Regenerative Medicine

Researchers from the UK and Canada have reported a method for reprogramming human skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells without the use of viral vectors.

Stem Cell Sciences Plc, a UK stem-cell engineering company that has been seeking a buyer for some months, has agreed to sell its operating assets and substantially all of its intellectual property to StemCells Inc of the US in a share and debt transaction valued at $4.85 million.

Epistem Plc, a UK-listed biotechnology company, has signed a multi-million dollar research and development agreement with Novartis to identify new drug targets and therapeutics across a range of disease areas.

ReNeuron Group Plc has received approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to conduct a first-in-man trial of a stem cell therapy to treat stroke.

Cardio3 BioSciences SA, a privately-owned Belgian company, has raised €13.7 million to finance the clinical development of its second-generation cell therapy for the treatment of heart failure, C-Cure.

Intercytex Group Plc has announced the all-share acquisition of Axordia Ltd, a privately-held UK stem cell company, for £1.68 million. Announced on 22 December 2008, the deal will expand Intercytex’s regenerative medicines’ business into stem cell therapies in addition to its focus on tissue repair.

A long-standing collaboration among Cellartis AB, the Hagedorn Research Institute of Novo Nordisk, and Professor Henrik Semb of Lund University into diabetes has been upgraded with a view to developing a new cell therapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

The UK regenerative medicine company, Intercytex Group Plc, is moving forward with a pivotal Phase 3 trial of its lead product for chronic wounds and anticipates filing a biologic licence application for the product with the US Food and Drug Administration in the second half of 2009.

ReNeuron Group Plc has asked for clearance from the UK regulator to test its stem-cell therapy for stroke in man for the first time, having failed thus far to get permission for a human study from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Shares of ReNeuron Group Plc fell 2.25 pence or 16.4% to 11.50 pence on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) following the company’s disclosure that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has once again delayed its Phase 1 clinical study of its stem-cell therapy for patients with stroke, ReN001.