Clinical Trial Progress at Annual General Meeting
Living Cell Technologies Updates Shareholders on Clinical Trial Progress at Annual General Meeting
November 27, 2007 – Melbourne, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX:LCT; OTC: LVCLY.PK) today updated shareholders at its Annual General Meeting on the Company’s Russian clinical trial, the status of its New Zealand clinical trial and commercialisation plans.
Professor Bob Elliot, Medical Director of LCT, announced that a third patient in the Russian Clinical Trial was implanted with the first dose of DiabeCell® and is due for a second dose in six months. DiabeCell® is administered to patients without the need for immunosuppressant drugs.
The first patient implanted with DiabeCell® in June 2007 has maintained a 40% reduction in his insulin requirement at five months followup. This patient is due for a second dose of DiabeCell® in December.
The second patient having received only the first dose of DiabeCell® in September 2007 remains insulin independent at two months follow up.
Professor Elliott stated, ‘ We are very encouraged by the positive preliminary data from the first two patients in the Russian trial and look forward to providing more detailed updates on all three patients by the end of first quarter 2008.'
Dr Paul Tan, CEO of Living Cell Technologies said, ‘ LCT’s most important milestone for 2008 is to complete the Phase I/IIa clinical trial in Russia. Additionally we look forward to receiving endorsement of our ethics and regulatory approval by the new Health Minister which will enable the New Zealand clinical trial to commence.’
The Company emphasised that while the results to date are preliminary and need to be seen in the context of full clinical trial data, a continuation of the better than expected clinical response is a positive step in the Company’s path towards commercialisation. Accordingly other major milestones over the next 12 months include upscaling the production capabilities and expansion of LCT’s unique pig herd.
ENDS