RENEURON REPORTS REN004 DATA PROMISING FOR PARKINSON'S.ReNeuron Group plc (LSE LSE - Language Sensitive Editor : RENE),Guildford, UK, has announced that initial in vivo in vivo /in vi·vo/ (ve´vo) [L.] within the living body. in vi·vo adj. Within a living organism. in vivo adv. testing of its ReN004 candidate stem cell candidate stem cell a stem cell in the hemopoietic system whose function is only assumed. lines shows them to have attributes that may favor the reversal of the neurological deficits seen in Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonism, degenerative brain disorder first described by the English surgeon James Parkinson in 1817. When there is no known cause, the disease usually appears after age 40 and is referred to as Parkinson's disease. . The human cell lines were generated using ReNeuron's patented c-mycERTAM stem cell stem cell In living organisms, an undifferentiated cell that can produce other cells that eventually make up specialized tissues and organs. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. expansion technology, and were pre-screened for both genetic stability and their ability to differentiate into tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-expressing neurons. TH is a marker for a dopaminergic dopaminergic /do·pa·min·er·gic/ (do?pah-men-er´jik) activated or transmitted by dopamine; pertaining to tissues or organs affected by dopamine. do·pa·mi·ner·gic adj. stem cell phenotype, this cell type being deficient in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. All of the cell lines showed good survival four weeks post-implantation into the appropriate regions of the rodent brain. One of the cell lines showed up-regulation of TH-expressing neurons in the graft area, indicating the potential for functional efficacy in a pre-clinical model. These results will be presented at the Keystone Stem Cells stem cells, unspecialized human or animal cells that can produce mature specialized body cells and at the same time replicate themselves. Embryonic stem cells are derived from a blastocyst (the blastula typical of placental mammals; see embryo), which is very young (G4) meeting in Whistler, Canada on 27 March to I April 2006. The company is undertaking further studies with its ReN004 stem cell lines to assess their potential in pre-clinical models of Parkinson's disease, and hopes to report the results of these studies later this year. Commenting on the announcement, Dr John Sinden, chief scientific officer of ReNeuron, said: "We are greatly encouraged by these early results with our ReN004 programme for Parkinson's disease. They again demonstrate the ability of ReNeuron's platform c-mycERTAM technology to generate stable stem cell lines of relevant types with potential to treat a variety of disorders both within and outside the central nervous system." About Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the basal ganglia region of the brain, with tremor, rigidity and difficulty initiating movement being the most common symptoms. The condition is associated with a deficiency of the chemical dopamine dopamine (dōp`əmēn), one of the intermediate substances in the biosynthesis of epinephrine and norepinephrine. See catecholamine. dopamine One of the catecholamines, widely distributed in the central nervous system. in the brain. It is estimated that four million people worldwide have Parkinson's and there is currently no effective cure for the disease. About ReNeuron Group plc ReNeuron is a leading, UK-based adult stem cell Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that divide to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues. Also known as somatic (from Greek Σωματικóς, of the body therapy business. The company is applying its novel stem cell platform technologies in the development of ground-breaking stem cell therapies to serve significant and unmet or poorly-met clinical needs. ReNeuron has used its c-mycERTAM technology to generate genetically stable neural stem cell lines. This technology platform has multi-national patent protection and is fully regulated by means of a chemically-induced safety switch. Cell growth can therefore be completely arrested prior to in vivo implantation. The company's lead stem cell therapy, ReN001 for chronic stroke disability, is in late pre-clinical development. The company plans to file for approval to commence initial clinical trials in stroke later this year, with trials commencing as soon as possible thereafter. The company has also generated pre-clinical efficacy data with its ReN005 stem cell therapy for Huntington's disease, a rare, genetic and fatal neurodegenerative disorder which affects around 1 in 100,000 people. This programme is in pre-clinical development. In addition to its stroke and Huntington's disease programmes, ReNeuron is developing stem cell therapies for Parkinson's disease, Type 1 diabetes type 1 diabetes n. See diabetes mellitus. and diseases of the retina. ReNeuron has also leveraged its stem cell technologies into non-therapeutic areas - its ReNcell range of cell lines for use in drug discovery applications in the pharmaceutical industry. ReNeuron's shares are traded on the London AIM market under the symbol RENE.L, and its warrants are traded under the symbol RENW.L. For more information, visit http://www.reneuron.com or call 212/850 5755. |
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