19/02/2001
ReGen Therapeutics Plc announces that Michael Harvey, who joined ReGen Therapeutics Plc, as Managing Director prior to the company’s AIM flotation last March has been today appointed Chief Executive Officer. An MSc in Biochemical Engineering, Mr Harvey joined the company from Medeva Pharma Ltd, a subsidiary of Medeva plc where he had responsibilities for operations and new business development. His thirty years in the pharmaceutical industry has included time with Celltech, Glaxo and The Boots Company.
ReGen Therapeutics Plc also announce that Malcolm Beveridge, one of the founders of the Company, has relinquished his executive function to enable him to focus more time on his law practice. He remains Deputy Chairman.
ReGen’s Chairman, Percy Lomax said
‘ I am pleased to announce the promotion of Michael to Chief Executive Officer as he has played an important role in the Company since its flotation last March. Michael’s new role will enable him to more effectively co-ordinate the Company’s operations.
I am pleased that Malcolm has agreed to remain with the Company as a non-executive director. He has made a considerable contribution to the setting up of ReGen and his on-going services will be valued.’
Notes To Editors
Colostrinin is a proline-rich polypeptide complex isolated from ovine colostrum in 1974 by a group of scientists working in Poland. Colostrum is mammals’ first milk after birth of offspring and has immunomodulatory functions that protect a newborn against a variety of diseases. Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by the accumulation of abnormal protein fibrils, including senile plaques, causing selective neuronal loss in the central nervous system. The primary components of senile plaques are insoluble aggregates of a peptide called amyloid beta. In addition, an abnormal level of iron is witnessed in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients. This is thought to be oxidised in the brain, giving rise to free radicals which then go on to damage cells.
In laboratory trials, Colostrinin has been shown to promote the scavenging of free radicals in brain tissue, induce IFN Gamma which inhibits amyloid beta formation and to promote the differentiation and regeneration of human brain cells. Compared to most other treatments for Alzheimer’s disease which are in most cases known to have significant serious side effects, tests to date indicate only one significant side-effect, insomnia, which can be treated
The current Polish clinical trials, which are being conducted at six centres, have almost completed recruitment. These trials follow five years of initial clinical trials which have shown a good therapeutic effect with a significant percentage of patients treated showing stabilisation, and in some cases improvement, over a period of several years. The clinical trials protocol provides for the data to be reviewed by the Steering Committee after 42 patients have completed three treatment cycles. Following a ruling by the Polish Authorities the initial study is being conducted in double blind placebo format and converting to open label format at the interim stage. The Polish Authorities reasoned that is would be unethical to deprive a substantial group of frail elderly treatment by prescribing a placebo throughout the trial, given the successful treatment history during the initial clinical trials.
The trials are being monitored by Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH & Co.KG, an early pioneer in the research of interferon, and a substantial shareholder in ReGen. The trials, which were registered with the Polish Central Registry for Clinical Trials, in November last year, are being conducted in six clinical centres and involve 90 patients. Interim results of the trial are anticipated in April 2001.
Chairman of ReGen is Percy Lomax who has over 30 years experience in working in, or with the pharmaceutical industry since he joined Glaxo in 1967. Chief scientific Officer, Jerzy Georgiades was a Rockefeller Fellow of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale University School of Medicine.