RENE.L Regulatory News (RENE)

30 Nov 2006 07:01

ReNeuron Group plc30 November 2006 ReNeuron and CellSeed announce collaboration using ReNcell(TM) liver cell lines Guildford, UK, 30 November 2006: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) and CellSeedInc., a privately owned tissue engineering company based in Tokyo, Japan, todayannounce the signing of a collaboration agreement to develop novel, patentedliver cell culture systems for drug safety screening in the pharmaceuticalindustry. The development work, to be conducted in CellSeed's laboratories in Tokyo, willestablish protocols for efficiently developing ReNeuron's patented ReNcell(TM) HEP hepatocyte cell lines in combination with CellSeed's UpCell and HydroCell temperature-sensitive polymer products for 3-dimensional functional liver tissue. 3-D liver culture systems represent the most effective way to assay for human liver toxicity of new drugs. The collaboration will enable the joint development of new, high-value, human cell-based drug discovery products for use in the pharmaceutical industry. If the collaboration is successful, these products are expected to be launched in 2007. ReNeuron's ReNcell(TM) HEP cell lines, developed with the Company's proprietaryc-mycER(TAM) cell expansion technology, express similar markers for drugmetabolism as those seen with primary adult hepatocytes. Unlike primaryhepatocytes, however, ReNcell(TM) HEP cells can be readily expanded to provide astable, plentiful and well-characterised source of liver cells for cell-basedtoxicology screening applications. Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said: "We very much look forward to working with CellSeed. They have developed theideal complementary technology required to take our ReNcell(TM) HEP cell linesinto the engineered tissue field, in order to provide the next generation ofcommercial drug discovery tools." Dr Yukio Hasegawa, President and CEO of CellSeed said: "We are delighted to be working with a company as innovative as ReNeuron. Thecombination of CellSeed's UpCell 3-dimensional cell-sheet engineering technologywith ReNeuron's cell expansion expertise provides the basis of a completelynovel drug screening system." Enquiries: ReNeuronMichael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer Tel: 44 (0)1483 302 560John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer Financial DynamicsDavid Yates Tel: 44 (0)20 7831 3113Nicola Daley Notes to Editors About ReNeuron Group plc ReNeuron is a leading, UK-based adult stem cell therapy business. The Group isapplying its novel stem cell platform technologies in the development ofground-breaking stem cell therapies to serve significant and unmet or poorly-metclinical needs. ReNeuron has used its c-mycER(TAM) technology to generate genetically stableneural stem cell lines. This technology platform has multi-national patentprotection and is fully regulated by means of a chemically-induced safetyswitch. Cell growth can therefore be completely arrested prior to in vivoimplantation. The Group's lead stem cell therapy, ReN001 for chronic stroke disability, is inlate pre-clinical development. The Company plans to file for approval tocommence a Phase I clinical study in stroke by the end of 2006, with the studycommencing as soon as possible thereafter. There are an estimated 50 million(1) stroke survivors worldwide, approximately half of which are left with permanent disabilities. The healthcare costs of caring for these patients is estimated to amount to $45 billion(2) in the US alone. ReNeuron has also leveraged its stem cell technologies into non-therapeuticareas - its ReNcell(TM) 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,and its warrants are traded under the symbol RENW.L. Further information on ReNeuron and its products can be found atwww.reneuron.com. (1). MOSES (Morbidity and mortality after stroke - Eprosartan vs nitrendipine for secondary prevention) study, Feb 2006(2). American Heart Association, Reporting Standards for Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stent Placement, (Stroke, 2004; 35:e112). About CellSeed Inc. CellSeed Inc. is a Japan-based biotechnology innovator committed to developmentand commercialisation of highly differentiated tissue-engineered products forpatients that are not sufficiently served by current medical technologies. CellSeed owns novel cell-sheet engineering technology developed by ProfessorOkano at Tokyo Women's Medical University. The core technology is based ongrafting any kind of synthetic polymers to organic materials covalently atnano-thickness level. When CellSeed's temperature-responsive polymers aregrafted to the cell culture surface, the recovery of intact cells retainingimportant cell surface proteins becomes possible through temperature control.This process avoids the use of potentially damaging enzymatic treatment such asthe use of trypsin when detaching cells from the cell culture surface. Cellscultured in this way can be collected in a form of contiguous cell-sheet ratherthan as isolated cells. This tissue requires no suture when grafted to patientsand the cell-sheets can be piled together to create 3-dimensional tissue. CellSeed's lead product is regenerated living cornea epithelium, targeting poorepithelium recovery after corneal grafts and persistent epithelial defects. AnIND for this product is being filed in Europe, with initiation of clinicaltrials expected in 2007. Cellseed is also applying its core technology beyond tissue-regeneration. TheCompany is distributing its novel cell cultureware products, such as RepCell andHydroCell, for the worldwide research market. The Company also recently launchedits Aqua Way series, a novel HPLC column which separates small molecules,peptides and proteins using a temperature-controlled method. Further information on CellSeed can be found at www.cellseed.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements with respect to thefinancial condition, results of operations and business achievements/performanceof ReNeuron and certain of the plans and objectives of management of ReNeuronwith respect thereto. These statements may generally, but not always, beidentified by the use of words such as "should", "expects", "estimates","believes" or similar expressions. This announcement also containsforward-looking statements attributed to certain third parties relating to theirestimates regarding the growth of markets and demand for products. By theirnature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because theyreflect ReNeuron's current expectations and assumptions as to future events andcircumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of factors could causeReNeuron's actual financial condition, results of operations and businessachievements/performance to differ materially from the estimates made or impliedin such forward-looking statements and, accordingly, reliance should not beplaced on such statements. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange