RENE.L Regulatory News (RENE)

4 Apr 2006 09:52

ReNeuron Group plc04 April 2006 ReNeuron announces initial pre-clinical data with its ReN003 retinal stem cellprogramme and signs collaboration agreement with Schepens Eye Research Institute Guildford, UK, 4 April 2006: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) today announcesinitial survival efficacy data with its ReN003 stem cell therapy programme fordiseases of the retina. The joint research, led by Professors John Greenwoodand Stephen Moss at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology in London, showedexpansion of human retinal progenitor cells with markers of photoreceptors overmultiple population doublings. These progenitors showed an ability to engraftand protect the photoreceptor layer of the retina from degeneration in a retinaldystrophic model. The research was funded by a Medical Research Council stem cells strategicresearch grant, and will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Associationfor Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on30 April to May 4, 2006. In order to further its ReN003 retinal stem cell programme, ReNeuron today alsoannounces that it has entered into a collaborative research agreement with theSchepens Eye Research Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, US. Theresearch programme under this collaboration will take place in the laboratoriesof Dr Michael Young, and aims to establish the key conditions for growingretinal stem cell lines that can be developed into a scalable, efficacious andsafe therapy that utilises ReNeuron's proprietary c-mycERTAM expansiontechnology. The objective is to develop these stem cell lines to treat majorblindness- causing diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, retinitispigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy, which together represent a major unmetmedical need. Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said: "I am delighted that ReNeuron is working so closely with both the UCL Instituteof Ophthalmology and the Schepens, two of the world's major research andclinical centres in the field of retinal diseases. Our new collaboration withSchepens will combine their important patented technology and know-how withReNeuron's versatile stem cell platform, with the aim of generating novel stemcell therapies for these major retinal diseases. Future collaborations withboth institutions offer the potential to take these therapies through to theclinic in the most efficient way possible." Enquiries: ReNeuron Tel: 44 (0)1483 302 560John Sinden, Chief Scientific OfficerMichael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer Financial DynamicsDavid 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 inthe world dedicated to furthering the understanding of vision and eye diseasewith a mission to bring new innovative therapies to the clinic for the benefitof patients worldwide. The IO is part of UCL Biomedicine, one of the largestaggregates 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 frominvestigators of fundamental cell processes to clinician scientists runningclinical trials. The IO partners with Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS FoundationTrust and has strong links with other eye hospitals in the UK and Europe. Stemcell biology is strongly represented at IO with four MRC-funded projectscurrently running, one of which supports the collaborative work described above. A recently accredited clinical stem cell facility is being used to treatpatients with ocular surface disease. The IO is also world leader in genediscovery and gene therapy in ocular disease. The range of eye diseases being studied by IO staff is wide, but areas ofparticular interest include retinal degeneration, including that affecting youngpeople and also age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma. AMD is themost 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 independenteye research institute in the Americas. An affiliate of the Harvard MedicalSchool, the Institute has made a major impact on ophthalmic practiceinternationally. Its faculty has published over 4,000 scientific papers and hastrained more than 600 vision scientists and ophthalmic specialists from theUnited States and more than 40 countries around the world. Schepens scientistsparticipate in interactive research teams whose goals are to develop morepowerful methods to diagnose non-invasively eye diseases, and to create noveltreatments based on ocular gene therapy, retinal and stem cell transplantation,low vision aids and rehabilitation, corneal transplantation, and tissue- andbio-engineering. About ReNeuron Group plc ReNeuron is a leading, UK-based adult stem cell therapy business. The Companyis applying 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-mycERTAM 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 Company's lead stem cell therapy, ReN001 for chronic stroke disability, isin late pre-clinical development. Subject to successful completion ofpre-clinical testing, the Company plans to file for approval to commence initialclinical trials in stroke later this year, with trials commencing as soon aspossible thereafter. The Company has also generated pre-clinical efficacy data with its ReN005 stemcell therapy for Huntington's disease, a rare, genetic and fatalneurodegenerative disorder which affects around 1 in 100,000 people. Thisprogramme 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 ReNcell range of cell lines for use in drug discovery applicationsin 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. 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. The terms "ReNeuron" or "the Company" refer to ReNeuron Group plc and itssubsidiary undertakings. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange