ReNeuron Group (Berlin: RQE.BE - news) plc
("ReNeuron" or the "Company")
ReNeuron receives DSMB clearance to progress to higher dose in stem cell clinical trial in stroke patients
First (OTC BB: FSTC.OB - news) patient treated in this higher dose cohort
Guildford, UK, 14 August 2012: ReNeuron Group plc (AIM: RENE) today provides an update on progress with the PISCES clinical trial of its ReN001 stem cell therapy for disabled stroke patients. In this open label, dose-ranging Phase I safety study, taking place in Scotland, ReNeuron's ReN001 stem cell therapy is being administered in ascending doses to a total of 12 stroke patients who have been left disabled by an ischaemic stroke, the most common form of the condition.
The Company is pleased to report that the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for the clinical trial has recommended that the trial advances to the evaluation of a higher dose of ReN001 in the third of four dose cohorts to be treated in the study. In arriving at this recommendation, the DSMB reviewed safety data from the first two dose cohorts of six patients treated with ReN001. Of these patients, two are through 18 month follow-up, one is through 12 month follow-up, one is through 9 month follow-up, one is through 6 month follow-up and one is through three month follow-up. No cell-related adverse events or adverse immune-related responses have been reported in any of the patients treated to date.
The Company is also pleased to report that the first patient in this third dose cohort of three patients has now been successfully treated with ReN001 and discharged from hospital with no acute safety issues arising.
The primary aim of the PISCES study is to test the safety and tolerability of the treatment in ascending doses of the ReN001 cells, in patients with moderate to severe functional neurological impairments resulting from their stroke. The secondary aim of the study is to evaluate efficacy measures for the design of future clinical trials with ReN001, including imaging measures as well as a number of tests of sensory, motor and cognitive functions.
In June of this year, interim data from the PISCES study from the first five patients treated was presented by the Glasgow clinical team at Glasgow at the 10th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) in Yokohama, Japan (EUREX: FMJP.EX - news) . Reductions in neurological impairment and spasticity were observed in all five patients compared with their stable pre-treatment baseline performance and these improvements were sustained in longer term follow-up.
The PISCES study is the world's first fully regulated clinical trial of a neural stem cell therapy for disabled stroke patients. Stroke is the third largest cause of death and the single largest cause of adult disability in the developed world. The trial is being conducted in Scotland at the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board.
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ReNeuron Group plc - Stroke Trial Update