Regen BioPharma Inc. Licenses Cancer Gene Silencing Technology From Benitec BioPharma
Benitec License to Expand the Scope of the Company's Cancer Vaccine Patent Portfolio; Regen Developing Cancer Vaccines Based on Gene Silenced Dendritic Cells; Breast Cancer to Be First Target for Therapy
SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Aug 8, 2013) - 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.
