New data shows stem cell derived exosome platform provides a significant increase in delivery of siRNA compared to a conventional exosome approaches

ReNeuron presented new data on the significant advantages of its stem cell derived exosome platform, CustomEx™, including a 600% increase in delivery of siRNA compared to a conventional HEK exosome approach at the Extracellular Vesicle-Based Therapeutic Development Summit in Boston.

Key highlights from the presentation entitled Targeted Delivery of Therapeutic Payloads Using Engineered Stem Cell Exosome included:

• When comparing the uptake of a panel of exosomes into three different target cell types (Epithelial cells, Endothelial cells and Neural cells), ReNeuron identified one or more CustomEx™ exosome types that outperformed the conventional approach of using human embryonic kidney-derived (HEK) exosomes by a minimum of a 10-fold in each of the three different cell types. This was most pronounced with Endothelial cells where one of ReNeuron’s CustomEx™ exosome types showed an 18-fold improvement in uptake over HEK-derived exosomes.
• When ReNeuron’s exosomes were loaded with an siRNA payload, this improvement in uptake was reflected in the siRNA delivery to the target cell, with the best performing CustomEx™ exosome type showing a 600% improvement in siRNA delivery to the target cell when compared to delivery from a HEK-derived exosomes.

Data was also presented at the conference on the Company’s continued work in delivery of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) through the use of exosomes. Following data presented in October 2021, the Company has now shown in an in-vitro study in retinal ganglion cells a sustained survival rate of these cells when treated with BDNF loaded exosomes compared to unloaded exosomes. BDNF is known to be associated with retinal as well as neurological degenerative processes and this data highlights the further potential of effective delivery of BDNF in this area. Further in-vitro / in-vivo studies assessing the potential of delivery of BDNF via exosomes are ongoing.

Dr Randolph Corteling, Chief Scientific Officer, commented: “This represents a significant advance in the potential use of human stem cell-derived exosomes as delivery vectors for complex drug modalities, with this new data highlighting the significant improvement in uptake and delivery of a payload that can be achieved by customising the exosome type to maximise payload delivery to the desired cell type.

“ReNeuron’s CustomExTM platform is the only platform that offers this ability to customise the exosome cell type for a partners’ need and the payload / target cell of their choice, while offering a scalable and repeatable manufacturing process due to its patented conditional immortalisation technology. This technology was enabled through the Company’s earlier work in producing GMP stem cells approved by the FDA and MHRA for the clinic from which the Company’s exosomes are now produced.

“I am also pleased to see positive data with our BDNF loaded exosomes highlighting the further potential of this programme.”

Catherine Isted, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The key to the challenge of drug delivery is about getting the chosen payload to the target cell of choice. This data clearly shows how our customisable Exosomes platform CustomExTM, is able to be an enabler for this exciting next generation of targeted therapies. Our collaborations with global pharma, biotech and academic partners already use ReNeuron’s exosomes as a delivery vehicle for their therapeutic agents, and this new data will support our efforts to progress and increase the number of our partner programmes, a key aspect of our monetisation strategy.”

Targeted Delivery of Therapeutic Payloads Using Engineered Stem Cell Exosomes

Source – ReNeuron