Orgenesis And Biosequel Enter Collaboration Agreement For Conducting Clinical Trials For Type 1 Diabetes Treatment In Russia

Orgenesis Inc., a cell therapy and regenerative medicine company with a novel therapeutic technology dedicated to converting a patient's own cells into functioning insulin-producing cells as a treatment for diabetes, announced that it has signed a collaboration agreement with Russian company, Biosequel LLC. The two companies will collaborate on conducting clinical trials in Russia. The collaboration will commence with the opening of the new Yauza Medical Center on Nov. 24, 2015.

“We have searched the world over for a company as progressive and innovative as Orgenesis,” said Dr. Vitaly Shabadash, Biosequel founder and practicing Israeli physician. “Orgenesis is on the cutting edge of medical development in driving the industry towards a practical cure for Type 1 Diabetes and we are honored to work with them in Russia to facilitate the human clinical trials in this country.”

Orgenesis is an innovator in the technology of “cellular trans-differentiation.” This process involves re-programming one adult cell type to function like an adult cell of a different type. Orgenesis is developing Autologous Insulin Producing Cells, which means a type 1 diabetic patient’s own liver cells would be transformed into glucose-responsive insulin-producing liver cells in the hope of freeing the patient from insulin dependence.

“We are pleased that Biosequel has chosen to collaborate with us and make use of the unique research facilities at the new state-of-the-art Yauza Medical Center,” said Vered Caplan, CEO of Orgenesis. “Biosequel has the right people and the resources to take our research to the next stage of clinical development and regulatory approvals.”

About Orgenesis Inc.
Orgenesis is a cell therapy and regenerative medicine company that is committed to developing a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. In pursuit of this goal, the company has developed and patented a novel technology called "cellular trans-differentiation" that turns an insulin-dependent patient's own liver cells into functional insulin producing cells. Orgenesis has proven that, when exposed ex-vivo to certain pancreatic transcription factors and in specific sequence, human adult liver cells can be transformed into fully functional, beta cell-like insulin producing cells (IPCs). After ex-vivo expansion, the IPCs are re-infused via the portal vein of the diabetic patient. In pre-clinical models of Type 1 Diabetes (Non-Obese Diabetic mice), the re-introduced IPCs remain in the liver, effectively respond to glucose challenge and successfully maintain glycemic homeostasis. In the same NOD model, the implanted IPCs were not subject to auto-immune attack or cellular ablation. Orgenesis plans to initiate P1/2 trials in the next 12-18 months. Orgenesis believes that converting the diabetic patient's own tissue into insulin-producing cells has the potential to overcome the significant issues of donor shortage, cost and exposure to chronic immunosuppressive therapy associated with islet cell transplantation. For more information, visit www.orgenesis.com.