UK firm to launch pioneering stem cell trial

UK firm to launch pioneering stem cell trial

www.reuters.com

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON (Reuters) - A British biotechnology company, working with a team of doctors in Scotland, is to launch a pioneering clinical trial to assess whether stem cell therapy can help patients left disabled by stroke.

ReNeuron Group Plc said on Sunday it had received approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to commence the clinical trial using its fetal stem cells.

The move is a victory for the company, which has so far failed to win approval for similar tests from U.S. regulators. It also represents a boost for Britain's position as a leader in developing stem cell treatments.

The first patients are expected to be recruited into the Phase I program at the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, in the second quarter of this year.

A total of 12 patients will receive ReNeuron's ReN001 cell therapy between six and 24 months after their stroke.

The hope is that the new cells, which are derived from a cell line originally taken from aborted fetal tissue, will regenerate parts of the brain damaged by stroke.

The potential of different kinds of stem cells -- master cells that can develop into specialized tissue in the body -- is being examined by experts around the world for many diseases.

ReNeuron's procedure involves the direct injection of millions of cells into the affected brain region. The initial tests will look primarily at the safety and feasibility of the treatment, with larger studies planned later if the first phase is successful.

"Stem cell treatment offers the potential to repair brain tissue lost as a result of stroke," principal investigator Keith Muir, a senior lecturer in neurology at the University of Glasgow, said in a statement.

"We are very excited at the opportunity to undertake this, the first clinical trial involving neural stem cell therapy in stroke." About half of all stroke survivors are left with permanent disabilities as a result of brain damage.

ReNeuron Chief Executive Michael Hunt said the clinical trial was the most important milestone in the company's history and the firm is due to announce the news to the London Stock Exchange on Monday morning.

ReNeuron became Europe's first stem cell company to float in 2000, but was taken private in 2003 after a series of clinical setbacks and the bursting of the technology bubble hammered its share price. It relisted in 2005.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Richard Chang)

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I'm going to try and remain neutral on this subject but the reason I post is because I want to know what the ATS-rs think of this. I'm also adding another link to a basic report on the company who will be doing the research. This is simply for people to comment on what they feel, after enough posts I'll reply back, but I really want to see where this one goes. Leave it to the UK to jump on an opportunity us stupid Americans are too scared to embrace

www.reuters.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

go us

if it works as its intended it can do a great deal of good and has multipul uses but we will never know till we try

you guys took the lead after the second world war (well kinda) with technology even though you did steal our super sonic technology and information which suddenly appeared in the x-2 very shortley afterwards, and after seeing our research declined to share your own which was what the deal was (naughty you)

guess we take the lead again and you can play catch up, besides you dont like Darwin you dont deserve to be infront with anything biological related (yes yes gross generalisations but hey its for national pride so ill allow myself the luxury)

It's about damned time SOMEONE did it, is all I can say.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of hearing of babies being born with cancer. No place for that when we have the means to stop it.

reply to post by noobfun


Well I must say I'm glad someone here takes national pride but to call me a creationist by saying, because I'm American I hate Darwin? Thats a little hurtful and uncalled for, but GO YOU

I'm tired of hearing of babies being born with cancer.

I usually get made fun of for being gullible but I'm just going to go ahead say it.

REALLY do you have proof of that or is that just one of those super exaggerated things people say like "I think I have AIDS"?

There is an already existing thread on this topic here.

Please contribute any further questions and/or comments to the above linked thread.

Thank you.

Thread Closed.