Regeneus, Cryosite sign stem cell alliance

Regeneus (ASX:RGS) and Cryosite (ASX:CTE) have agreed to collaborate on the development and manufacture of new human stem cell products.

Under the agreement, Regeneus will provide technology, know-how and research facilities to help Cryosite develop methods for expanding cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Cryosite will in turn provide production facilities for Regeneus’s Progenza, an allogenic stem cell product for human arthritis, for pre-clinical and clinical trial purposes. The two companies will also jointly explore new product development opportunities.

According to Cryosite acting CEO Graeme Moore, a tie-up with Regeneus makes sense for both parties. “There are a number of synergies between our two companies that we are focused on bringing to commercial fruition,” he said.

Regeneus CEO Graham Vesey added that the deal will allow the company to fast-track the production of Progenza for trials to allow market entry into Japan.

Regeneus separately announced interim results from a 386-patient trial of osteoarthritis cell therapy HiQCell, showing signs that pain has continued to reduce at two years post-treatment.

Of the 86 patients that are at the one-year post-treatment stage to date, 63% have reported a more than 30% reduction in pain. And of the 17 patients at the two-year follow-up stage, 14 have also reported a 30% reduction, as well as an average overall pain reduction of 84%.

Patients have also reported significant improvements in knee function and sleep quality, and HiQCell has been found to be safe and well tolerated, Regeneus said.

The patients enrolled in the trial will continue to be followed and assessed for joint pain symptoms for up to five years.

Regeneus (ASX:RGS) shares were trading 1.89% lower at $0.26 as of around 1 pm on Friday, while Cryosite (ASX:CTE) shares were unchanged at $0.40.