Lineage Cell Therapeutics Presents Encouraging Data on Vision Restoration Program at Society for Neuroscience’s 49th Annual Scientific Meeting

The preclinical data presented provided evidence that retinal tissue produced in Lineage’s laboratory from a human pluripotent stem cell line was able to engraft tumor-free in rat models used to study severe retinal degeneration, survived for six months or longer in the subretinal space, and importantly, showed evidence of functional improvement. Moreover, the implanted retinal tissue produced many photoreceptors carrying mature markers including rhodopsin, established close contact with the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer, and developed many synaptic boutons reaching the inner nuclear layers and ganglion cell layer. Rhodopsin is a biological pigment found in the rods of the retina and is extremely sensitive to light, thus enabling vision in low-light conditions. Synaptic boutons are typically the sites where synapses with other neurons are found, and neurotransmitters are stored here to communicate with other neurons. This work was done in collaboration with the University of California, Irvine (Magdalene J. Seiler, Ph.D., co-PI).

The Vision Restoration Program is a collaborative effort led by Lineage’s Principal Investigator Igor O. Nasonkin Ph.D., Director of Research & Development, with Simon Petersen-Jones, DVET MED, PHD, DECVO, Professor and Donald R. Meyers and William E. Dunlap Endowed Chair in Canine Health at Michigan State University, and Magdalene J. Seiler, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine. The Vision Restoration Program is distinct from OpRegen^®, the Company’s clinical-stage cell therapy program which features the sub-retinal delivery of retinal pigment epithelium cells for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry-AMD).

Guided by its mission and its values, the vision of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is to advance breakthrough discoveries in neuroscience and promote innovative translation of scientific advances to improve the health of people everywhere. The SfN’s 49^th annual meeting is the premier venue for neuroscientists to present emerging science, learn from experts, forge collaborations with peers, explore new tools and technologies, and advance careers. For more information, please visit https://www.sfn.org/Meetings/Neuroscience-2019 or follow the SfN on Twitter @SfNtweets.

About Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

Lineage Cell Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel cell therapies for unmet medical needs. Lineage’s programs are based on its proprietary cell-based therapy platform and associated development and manufacturing capabilities. With this platform Lineage develops and manufactures specialized, terminally-differentiated human cells from its pluripotent and progenitor cell starting materials. These differentiated cells are developed either to replace or support cells that are dysfunctional or absent due to degenerative disease or traumatic injury or administered as a means of helping the body mount an effective immune response to cancer. Lineage’s clinical assets include (i) OpRegen^®, a retinal pigment epithelium transplant therapy in Phase I/IIa development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in the developed world; (ii) OPC1, an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell therapy in Phase I/IIa development for the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries; and (iii) VAC2, an allogeneic cancer immunotherapy of antigen-presenting dendritic cells currently in Phase I development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Lineage is also evaluating potential partnership opportunities for Renevia^®, a facial aesthetics product that was recently granted a Conformité Européenne (CE) Mark. For more information, please visit www.lineagecell.com or follow the Company on Twitter @LineageCell.

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