Diabetes Transplant Success In World-First Trial

Patient

Melbourne, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand:

Diabetes Patient Successfully Transplanted in World-first DiabeCell Trial

Key Points:

* First type I diabetes patient was successfully dosed with DiabeCell (R) pig cell implant

* DiabeCell therapy is aimed at controlling the dangerous blood glucose levels and long-term secondary complications affecting people with type I diabetes

* LCT is conducting the clinical trial according to stringent international regulatory guidelines

Living Cell Technologies Ltd (ASX:LCT) is pleased to announce it has successfully transplanted the first of six type I (insulin dependent) diabetic patients in a world-first Phase I/IIa clinical trial under current regulatory standards, using its DiabeCell  pig islet cell transplant.

Patients in the Phase I/II trial will receive two low doses of the pig islet cells (DiabeCell) every 6 months over a 12 month period, followed by a further 12 month study addressing the level of its therapeutic effect.  In LCT's dose ranging clinical program for DiabeCell, recipients in this first trial are given the lowest clinically effective dose to demonstrate safety.  The dosing is repeated for additional clinical benefit.

The company hopes to commercialise the product for general use by 2012.

"DiabeCell has the potential to provide a very important new treatment for insulin-dependent diabetics, providing a better control of dangerous blood glucose levels and long-term secondary complications.  If the trial is successful, a major stride in developing a better treatment for diabetes will have been accomplished," commented Professor Bob Elliott, LCT's Medical Director.

DiabeCell is a pig pancreatic islet cell product that secretes insulin in response to the patient's blood glucose levels. People with type I diabetes are not able to produce their own insulin because their pancreas cells are not functioning.  DiabeCell has been uniquely developed with a gel that forms a tiny capsule around the cells and prevents the patient's immune system from destroying the transplant.

"This transplant launches LCT's lead product into the clinic and moves the Company into a phase for growth in the value of our business," said Dr Paul Tan, LCT CEO.

The trial is being held at the prestigious Sklifasovsky Institute in Moscow, which has extensive experience in organ transplantation and xenotransplantation.  Boston-based GenyResearch Group acts as the project manager to ensure all elements of the trial adhere to international regulatory standards.

The company has been developing the necessary components to obtain regulatory approval for over a decade, with LCT now the only company with the current capabilities of owning a bio-certified pig herd for supply of the cells, a GMP manufacturing unit to prepare the treatment and a specialised monitoring laboratory for assessing transplant recipients.  The company also holds a strong patent portfolio in markets where DiabeCell will be commercialised.

Under the agreement, LCT will supply the cells and retain all IP and commercial rights to the product. The Russian partners will cover all costs of conducting the trial.

ENDS

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