The research was conducted in collaboration with the remedi Project at Loughborough University. ReNeuron’s standard cell manufacturing process was adapted and transferred to an automated system using a commercially available robotic cell culture system – the CompacT SelecT designed and manufactured by The Automation Partnership, an innovative UK-based company focused on the development of advanced automated systems for the global life sciences market. With minor modifications of the standard process, the robot was programmed to successfully manufacture a batch of cells. The growth rate and the quality characteristics of the cells were identical to those manufactured manually.
Dr John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said:
"The successful automation of our ReN001 manufacturing process heralds two exciting advances. Firstly, ReNeuron has access to a precise platform allowing optimisation of its cell culture process, leading to lower costs and increased yield. Secondly, we anticipate that automation will deliver a more reliable scale of manufacture progressing the therapy into later stage trials and beyond."
Professor David Williams, Director of the Research School of Health and Life Sciences at Loughborough University, and leader of remedi commented:
“The automation of therapeutic stem cell manufacturing is critical to the development of scalable, reproducible, regulatory compliant and hence commercially viable stem cell products. We look forward to further collaboration with ReNeuron, a world leader in the development of scalable stem cells, to demonstrate the value of automated cell manufacturing platforms in the later stage development of their clinical stem cell products.”
About ReNeuron
ReNeuron is a leading, UK-based stem cell business. Its primary objective is the development of stem cell therapies targeting areas of significant unmet or poorly met medical need.
ReNeuron recently received regulatory approval to commence a Phase I clinical trial in the UK with its lead ReN001 stem cell therapy for disabled stroke patients. The Company is developing stem cell therapies for a number of other conditions, including peripheral arterial disease and diseases of the retina.
ReNeuron has also developed a range of stem cell lines for non-therapeutic applications – its ReNcell® products for use in academic and commercial research. The Company’s ReNcell®CX and ReNcell®VM neural cell lines are marketed worldwide under license by USA-based Millipore Corporation.
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.
