ReNeuron Group Plc's (LON:RENE) shares rose on Friday after the group revealed its head of research will present exciting early-stage data on the potential use of cell-derived exomes in the treatment of cancer.
Exosomes are nanoparticles secreted from many different types of cells and play a key role in cell-to-cell signalling.
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Early research with ExoPr0 exomes has demonstrated their potential as both a possible therapy and as a drug delivery vehicle.
Dr Randolph Corteling and his team have discovered the ExoPr0 candidate they have identified induces a process called apoptosis in cancer, which simply means cell death. It also appears to arrest cell growth.
Used in tumour models
Using the xenograft tumour models ExoPr0 significantly reduced the mass in a number of different cancers.
When combined with the standard of care for the various growths, the ReNeuron discovery brought about an "additive reduction of tumour volume".
It should be cautioned that this is very early stage work, though nevertheless encouraging.
Corteling will deliver his findings during a podium presentation later Friday at the 2018 International Society of Cell Therapy conference in Montreal, Canada.
"We draw considerable encouragement from these new pre-clinical results and look forward to presenting further progress with the development of ExoPr0 as a potential new and highly novel cancer therapy in the months ahead," he said ahead of the gathering.
In lunchtime trading, ReNeuron shares were 3.2% higher at 62p.
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