16/06/2004
An in-vivo study* showing that Colostrinin™ (ReGen Therapeutics Plc) exhibits potency as a cognitive enhancer in newly hatched chicks has today been published electronically as an abstract for presentation as a poster at the Federation of European Neurological Societies (FENS) meeting scheduled to take place in Lisbon, Portugal from the 10th to 14th July 2004**.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Stewart head of the Department of Biological Sciences at the Open University, the study’s principal investigator said:
‘We have used young chicks as a model system in which to study the effects of Colostrinin™ on memory formation, together with a single one trial learning paradigm – avoidance of a bitter tasting substance. When administered intracranially and intraperitoneally, Colostrinin™ was shown to have a very strong effect in enhancing memory when compared with control saline injections.
These results may help to explain the clinical benefits seen with Colostrinin™ in clinical studies’.
Percy Lomax Executive Chairman commented: ‘This is another exciting building block in our science programme and we look forward to further developments from our collaboration with the Open University.’
A complete copy of the poster will be added to the ReGen website (www.regentherapeutics.com) when this has been presented at the conference in July.
* This research has been conducted as part of ReGen’s ongoing collaboration with the Department of Biological Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK and has been performed by Professor Michael Stewart and Dr. Duncan Banks.
** The complete abstract can be found at:
http://fensforum.neurosciences.asso.fr/posters/R3/A078_3.html.
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Marshall
Marshall Robinson Roe
0207 960 6007
NOTES TO EDITORS
Background
ReGen’s principal activity is the development of a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and also the development of neutraceutical uses for Colostrinin™.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative and ultimately fatal disease that slowly destroys the brain. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include progressive impairment of cognitive function including memory loss, inability to think abstractly, loss of language function, attention deficit and associated depression, anxiety and agitation. Eventually Alzheimer’s disease sufferers lose the ability to take care of themselves and must be looked after either by family or in residential care homes and hospitals. Ultimately, sufferers become less resistant to infections and other illnesses, which often become the actual cause of death.
In a 30 week clinical study it was shown that:
• Approximately 40% of patients on Colostrinin™ were stabilised or improved after 15 weeks of therapy, based on an Analysis of Overall Response
• 33% of patients continued to show stabilisation or improvement after 30 weeks of treatment, although levels of benefit were slightly higher at the 15-week stage of the trial
• Efficacy demonstrated in both mild and moderate symptom groups, with greatest effects seen in earlier stages of the disease
• No drug-related Serious Adverse Events or safety concerns were observed during the trial
The Company is now continuing its Colostrinin™ development programme, in preparation for the next stage of clinical testing. The programme will now also include an investigation into whether the beneficial effects of the product can be further enhanced by varying the dosing