Regen BioPharma Inc. Licenses Cancer Gene Silencing Technology From Benitec BioPharma
August 08 2013 - 9:47AM
Marketwired
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. (OTCQB: BMSN) announced today that
its wholly owned subsidiary, Regen BioPharma Inc. executed a
license agreement with the clinical stage biotechnology company,
Benitec Biopharma Ltd. (ASX: BLT) for the development of vaccines
using Benitec's ddRNAi gene silencing technology.
Benitec's licence to Regen covers the application of ddRNAi to
silence indoleamine 2,3 -- dioxygenase (IDO) in Dendritic Cells.
IDO is associated with immune-suppression and is over-expressed in
cancer. Regen has produced pre-clinical evidence that modification
of these cells using ddRNAi targeting the silencing of IDO should
significantly enhance their efficacy as anti-cancer vaccine agents.
A peer-reviewed publication describing this work was published in
the February 2013 issue of the International Journal of Cancer
(Zheng et al. Silencing IDO in dendritic cells: a novel approach to
enhance cancer immunotherapy in a murine breast cancer model. Int J
Cancer. 2013 Feb 15;132(4):967-77). While the terms are
commercial-in-confidence, they are within the expected guidelines
for small biotechnology companies in the early stage of therapeutic
development, with fees based on the achievement of agreed
milestones.
Chief Executive Officer of Benitec Biopharma Ltd, Dr. Peter
French, commented, "Benitec is very pleased to have executed this
licensing deal with Regen BioPharma. Using ddRNAi to manipulate
Dendritic Cells to stimulate the immune system to kill cancer cells
is an innovative concept for the treatment of cancer in a non-toxic
manner. Regen joins a growing list of biotechnology companies that
have recognised the advantage of licensing Benitec's
transformational gene silencing technology, ddRNAi, to develop
novel therapies for human disease. For Benitec this provides the
opportunity to generate additional evidence that validates and
reinforces the potential of our platform technology."
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Regen BioPharma, Dr.
David Koos, commented, "Benitec is the leader in clinical
development of ddRNAi, which allows for 'gene-specific surgery.' By
combining our existing data with the issued patents and experience
of Benitec, we look forward to developing an immune-based,
non-toxic, cancer treatment initially targeting breast cancer."
About Regen BioPharma: Regen BioPharma,
Inc., a subsidiary of Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc. (OTCQB:
BMSN), is a biotechnology company focused on identifying
undervalued regenerative medicine applications in the stem cell
space and rapidly advancing these technologies through pre-clinical
and Phase I/II clinical trials. For more information refer to the
company's website http://www.regenbiopharma.com/
About Benitec Biopharma Limited: Benitec
Biopharma Limited is an ASX-listed biotechnology company (ASX: BLT)
based in Sydney, Australia. The company has a pipeline of in-house
and partnered therapeutic programs based on its patented
gene-silencing technology, ddRNAi. Benitec is developing treatments
for chronic and life-threatening human conditions such as hepatitis
C, hepatitis B, wet age-related macular degeneration,
cancer-associated pain, drug resistant lung cancer and
oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy based on this technology. In
addition, Benitec has licensed ddRNAi technology to other
biopharmaceutical companies who are progressing their programs
towards the clinic for applications including HIV/AIDS, retinitis
pigmentosa and Huntington's disease. For more information on
Benitec refer to the Company's website at www.benitec.com.
Disclaimer: This news release may contain
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot
be predicted or quantified. Future events and actual results could
differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or
underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and
uncertainties to which forward looking statements are subject
include, but are not limited to, the effect of government
regulation, competition and other material risks.
Contact: Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc. and Regen
BioPharma Inc. David R. Koos, PhD Chairman & Chief Executive
Officer 619-702-1404 www.regenbiopharma.com