Sistemic to Work with TiGenix On Landmark EUR 5.9 Million, FP7 European Project Aiming at Developing an Innovative Rheumatoid Arthritis Cell Therapy Treatment Product

Glasgow, UK, February 7, 2012 / B3C newswire / - Sistemic is delighted to announce that its proprietary technology (SistemQC™) has been chosen to form a key part of the research and production process for a landmark multinational collaborative project led by TiGenix, Belgium and including partners from Spain, France, the Netherlands as well as the UK and Belgium. The project, REGENER-AR, will bring the first stem cell therapy treatment product for rheumatoid arthritis, Cx611, through final research and clinical development.

The proprietary SistemQC™ miRNA-based stem cell characterization and quality control tool-kit will provide important insights into process optimization and QC testing of TiGenix’s pioneering cell therapy product. This work is part of a larger collaborative effort led by TiGenix and funded by a EUR 5.9 million European Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) grant under the topic “Regenerative medicine clinical trials” within the Health theme.

SistemQC™ combines robust miRNA profiling with superior statistical analytics and multi-layered contextual analysis to generate a fingerprint of key miRNAs (kmiR™s). This approach provides a succinct read out on the status of the cells, with the added benefit of being able to interpret the underlying biological effects associated with any change observed. Additionally, the kmiR™ fingerprints can be adapted to a QPCR method for ease of integration into laboratory routine, and provide rapid testing. They can be used as a cell phenotype characterization tool in combination with a qualitative assessment of product cell composition, or to monitor product quality during scale-up and aid the selection of manufacturing process improvements.

Dr Vincent O’Brien, Sistemic’s Chief Science Officer said, “We are honoured to be working with TiGenix and Cellerix, its Spanish subsidiary as well as partners from all over Europe. Sistemic will provide in-depth product characterization data during the clinical trial with Cx611. This will be a critical part of the development and subsequent production process. We look forward to collaborating with all of the consortium members on this important project as we are supportive of the potential of cell therapy products to bring real benefits to those patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.”

The collaborative project, referred to as the REGENER-AR consortium, brings together 10 top-level research institutes, medical entities and biotechnology companies from Spain, France, the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. The consortium has defined a clinical translational project with the aim of developing a broadly available, clinically applicable treatment for rheumatoid arthritis by exploiting human allogeneic mesenchymnal adult stem cells extracted from adipose tissue (eASCs).

Sistemic provides innovative miRNA-based products to the cell therapy, drug development and bioprocessing markets. The company’s pioneering approach enables companies to accelerate drug discovery and development programmes whilst reducing development risk. For further information visit: www.sistemic.co.uk

Sistemic is a registered trademark of Sistemic UK
SistemQC™ and kmiR™ are trademarks of Sistemic UK

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Maximise the potential of your stem cell applications

Meet Sistemic experts at Stem Cell Meeting on the MESA

29 November: Sistemic, UK: Dr Verna McErlane, Director of Commercial Operations, International at Sistemic, is scheduled to give her own special insight into advanced analytical models to support the stem cell therapy industry at this year’s Stem Cell Meeting on the MESA conference. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss miRNA profiling and learn how to maximise the potential of stem cell applications. The 2011 conference will be held in the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California on November 30 and December 1. 

Acknowledged experts in cell characterization, Sistemic has recognized a need in the stem cell industry for improved miRNA profiling methodology. The company’s unique approach to miRNA analysis presents significant benefits to stem cell research by providing the tools needed for accurate and rapid cell characterization and an excellent platform for validation prior to commercialization.

Dr Verna McErlane said: “As members of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, who are co-organisers of this event, we are particularly delighted to be attending this meeting, which we believe is the premier event for those involved in the stem cell industry.”

 Stem Cell Meeting on the MESA is a two-day conference, which is aimed at bringing together the scientific research and business communities. Dr McErlane will be available throughout the two days to discuss your stem cell analysis objectives and how Sistemic can help you meet those objectives more easily. Sistemic looks forward to meeting you there and supporting the event organizers in their goal to facilitate a bridge between academia and industry and further the translation of clinical research.

For further information come along to the meeting or contact Sistemic directly www.sistemic.co.uk

How to progress safe and effective cell therapies for clinical use!

Sistemic to present miRNA-led cell characterisation at Stem Cell Europe

18^th July 2011: Sistemic, UK:  Sistemic believe cell characterisation is an essential element in progressing safe and effective cell therapies for mainstream clinical use.  They offer unique miRNA analytical services that provide reliable and cost-effective, characterisation and QC tools that are applicable to all cell systems. Toward this end, Dr Vincent O’Brien (Chief Scientific Officer) and Dr Verna McErlane (Director of Commercial Operations, International) will present data supporting the utility of miRNA in the provision of superior cell characterisation and QC methods at the forthcoming Stem Cells Europe conference (20-21 July 2011, Edinburgh). 

Dr. Vincent O’Brien will present a poster entitled; ‘A novel microRNA-based stem cell characterisation and monitoring tool’,and Verna McErlane will join: Marilyn Robertson, SSCN; Aidan Courtney, Roslin Cells; Dr. David Hay, Fibromed; and, Michael Leek, Immunosolv, at the Scottish Stem Cell Network (SSCN) Panel showcase, “Progress to Therapy and Market” on Wednesday 20 July at 5pm.

 Sistemic Ltd are a global company offering unique miRNA-based products and services such as SistemQC^TM, designed for the sophisticated molecular characterisation of cells, which combines robust miRNA profiling, statistical analysis and contextual analysis. Further information on all Sistemic’s proprietary services, including; SistemRNA^TM, SistemQC^TM, SistemTOX^TM and SistemKB^TM, can be found at: www.sistemic.co.uk

Please Contact:

Dr Verna McErlane, Director of Commercial Operations,  +44 7855376358