ReNeuron unveils more encouraging data on stem cell line

ReNeuron (LON:RENE) this morning unveiled encouraging pre-clinical data on its CTX neural stem cell line in stroke which is to be included in the scientific journal Stem Cell.

The study was carried out by Dr Mike Modo and his team at King’s College, London, and the stem cell line was tested on rodents.

Researchers recorded up to 83 per cent recovery in sensorimotor function for those animals receiving the stem cell treatment where damage was confined to the striatal region of the brain.

Implantation of the CTX cells also restored collagen IV expression to almost control levels.

This indicates the restoration of damaged blood vessels and the formation of new blood vessels in the damaged striatal region of the brain, via the process of angiogenesis.

ReNeuron's ReN001 stem cell therapy is currently being used to treat disabled stroke patients as part of the ground-breaking PISCES Study being carried out in Scotland.

The first patient has been treated for more than 12 months with no adverse cell-related side-effects.

In all, 12 stroke sufferers will be given varying doses ReN001 stem as part of this early-stage trial being carried out by the Institute of Neurological Sciences. 

ReNeuron said the latest findings will provide valuable information to assist the development of ReN001 both in terms of the size and location of stroke lesion targeted and the best method of administering the CTX cells.

Dr John Sinden, the company’s chief scientific officer, said: "We are delighted to see the results of this important and confirmatory pre-clinical efficacy study with ReNeuron's CTX stem cell line accepted for publication.  

“The degree of recovery of motor function seen in this study is striking.  The results build on earlier published data using the CTX cell line in models of stroke disability and confirm the strength of ReNeuron's position in the development of cell-based treatments for eligible stroke patients disabled by ischaemic stroke, a patient population who currently have no treatments available to them. 

“The data from this study also fully validate the clinical approach adopted in the ongoing PISCES clinical trial with our ReN001 stem cell therapy for disabled ischaemic stroke patients."

The ReN001 therapy is based around ReNeuron’s lead neural stem cell line, designated CTX by virtue of its origin from the cortex region of the brain. 

The firm’s other stem cell therapies include ReN009, targeted at peripheral arterial disease , and ReN003, its therapy programme focused on diseases of the retina.

PAD is a chronic, debilitating disease that progressively restricts blood flow in the limbs, causing cramping and chronic pain, and in rare cases it can lead to the loss of a limb. 

During the past year, ReNeuron’s collaborators on its ReN009 programme at the Bristol Heart Institute have presentedpositive pre-clinical efficacy data.

It is continuing to collaborate with the Schepens Eye Research Institute at Havard Medical School on its ReN003 programme.