ReNeuron Group plc Publication of positive pre-clinical retinal data (9275E)
22 July 2016 - 7:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMRENE
RNS Number : 9275E
ReNeuron Group plc
22 July 2016
AIM: RENE 22 July
2016
ReNeuron Group plc
Publication of positive pre-clinical data from retinal stem
cells
ReNeuron's hRPC stem cells arrest visual decline in pre-clinical
models of retinal degeneration, demonstrating their therapeutic
potential
ReNeuron Group plc (the "Company") (AIM: RENE), a UK-based
global leader in the development of cell-based therapeutics, is
pleased to announce the publication in a peer-reviewed scientific
journal of further key pre-clinical efficacy data with its human
retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs). A Phase I/II clinical trial has
recently commenced in the US to evaluate the safety, tolerability
and preliminary efficacy of the hRPCs in patients with the
inherited blindness-causing disease, retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
The paper, "Efficacy and safety of human retinal progenitor
cells", has been published in the journal Translational Vision
Science & Technology (TVST) and describes work undertaken in
conjunction with ReNeuron's research collaborators at UCL Institute
of Ophthalmology, London, and Schepens Eye Research Institute of
Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, US. The studies assessed the
long-term efficacy and safety of ReNeuron's hRPCs using established
pre-clinical rodent models and gave positive results.
The hRPCs were well tolerated, safe and preserved retinal
structure and vision up to six months post-injection in the
studies. The cells also survived and integrated into both damaged
and normal neural retina without adverse affects. These findings
suggest that, as well as treating later stage retinal disease, the
hRPCs can be deployed in less affected regions of the retina at
earlier stages of retinal disease or even in normal regions of
peripheral retina.
The paper can be viewed at:
http://tvst.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2535245
(Semo et al. Translational Vision Science & Technology July
2016, Vol.5, 6. doi:10.1167/tvst.5.4.6)
ReNeuron has used the above pre-clinical data, as well as
earlier, positive pre-clinical data to support the clinical
development of its hRPC cell therapy candidate, initially in
patients with RP. The ongoing Phase I/II clinical study is being
conducted at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston, a teaching
affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
As previously announced, initial short-term safety and
tolerability data from the Phase I part of the study in the first
nine patients are expected in early 2017. Longer-term safety data,
as well as efficacy read-outs from the Phase II part of the study
in a further six patients, are expected in the second half of
2017.
Olav Hellebø, Chief Executive Officer of ReNeuron, said:
"We are pleased to see the publication of further positive
pre-clinical data from our hRPC retinal stem cells in a quality
peer-reviewed scientific journal. We are grateful to our scientific
collaborators in the UK and the US who have helped us to take this
technology into its clinical development phase, initially targeting
retinitis pigmentosa. We look forward to reporting data from the
ongoing US Phase I/II clinical trial in RP patients during the
course of next year."
ENDS
ENQUIRIES:
ReNeuron +44 (0)20 3819 8400
Olav Hellebø , Chief Executive Officer
Michael Hunt, Chief Financial Officer
Buchanan +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
Mark Court, Sophie Cowles, Stephanie Watson
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited +44 (0) 20 7710 7600
Jonathan Senior, Stewart Wallace, Ben Maddison (NOMAD and Broker)
About ReNeuron
ReNeuron is a leading, clinical-stage cell therapy development
company. Based in the UK, its primary objective is the development
of novel cell-based therapies targeting areas of significant unmet
or poorly met medical need.
ReNeuron has used its unique stem cell technologies to develop
cell-based therapies for significant disease conditions where the
cells can be readily administered "off-the-shelf" to any eligible
patient without the need for additional immunosuppressive drug
treatments. The Company has therapeutic candidates in clinical
development for motor disability as a result of stroke, for
critical limb ischaemia and for the blindness-causing disease,
retinitis pigmentosa.
ReNeuron is also advancing its proprietary exosome technology
platform as a potential new nanomedicine targeting cancer and as a
potential delivery system for gene therapy treatments.
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.
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.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
RESMMGZNGMGGVZZ
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 22, 2016 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)