Business
Novocellus deal
Novocellus deal.
About this update from Cellbxhealth Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n RNS Number : 4370L Angle PLC 12 January 2009 \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor immediate release\n\n\n12 January 2009\n\n\n\n\n\nANGLE plc\n\nNovocellus deal \n\n\nANGLE plc ('ANGLE') is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, Novocellus Limited, a leader in IVF (in vitro fertilisation) has signed Heads of Terms, which remain subject to contract, for MediCult a/s (OSE: MEC), a leader in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) to acquire its patented, non-invasive embryo selection technology, EmbryoSure™. This method is used to choose the most competent embryo for implantation, which is believed to increase the chances of successful pregnancy. It also supports the growing medical and regulatory trend towards single embryo transfer (SET), thereby avoiding the multiple births and other complications often seen with IVF procedures. \n\nUnder the Heads of Terms, MediCult has agreed to fund and manage a 400 patient retrospective trial in two to three UK clinics to statistically validate the extent to which the use of EmbryoSure will increase the chances of successful pregnancy compared to current visual techniques used to select the most viable embryo. Building on the work already undertaken by Novocellus, this trial is expected to take six to twelve months to complete. On successful completion of this trial, MediCult will make milestone payments, in cash or shares at its option, to Novocellus as well as pay royalties on eventual product sales. Milestone payments will depend on the success of the trial and achieving commercial sales of EmbryoSure. MediCult would commercialise EmbryoSure itself and through its partner distribution companies worldwide.\n\nEmbryoSure is based on amino acid profiling, a technology discovered by Professor Henry Leese at the University of York, UK. It involves measuring the turnover of natural amino acids by the embryo, achieved by analysing changes in the amino acid content of the embryo culture medium. Based on clinical trials completed to date, amino acid profiling appears valuable in identifying those embryos most likely to lead to a successful pregnancy suggesting it could lead to a 25% increase in the clinical pregnancy rate. \n...