angel's MHRA licensed facility inEdinburgh which specialises in the manufacture of cell based therapies. Gordon Sherriff, Chief Operating Officer of Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc,said: "Angel is pleased to have another contract extended by ReNeuron. Webelieve this represents a significant endorsement of Angel's expertise andcapabilities in GMP manufacturing of stem cells. We look forward to furthercollaborations with ReNeuron in the future." Michael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer of ReNeuron, said: "We are happy to beextending our relationship with Angel regarding GMP manufacture of our stem cellproducts. Angel has responded well to our needs in this area and we lookforward to a continuing collaboration with them." For further information, please call:Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc Tel: +44 (0) 131 445 6077Gordon Sherriff - COO Tel: +44 (0) 7951 057016Grant Thornton Corporate FinanceColin Aaronson Tel+44 (0) 20 7383 5100 About Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc is a biomanufacturing company offering processdevelopment services and cGMP manufacturing to support biotechnology andpharmaceutical companies worldwide. Angel's principal activity is themanufacture and supply of materials for use in early stage drug development andpre-clinical studies, along with drug product and CMC documentation for PhasesI, II and III clinical trials and the manufacture of licensed drugs or vaccines. Angel is managed by a team with wide ranging experience in biopharmaceuticalmanufacture, gained in companies such as Glaxo, Serologicals Inc. and PPLTherapeutics. Angel was admitted to trading on AIM in November 2005. More information at www.angelbio.com. About ReNeuron Plc ReNeuron is a leading, UK-based adult stem cell therapy business. It is applyingits novel stem cell platform technologies in the development of ground-breakingstem cell therapies to serve significant and unmet or poorly-met clinical needs. ReNeuron has filed for approval to commence initial clinical studies in the USwith its lead ReN001 stem cell therapy for chronic stroke disability. Thisrepresents the world's first such filing concerning a neural stem cell treatmentfor a major neurological disorder. ReNeuron has also generated pre-clinicalefficacy data with its ReN005 stem cell therapy for Huntington's disease, agenetic and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects around 1 in 10,000people. This programme is in pre-clinical development. In addition to its stroke and Huntington's disease programmes, ReNeuron isdeveloping stem cell therapies for Parkinson's disease, Type 1 diabetes anddiseases of the retina. ReNeuron has also leveraged its stem cell technologies into non-therapeuticareas - its ReNcellTM range of cell lines for use in research and in drugdiscovery applications in the pharmaceutical industry. 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 atwww.reneuron.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange