TILS.L Regulatory News (TILS)

9 Jan 2006 11:00

ReGen Therapeutics PLC09 January 2006 ReGen Therapeutics Plc 9 January 2006 In-vitro study showing ReGen's Colostrinin(TM) can cause the proliferation anddifferentiation of nerve cells has been published ReGen Therapeutics Plc ('ReGen' or the 'Company') announces that today the fullresults of an in-vitro study showing that Colostrinin(TM) (CLN) can causeprecursor nerve cells to differentiate and proliferate was published in theprestigious journal, Cell and Molecular Neurobiology. Preliminary data from thisstudy were originally reported as a poster at 14th Alzheimer Europe Conferencein Prague, Czech Republic on 20/5/2004. Commenting on the findings, Dr. Istvan Boldogh, Department of Microbiology andImmunology at UTMB*, Galveston, Texas, USA, the study's principal investigatorsaid: "We have defined some initial molecular events responsible for the inhibition ofcell proliferation that precedes morphological changes in CLN-treated cells. Theneurite outgrowth caused by CLN appears to activate signaling pathways common tocell proliferation and differentiation, and mediate a wide spectrum ofactivities that are similar to those of hormones and known nerve growth factors.These findings suggest that CLN treatment may control the expression of genesthat are involved in the development, maintenance, and regeneration of neuronsin the central nervous system, and thus may also explain the improvementsobserved in Alzheimer's patients with mild-to-moderate dementia during treatmentwith CLN". Commenting on the study, Percy Lomax, Executive Chairman, said: "I am very pleased with the continuing efforts of our collaborators from UTMB tobetter define how CLN and its constituent peptides might be working in CNSdisorders. The potential to slow down or prevent the death of nerve cells in thebrain has clear applicability to the neurodegenerative diseases such asAlzheimer's, Parkinson's and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In all of theseillnesses there is substantial unmet medical need". A complete copy of the paper will be added to the ReGen website(www.regentherapeutics.com) in the next few days. * ReGen has a sponsored research agreement with the University of Texas MedicalBranch, Galveston, Texas, USA. For further information, please contact:Andrew MarshallGreycoat Communications0207 960 6007 NOTES TO EDITORS Background ReGen's principal activity is the development of a potential therapy forAlzheimer's disease and also the development of nutraceutical uses forColostrinin(TM). Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative and ultimately fataldisease that slowly destroys the brain. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease includeprogressive impairment of cognitive function including memory loss, inability tothink abstractly, loss of language function, attention deficit and associateddepression, anxiety and agitation. Eventually Alzheimer's disease sufferers losethe ability to take care of themselves and must be looked after either by familyor in residential care homes and hospitals. Ultimately, sufferers become lessresistant to infections and other illnesses, which often become the actual causeof death. In a 30 week clinical study, reported in the peer reviewed Journal ofAlzheimer's Disease in 2004, it was shown that: • More than 40% of patients on Colostrinin(TM) were stabilised or improved after 15 weeks of therapy, based on an Analysis of Overall Response• 33% of patients continued to show stabilisation or improvement after 30 weeks of treatment, and levels of benefit were slightly higher at the 15-week stage of the trial• Efficacy demonstrated in both mild and moderate symptom groups, with greatest effects seen in earlier stages of the disease• No drug-related Adverse Events or safety concerns were observed during the trial This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange