Professor Sir Chris Evans’ Lab21 achieves first product registration in China

Cambridge, UK – 1st June 2010 - Lab21 Limited, the healthcare diagnostics company, is pleased to announce that it has achieved its first product registration in the People’s Republic of China, thereby further extending the number of territories in which its market leading range of diagnostic and blood-banking products are available.
The first Lab21 product registered in China is a TPHA assay used in syphilis screening.
Graham Mullis, Lab21’s CEO, stated: “Lab21 will now supply its TPHA product via its distribution partner into China, one of the currently fastest growing in-vitro diagnostic markets. The Chinese IVD market has a value in the region of US$1.5bn and is the world’s seventh largest, expanding at 15% annually. Our TPHA assay is already the leading syphilis assay in a number of key blood screening markets and we are delighted to make it available in another key region.”
Hayden Jeffreys, Divisional Director for Diagnostic Products at Lab21, added: “We are delighted to be able to expand our product coverage into this geographical region and we anticipate that this will be the first of a number of our products to be registered in the Chinese market, planned over the next 18 months.”

Professor Sir Chris Evans’ Lab21 and Virco partner to offer UK-based HIV-1 genotyping services

Cambridge, UK – 24th May 2010: Lab21 Limited, the Cambridge-based specialist in personalised medicine testing, has announced that it has reached agreement with Virco BVBA to distribute Virco’s virco®TYPE HIV-1 drug-resistance genotyping services for the UK and Ireland.
Lab21 will now provide the genotyping services to the UK and Ireland market directly from its own UK laboratory in Cambridge using Virco protocols whilst virtual phenotyping will continue to be provided by Virco BVBA via Lab21 as a distributor. This new arrangement between Lab21 and Virco followed the acquisition of Delphic Diagnostics by Lab21 in December 2009.
Dr Berwyn Clarke, Chief Scientific Officer at Lab21, commented: “Lab21 was originally founded on the basis of personalised medicine in the antiviral area. We are therefore delighted to be working closely with a partner with a similar background. We plan to expand our antiviral resistance services into other viral systems including HCV and HBV with further service launches in 2010.”
Mike Annable, Divisional Director for Clinical Services at Lab21, added: “We are delighted to be part of this collaboration as it will provide substantial improvements in the efficiency of delivery of resistance analysis to HIV patients in the UK and Ireland. We also hope to explore future technology opportunities with our new partner and others to seek new solutions for HIV and other diseases.”

Professor Sir Chris Evans’ ReNeuron cited as a regenerative medicine leader in UK Government's . 22/03/10

Guildford, UK, 22 March 2010: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) is pleased to learn that it has been cited as a UK-based world leader in regenerative medicine in a new publication by the UK Government. The “Best of British” publication, produced by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), showcases in a series of sector case studies the business sectors in which the UK leads on innovation, enterprise and technology. These are the sectors from which future UK economic growth and jobs are expected to be generated and include life sciences, digital communications and renewable energy, among others. Within life sciences, the case study refers to the importance of regenerative medicine and the UK’s pre-eminence in this field, giving the example of ReNeuron and its recently approved first-in-man clinical trial in the UK with ReN001, the Company’s stem cell therapy for disabled stroke patients. This trial, the world’s first of its kind using expanded neural stem cells in this indication, is due to commence shortly and will be conducted through the NHS system at a leading stroke treatment centre in Glasgow, Scotland.The “Best of British” publication forms part of an update given by the Government regarding its strategy to support the development of key new industries in the UK. The publication is available on the BIS website at www.bis.gov.uk. Michael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer of ReNeuron, said:“We are delighted to learn that the potential of our ground-breaking stem cell programmes has been recognised by the UK Government in this way. We are proud to be pioneering the translation of exciting stem cell science into clinical-stage therapeutics as a UK-based business, in collaboration with a number of leading UK academic institutions, hospitals and commercial organisations.”

Professor Sir Chris Evans’ ReNeuron signs further stem cell manufacturing contracts with Angel Biotechnology for stroke clinical trial. 18/03/

