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Sernova Files Worldwide Patent Application for Innovative Component of Diabetes Cell Therapy
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Kelowna, British Columbia -- Sernova Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SVA), a company focused on a novel treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes using its Sertolin cell technology, is pleased to announce it has filed a patent application for the therapeutic use of adult Sertoli cells. Compared to the standard juvenile cells, adult Sertoli cells have enhanced protective properties that are particularly effective at protecting co-transplanted cells from being destroyed by the body's immune system.
Sernova has demonstrated that adult Sertoli cells protect insulin-producing islet cells in animal xenotransplants (pig cells implanted into rats), whereas xenotransplants using only islets are destroyed by the immune system within 7 days. Using the Company's Sertolin technology containing adult Sertoli cells, implants have been shown to produce insulin and decrease insulin-dependence for up to 100 days in diabetic rats.
The patent application complements Sernova's existing portfolio of over 20 patents and several additional patent applications related to the use of Sertoli cells for therapeutic purposes and gene therapy. The application was filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and extends Sernova's previously filed U.S. provisional application to most countries, including all important industrialized markets.
About Sernova
Sernova Corp. is a Canadian-based, health-sciences company focused on commercializing medical technologies and is currently working on a novel treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes using its patented Sertolin cell technology. According to the American Diabetes Association approximately 9 million Americans require insulin injections and it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. One out every 8 dollars spent on health care in the United States is spent on treating diabetes and its complications. Worldwide expenditures on insulin alone are estimated to be $25 billion annually.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
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