Guildford, UK, 6 April 2009: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) today announces positive pre-clinical efficacy data with its lead CTX stem cell line in a model of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This is a chronic and debilitating disease that progressively restricts blood flow in the limbs, causing cramping, chronic pain and in extreme cases, loss of limb. PAD is commonly associated with other conditions such as diabetes, obesity and stroke. At least 1 in 20 people over the age of 55 have some degree of PAD and it becomes more common with increasing age.
The research was conducted by Professor Paolo Madeddu, Chair of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine and colleagues at the Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol, UK. The researchers tested ReNeuron’s CTX stem cell line, via intramuscular injection, in a recognised murine hind limb ischaemia model. The cells were seen to generate significant recovery of blood flow in the ischaemic limb and tissue perfusion was shown to improve through increased revascularisation of the damaged tissue, as measured by increased capillary and arteriole density.
The results of the study are being presented at the UK National Stem Cell Network Second Annual Scientific Conference, taking place on 6-8 April at the University of Oxford Examination Schools, Oxford, UK. Further information concerning this conference may be found at www.uknscn.org/meetings/meetings09.
ReNeuron is continuing its research collaboration with Professor Madeddu and his colleagues with the aim of generating further pre-clinical data sufficient to translate these initial findings into a clinical programme within the next two years. In the meantime, the Company intends to commence an initial clinical trial in the UK this year in disabled stroke patients, where the same CTX stem cell line forms the basis of the Company’s ReN001 therapy in this indication. UK regulatory approval for this trial was granted in January of this year.
Commenting on the results of the study, Professor Madeddu said:
“The results of this initial study are very promising and compare very favourably with other cell types that are being tested in models of peripheral ischaemia. We look forward to continuing to test the potential of the CTX cell line in further pre-clinical studies over the coming months.”
Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said:
“The results of this study further demonstrate the potency of our lead CTX stem cell line when applied in ischaemic disease settings. We are excited by the apparent utility of this cell line in both the ischaemic brain and muscle. The CTX cell line is extremely well-characterised and has already been scaled up and extensively tested as part of our ReN001 programme for stroke. This work will therefore give us a significant advantage as we look to move this cell line forward to the clinic as a non-patient-specific therapeutic candidate for peripheral arterial disease.”
