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New NZ Pig Breeding Facility for Clinical Trials
Living Cell Technologies Limited
Company Announcement:
Living Cell Technologies Opens New Pig Breeding Facility for New Zealand Diabetes Clinical Trial
LCT’s Auckland Island pig
2 July 2009: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand– Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) announced that its new designated pathogen free pig breeding facility in Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand was formally opened by the Mayor of Invercargill, Mr. Tim Shadbolt.
The facility is designed to meet health regulations for pig herds used as a source of medical grade tissues. The state-of-the-art unit is expected to be commissioned and the pigs transferred in the next few weeks.
Professor Bob Elliott, LCT Founder and Medical Director said, “LCT’s pigs originate from the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands and are disease free. The new unit ensures that they remain free of viruses, bacteria and parasites.”
LCT CEO Dr Paul Tan said: “There are separate maternity and holding units. This upgrades and expands our pig facility to accommodate a sufficient number of pigs to support clinical trials in New Zealand and internationally over the next two years.”
On 19 June 2009 LCT announced that the New Zealand government had finalised conditions for the diabetes clinical trial that is expected to start within two months.
DIABECELL® is designed to normalize blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes sufferers. DIABECELL® comprises encapsulated porcine insulin-producing cells which can be administered without the need to use immunosuppressive drugs.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's own immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (called beta cells). Five to 10 percent of the more than 200 million diabetics worldwide have insulin dependent type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is associated with kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, life-threatening cardiovascular disease and limb amputations. Current treatment options include multiple daily injections of insulin.
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