Ed. Note:  The following is a press release from Aegera Therapeutics.

MONTREAL, Oct. 31- Aegera Therapeutics Inc. is pleased to announce the publication of Dr. Freda Miller's second paper on the origin and function of SKin-derived Precursor (SKPs), a novel source of multipotent adult stem cells, in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Cell Biology.

Dr. Freda Miller, Aegera founder and now a senior scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) in Toronto, describes how endogenous SKPs are established in skin during embryogenesis and persist into adulthood. These SKPs are maintained in a precursor state within a niche such as in the root of hair and whisker follicles.

In addition, Aegera is pleased to announce the issuance of its first US stem cell patent number 6,787,355, entitled "Multipotent Neural Stem Cells from Peripheral Tissues and Uses Thereof". This patent covers the method of producing SKPs from a population of cells. Additional patent applications on and around the SKP technology are pending.

Previously sub-licensed in January 2001, the SKP technology and all original and developed intellectual property rights reverted back to Aegera in 2003. Aegera has entered into an agreement to combine its original intellectual property portfolio related to the SKPs with the intellectual portfolio now being developed by Sick Kids. Aegera and Sick Kids are jointly searching for corporate partners to move this technology forward.

Dr. Freda Miller stated, "Over the past year, we have continued to aggressively progress towards our goal of discovery tools, and one day cell- based therapies, for a multitude of disease areas. Our SKPs represent an endogenous embryonic precursor cell that arises in peripheral tissues during development and that are able to maintain multipotency into adulthood. These recent findings confirm and strengthen our first SKP paper, which described the human skin as a new and viable source of adult stem cells."

"Aegera will act as the commercial lead in any initiative," commented Mr. Michael Atkin, Aegera's President and CEO, "We will look to find suitable partners who will be able to commit to this program and maximize the value of this exciting opportunity to both Aegera and Sick Kids."

About Aegera

Aegera Therapeutics Inc. is a private North American biotechnology company focused on exploiting apoptosis control to extend and enhance the lives of cancer patients: killing cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and rescuing nerve cells from apoptotic cell death caused by chemotherapy. Aegera's lead oncology product is a XIAP antisense therapeutic, AEG35156, developed in collaboration with Hybridon, Inc. Aegera's second oncology program is being developed to alleviate the disabling chemotherapy side-effect of peripheral neuropathy, and a lead product is scheduled to enter clinical trials by year end 2005. With the support of its strong intellectual property position, Aegera is committed to discovering and developing new apoptosis control drugs. For more information, please visit Aegera's website at http://www.aegera.com/ .


 

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