Professor Sir Chris Evans’ ReNeuron presents new data showing how its stem cells work to repair brain damage. 12/07/10

Guildford, UK, 12 July 2010: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) today announces important new data regarding the mechanisms of action of its lead CTX stem cell line in pre-clinical models of brain damage. The results of these studies will be presented in two posters1 at the UK National Stem Cell Network Annual Scientific Conference, taking place on 12 – 14 July, 2010 at the University of Nottingham, East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, UK. In one series of studies, the angiogenic potential of the CTX stem cell line was tested, both in vitro and in rodent models of stroke damage. Angiogenesis is a multiple-step process whereby new blood vessels develop from pre-existing vasculature, potentially contributing to the functional recovery of the brain from damage such as that caused by ischaemic stroke. The results of these studies showed that the CTX cells express several trophic and pro-angiogenic factors in culture and also induce endothelial cell markers associated with blood vessel formation in the host at both 72 hours and 7 days post-implantation of the cells into the brain. Taken together, these results suggest that the CTX cells may play a role in promoting the functional recovery of stroke patients through up-regulation of angiogenesis in the region of ischaemic brain damage. In a series of further studies, the CTX cells were seen to inhibit T cell activation. This immunosuppressive activity was in part attributed to the up-regulation of the ligand CD274, a regulator of T cell function. T cells are a type of white blood cell associated with the mediation of immune responses in the body. These results suggest that the CTX cells may act to suppress the inflammatory response associated with brain damage, thereby aiding the natural healing processes in the brain. This anti-inflammatory characteristic opens up a number of exciting new potential applications for the CTX cell line as a cell-based therapy for certain inflammatory diseases both within and beyond the brain. ReNeuron recently announced the commencement of a UK Phase I clinical trial of its lead ReN001 stem cell therapy for disabled stroke patients. The ReN001 therapy represents the initial therapeutic application of the Company’s CTX stem cell line. Due in part to the anti-inflammatory properties of the CTX cells, patients in this clinical trial will not require immunosuppressive drug treatments alongside their cell therapy. Further information concerning the conference can be found at: www.uknscn.org/meetings/meetings10.html.John Sinden, Chief Scientific Officer of ReNeuron, said:“We are excited by the results of these new pre-clinical studies. They build on previously presented research findings regarding the way in which our CTX cell line may effect repair in the brain, and suggest that a number of repair mechanisms may be at work, post-implantation of the cells. These latest findings further illustrate and potentially explain the potency of the CTX cells in assisting the body’s own repair mechanisms in vascular conditions such as stroke and peripheral arterial disease, and suggest the potential utility of the cells to treat a much wider range of inflammatory diseases.”1. Human neural stem cells promote angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo following intracerebral implantation Hicks C, Stevenato L, Richardson S, Stroemer P, Corteling R, Miljan E, Sinden J. Involvement of CD274 in neural stem cell line mediated suppression of T cell activation Corteling R, Stevenato L, Hicks C, Miljan E, Sinden J.