Guildford, UK, 18 March 2010: ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) today announces that it has signed two further clinical-grade stem cell manufacturing contracts with Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc ("Angel"), in support of ReNeuron’s recently approved first-in-man clinical trial with its ReN001 stem cell therapy for stroke patients. Under these contracts, Angel will manufacture further drug substance lots of ReN001 for administration to patients in the trial, along with the provision of manufacturing process validation services. The cost of the drug product manufacture is being met by a recently-awarded grant from the UK Government's Technology Strategy Board, under its Regenerative Medicine Programme.The "PISCES" clinical trial (Pilot Investigation of Stem Cells in Stroke) will take place through the NHS at the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board. In this ground-breaking Phase I trial, the world’s first using expanded neural stem cells in this indication, ReNeuron’s ReN001 stem cell therapy will be administered to stroke patients who have been left disabled by an ischaemic stroke, the most common form of the condition. The trial is designed primarily to test the safety profile of ReN001 in ischaemic stroke patients at a range of cell doses, but a number of efficacy measures will also be evaluated over the course of the trial.Michael Hunt, Chief Executive Officer of ReNeuron, said:"We are pleased to continue to work with Angel as our chosen contract manufacturing partner for the PISCES clinical trial for ReN001 in stroke. Angel has consistently demonstrated its strong expertise in the field of regulatory-compliant cell manufacture, meeting ReNeuron’s needs for this important first-in-man study."
Notes to editors
About Angel Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc is a biomanufacturing company offering process development services, GMP manufacturing for advanced biologics and regulatory support including preparation of dossiers for regulatory submissions. Angel has a global business supporting biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Angel's principal activity is the manufacture and supply of materials for use in early stage drug development and pre-clinical studies, along with drug product and CMC documentation for Phases I, II and III clinical trials and the manufacture of licensed drugs or vaccines. Angel specialises in the provision of advanced biologics including autologous and allogeneic cell therapy products including stem cells and cellular vaccines, specific purified natural and recombinant proteins and bacteriophage. Angel is managed by a team with wide-ranging experience in biopharmaceutical manufacture, gained in companies such as Glaxo, Johnson and Johnson, Serologicals Inc., PPL Therapeutics and Intercell Ag.Angel was admitted to trading on AIM in November 2005. More information about the company can be found at www.angelbio.com.About ReNeuronReNeuron 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 has regulatory approval for a Phase I clinical trial in the UK with its lead ReN001 stem cell therapy for disabled stroke patients. Patient recruitment for this trial is expected to commence shortly. The Company is also 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 ReNcellCX and ReNcellVM 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.This announcement contains forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business achievements/performance of ReNeuron and certain of the plans and objectives of management of ReNeuron with respect thereto. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as "should", "expects", "estimates", "believes" or similar expressions. This announcement also contains forward-looking statements attributed to certain third parties relating to their estimates regarding the growth of markets and demand for products. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect ReNeuron's current expectations and assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of factors could cause ReNeuron's actual financial condition, results of operations and business achievements/performance to differ materially from the estimates made or implied in such forward-looking statements and, accordingly, reliance should not be placed on such statements.

Brief Overview Of Excalibur

Excalibur Fund Managers Limited is a venture capital firm specializing in early, mid, and late stage investments. It seeks to invest in medical sciences, biotechnology, and life sciences sector. The firm prefers to invest in companies that bring human medicines or medical devices to the market. It prefers to invest in European companies. The firm prefers to be an active investor and seeks to take a seat on the board of directors of its portfolio companies. It was formerly known as Merlin Biosciences Limited. Excalibur Fund Managers Limited was founded in 1996 and is based in London, United Kingdom with an additional office in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Another interesting Piece

The Bellow Article is from the following site
http://www.charteredscientist.org/about/profiles/christopher-evans.html

Professor Sir Christopher Evans OBE
CSci CChem FRSC

Christopher EvansSir Chris Evans is regarded as one of Europe’s leading biotechnology entrepreneurs with a proven track record of establishing successful, high quality science companies. In 1996 Sir Christopher founded Merlin Biosciences – currently one of the largest specialist biomedical venture capital and advisory firms in Europe.

Sir Christopher’s first degree, a BSc in Microbiology from Imperial College, was followed by a PhD in Biochemistry and Research Fellowships in Molecular Biology. He has held senior research scientist positions with a number of North American bioscience companies. In 2005 he created the Stem Cell Foundation.

Prof Evans says “I become a member of professional bodies usually because I’m asked to lend my name and reputation to support a body that stands for something important. So I only become a member of something if I think it is a worthwhile institution doing good for others even if it does little for me personally. Various people asked me to become a CSci as I obviously represent a lot of British science when I go about my daily business, which is investing in medical science. I know many Chartered Scientists, and CSci is a useful badge of quality amongst the thousands of scientists I come across each year in the biomedical sector. I feel CSci is particularly relevant to my work area because, as Chairman of one of Europe’s largest biomedical investors I am responsible for picking high quality (albeit risky) projects to back and nurture to develop commercially useful products.”

“The most fulfilling part of my job is when we get things spot on! When our money and management input helps build a significant new scientific enterprise that succeeds with its products and so improves the quality of human life. As a consequence we are then able to make useful capital returns for our investors. Scientific issues of most concern to me are those surrounding new medical breakthroughs such as stem cells and gene medicines. Too much regulation and too many short-sighted naysayers get involved to curb the pace of responsible development of such areas. I’ve always adopted the often controversial approach of sticking my head out of the trench on such issues and getting on with what needs to be done – often with considerable opposition”.

EXCALIBUR MOVES

Excalibur Group the leading medical sciences investment boutique headed by Sir C etc has moved up market to new premises in the prestigious beautifully refurbished Berkeley Square House in Berkeley Sq . Sir C stated " we've been planning to move for quite some time as we require more meeting room facilities of a higher quality and a more convenient location. We get all of this and more at Berkeley Square House and i also get to keep an eye on the guys next door with the Bentleys ! ".

Move to:-

Berkeley Square House

Berkeley Square

Mayfair

London W1J 6BD