Regen BioPharma Acquires University of Toronto Cancer Stem Cell Intellectual Property

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - November 25, 2014) - Regen BioPharma Inc. (OTCBB: RGBP) announced today acquisition of patent application # US 13/652,395 with a priority date of November 2008 which covers a novel gene target essential for the survival of cancer stem cells. Inventors of the intellectual property on which this patent application was filed are University of Toronto Hematologist Dr. Richard Wells and Dr. Christine Ichim, Senior Research Consultant for Regen BioPharma.

The invention is based on findings that leukemic stem cells, which are capable of giving rise to aggressive leukemias, contained high levels of the NR2F6 gene, whereas leukemic cells that are less aggressive and cannot give rise to disease lack this gene. Importantly, when the NR2F6 gene was silenced by shRNA in leukemic stem cells, the stem cells lost leukemia forming ability and turned into normal cells. Some of these data were published in the peer-reviewed literature(1). Subsequently, it was discovered that the same gene target NR2F6 is also found in cancer stem cells in other types of tumors such as breast, lung, ovarian, and colon(2).

"Dr. Christine Ichim has spent over 10 years in identifying the importance of NR2F6 in cancer stem cells and devising means of killing these tumor initiating cells by genetically or chemically blocking NR2F6. We are enthusiastic about adding this new piece of intellectual property to our developmental pipeline," stated David Koos, Chairman & CEO of Regen BioPharma. "The area of cancer stem cells is associated with extremely high valuation at early stages of clinical development. An example of this is the $155 million upfront payment in the Celgene-OncoMed deal last year for preclinical candidates and one candidate in early phase 1.(3) Through the acquisition of this intellectual property, which has such an early priority date, we believe we are well-positioned in this exciting new area at the interface between regenerative medicine and oncology."

Cancer stem cells are the subpopulation of cells in a tumor responsible for driving growth and metastasis of the tumor. These cells exhibit certain properties which include the capacity to divide and give rise to new cancer stem cells via a process called self-renewal and the capacity to differentiate or change into the other cells that form the bulk of the tumor. Common cancer drugs target bulk tumor cells but have limited impact on cancer stem cells, thereby not "hitting" the right target and allowing for cancer recurrence and metastases.

"Regen BioPharma has a track record of rapidly translating university originating intellectual property into products, as seen with granting of IND numbers for HemaXellerate and dCellVax. Additionally, the company has recruited top notch translational researchers such as Drs. Amit Patel, David White and David Suhy. I am very excited at the prospects of clinical implementation of the intellectual property that was assigned today," said Thomas Ichim, Ph.D.

About Regen BioPharma Inc.: Regen BioPharma Inc. (OTCBB: RGBP) is a majority owned subsidiary of Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: BMSN). Regen is a biotechnology company focused on identifying undervalued regenerative medicine applications in the stem cell space and rapidly advancing these technologies through pre-clinical and Phase I/ II clinical trials. Currently the Company is focused on developing treatments for Aplastic Anemia and a gene silencing therapy for treating cancer. For more information refer to the company's website http://www.regenbiopharma.com/

Disclaimer: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties to which forward looking statements are subject include, but are not limited to, the effect of government regulation, competition and other material risks.

(1) Ichim et al. Leukemia. 2011 Nov;25(11):1687-96
(2) Safe et al. Mol Endocrinol. 2014 Feb;28(2):157-72
(3) http://www.drugs.com/news/celgene-oncomed-177m-cancer-stem-cell-deal-49294.html

Contact:
Regen BioPharma Inc.
David R. Koos, PhD
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 619-702-1404

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