RENE.L Regulatory News (RENE)

14 Nov 2008 15:30



PRESS RELEASE

ReNeuron to present key safety data at leading European molecular biology scientific conference

Guildford, UK, 14 November 2008: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) today announces that it will be presenting at the 4th European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Conference, "From Functional Genomics to Systems Biology", taking place on 15-18 November at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany.

A poster presentation at the conference will describe key safety characteristics regarding ReNeuron's c-mycER stem cell expansion technology. This technology has been used to efficiently scale up the Company's lead CTX stem cell line, the first application for which is the Company's ReN001 therapy for stroke.

ReNeuron's c-mycER cell expansion technology is fully controllable by means of a chemical safety switch, so that it becomes inactive prior to implantation of the expanded cells. The conference poster describes a study in a pre-clinical model of stroke, demonstrating a further safety feature of the expansion technology.  In the study, expression of the c-mycER transgene is shown to be silenced in vivo, thereby nullifying any impact of the expansion technology after implantation of the lead CTX stem cell line.

Initial data from this study have been included in the pre-clinical safety data package submitted to regulators in support of the Company's applications to commence initial clinical trials with ReN001. 

More information about the conference may be found at www-db.embl.de/jss/EmblGroupsOrg/conf_82.

Enquiries:

About ReNeuron

ReNeuron is a leading, UK-based stem cell company. Its primary objective is the development of stem cell therapies targeting areas of significant unmet or poorly met medical need.

ReNeuron has filed for approval to commence initial clinical studies with its lead ReN001 stem cell therapy for disabled stroke patients in both the USA and the UK. There are an estimated 50 million stroke survivors worldwide, approximately one half of which are left with permanent disabilities. The annual health and social costs of caring for these patients is estimated to be in excess of £5 billion in the UK and in excess of US$50 billion in the USA. In addition to its stroke programme, ReNeuron is developing stem cell therapies for a number of other conditions, including peripheral ischaemia, Type 1 diabetes and diseases of the retina.

ReNeuron has also developed a range of stem cell lines for non-therapeutic applications - its ReNcell®  products for use in academic and commercial research. The Company's ReNcell® CX and ReNcell® VM neural cell lines are marketed worldwide under license by USA-based Millipore Corporation.

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 at www.reneuron.com.

Data sources: UK Stroke Association; American Stroke Association

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 identified by the use of words such as "should", "expects", "estimates", "believes" or similar expressions. This announcement also contains forward-looking statements attributed to certain third parties relating to their estimates regarding the growth of markets and demand for products. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect ReNeuron's current expectations and assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of factors could cause ReNeuron's actual financial condition, results of operations and business achievements/performance to differ materially from the estimates made or implied in such forward-looking statements and, accordingly, reliance should not be placed on such statements.