Rex Bionics PLC Stroke & Brain Injury Clinical Trial in Australia

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Rex Bionics PLC

24 October 2016

Rex Bionics Plc

("Rex Bionics" or the "Company")

REX Stroke and Brain Injury Clinical Trial in Australia

24 October 2016: Rex Bionics Plc (AIM: RXB), the pioneer of the REX Robot technology that enhances the mobility of wheelchair users, is pleased to announce the start of a new clinical trial treating patients who have had a stroke or brain injury, with Robot-Assisted Physiotherapy with REX.

The trial is being conducted by the Australian Institute of Neuro-rehabilitation, Nelson Bay, New South Wales (NSW), Australia and the University of Newcastle, NSW; and is supported by The Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation and Rex Bionics plc. The trial has received ethics clearance through the Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 16/08/17/4.06) and will be carried out according to the standards of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

The trial will recruit volunteers from the Hunter Region of NSW, who have had a stroke or head injury more than three months previously and have difficulty standing and walking. Volunteers will be treated twice a week for twelve weeks and the REX treatment will be supplemented by a home programme of exercises. There is provision for MRI examination to correlate the functional and neurological response to treatment.

More than one-third of people who survive a stroke or head injury need help in walking and some will never regain the ability to stand without assistance. This affects the patient's ability to participate in rehabilitation, their long term health, and the ability to do social, work and leisure activities.

There are more than 420,000 people living with the effects of stroke in Australia and 30% of these people are of working age. 65% of those living with stroke also suffer a disability that impedes their ability to carry out daily living activities unassisted. In 2012, the total financial costs of stroke in Australia were estimated to be A$5 billion.

Trish Leonard, the Founder of AIN, commented: "In REX's self-supporting exoskeleton we see the potential to provide greater opportunities for weight bearing exercises to people with stroke and other acquired brain injuries. We are excited to be involved in ground breaking research to evaluate REX's robotic exercise therapy as a neuro-rehabilitation tool"

Crispin Simon, Chief Executive of Rex Bionics plc added: "Congratulations to AIN and their partners on being the first clinical research group to establish a trial using REX to treat stroke and brain injury. It is exciting to consider the possibility of functional improvement in a condition, like stroke, where so many people live with a severely compromised quality of life."

A copy of this announcement has been posted on the Company's website at www.rexbionics.com.

For further information please contact:

Rex Bionics Plc

Crispin Simon, Chief Executive Officer

[phone]

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (NOMAD and Broker)

Jonathan Senior/ Stewart Wallace / Ben Maddison

[phone]

Consilium Strategic Communications

Mary-Jane Elliott / Chris Welsh

[e-mail]

[phone]

About the Hunter Region

The Hunter Region, also commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately 75 miles to 195 miles north of Sydney.

About REX at AIN

The REX robot is known locally as HELLEN (Hunter's Exoskeleton for Lower Limb Exercise and Rehabilitation).

About Rex Bionics Plc

Rex Bionics is the pioneer of the "REX" that provides robotic standing, walking and exercise support for wheelchair users; and was founded by two British engineers with first-hand experience of the needs of wheelchair users. REX is used by people who have suffered a spinal cord injury, stroke or other traumatic brain injury; and people with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.

We are working with physiotherapists to develop the concept and practice of Robot-Assisted Physiotherapy (RAP); and also offer REX P, for use in the home, enabling customers to walk and stand with their hands free - providing more work and recreation options.

Wheelchair users are at risk of developing numerous medical complications from extended periods of sitting. By enabling them to spend more time standing, walking and exercising, REX may offer significant health benefits, including improved sleep and maintenance of joint range, and a reduction in spasm, pain, common abdominal problems and prescription drug use.

Our commitment to engineering excellence is complemented by a commitment to clinical science and the RAPPER II clinical trial results show high levels of practicality, safety and user enthusiasm.

Our Vision is that every day, around the world, thousands of people get relief with REX, from the harm - the pain, discomfort and inconvenience - of neurological accidents and illnesses; and that many will be cured.

Rex Bionics was admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's AIM in 2014. REX is not registered for At-Home use in the United States of America.

Enquiries to ([e-mail])

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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October 24, 2016 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)