Latest news

LCT's Quarterly Newsletter

27 July, 2010 - - - LCT's July 2010 Newsletter

LCT Presentation at American Diabetes Association

28 June, 2010 - Confirms DIABECELL initial Phase I/IIa trial objectives met LCT today announced that its DIABECELL^® Phase I/IIa clinical data was presented at the 70^th Scientific Session of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) on June 27 in Orlando, Florida by Professor Boris Draznin, Director, Adult Diabetes Program, University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine. 

LCT works with NZ Government on Animal Derived Biologics

10 June, 2010 - LCT works with NZ Government on Animal Derived Biologics 10 June 2010: Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand - Cell implant company Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced it has started working from this week on an animal-derived therapeutics project with the New Zealand government\\\'s investment promotion agency, Investment New Zealand (a division of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise).
 

LCTs' Paper Selected for "Best Publications of 2009" by Journal of Neural Engineering

13 April, 2010 - - Living Cell Technologies Limited

Company Announcement

Living Cell Technologies' Paper Selected for "Best Publications of 2009" by Journal of Neural Engineering

13 April 2010: Sydney, Australia & Auckland, New Zealand. Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY), a global company pioneering the development of cell implants, is pleased to announce that its publication on the use of encapsulated choroid plexus cells has been highlighted as one of the best articles published by the Journal of Neural Engineering in 2009. It is included in a collection that the publisher has made accessible free to read until 31 December 2010 at http://herald.iop.org/jnehighlights/m320/zea/319831/link/3322.

LCT Phase II Diabetes Trial Success: Approval to Progress

30 March, 2010 - - Living Cell Technologies Limited
Company Announcement

LCT Phase II Diabetes Trial Success:  Approval to Progress

• Positive Assessment from NZ Data Safety Monitoring Board and Approval to Progress to next stage of Phase II Diabetes trial with higher dose
• Encouraging data from first four patients on DIABECELL^® including elimination of hypoglycaemic unawareness in the first patient treated with no need for immunosuppressant drugs

30 March 2010: Sydney, Australia & Auckland, New Zealand. Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY), a global company pioneering the development of a cell implant to treat diabetes, today announced that it has received approval to advance to the next phase of its New Zealand Phase II human clinical trial with its groundbreaking DIABECELL®. The approval follows a positive assessment from the New Zealand Data Safety and Monitoring Board of the first four patients to receive its DIABACELL® implants.

LCT is holding an investor meeting in Auckland on Thursday, 8 April

12 March, 2010 - - LCT is holding an investor meeting in Auckland on Thursday, 8 April.  If any shareholders are in Auckland at that time and would like to attend, please RSVP to Helen Cherry info@lctglobal.com or 09 270 7943, by Monday, 22^nd March 2010.

LIVING CELL TECHNOLOGIES LTD

INVESTOR MEETING

Chairman Dr David Brookes invites you to cocktails to meet Directors and discuss the company's progress.

LCT LTD half yearly report period ended 31 December 2009

25 February, 2010 - - Living Cell Technologies Limited

COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT

Living Cell Technologies half yearly report period ended 31 December 2009
25 February 2010 - Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced the half yearly report for the six months ended 31 December 2009.  The report is attached.

LCT Receives 10% of US Based Wound Healing Company in Supply and Licence Agreement

10 February, 2010 - - Living Cell Technologies Limited

Company Announcement

Living Cell Technologies Receives 10% of US Based Wound Healing Company in Supply and Licence Agreement

9 February 2010: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand - Cell implant company Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced that it has received 10% ownership of CytoSolv Inc. in exchange for restricted supply of choroid plexus cell clusters from its designated pathogen free pig herd and granting CytoSolv a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use its broad choroid plexus patents solely for the purpose of wound healing.

LCT Granted European Patent for Neurological Disease Product NTCELL

20 January, 2010 - - Living Cell Technologies Granted European Patent for Neurological Disease Product NTCELL

• NTCELL targets neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Huntington's disease and Stroke
• Patent based on technology of implanting encapsulated porcine choroid plexus cells
• Journal of Neural Engineering publishes LCT's latest data on therapeutic benefit of choroid plexus cell implants

20 January 2010: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced that it has been granted a European patent for the use of its product NTCELL in the treatment of degenerative neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Huntington's disease and Stroke.

LCT extends SPP closing date until 17 December 2009

14 December, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies Limited

Company Announcement

LCT extends SPP closing date until 17 December 2009
11 December 2009: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) To allow shareholders the opportunity to review their entitlement following the recent developments, LCT has decided to extend the Share Purchase Plan closing date by 4 business days from 11 December to Thursday 17 December 2009.

For enquiries about the SPP please call 61 3 9415 4000.

Or contact
Mr John Cowan
Finance & Administration Manager
Tel: +64 9 276 2690
jcowan@lctglobal.com

LCT December 2009 Newsletter

07 December, 2009 - - LCT December 2009 Newsletter

LCT's Quarterly Newsletter

25 November, 2009 - - THE LIVING CELL - A Quarterly Newsletter from LCT

Living Cell Technologies Announces Share Purchase Plan

24 November, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies Announces Share Purchase Plan

16 November 2009: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) announced today a Share Purchase Plan (SPP) that would remain open until 11 December 2009.

Living Cell Technologies Updates Progress with Diabetes Clinical Trial.

27 October, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies Updates Progress with Diabetes Clinical Trial.

27 October 2009 – Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand– Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today reported that the PhaseI/IIa clinical trial in Russia has continued to show positive results with low and medium doses of DIABECELL®, the company’s encapsulated pig insulin producing cells for type 1 diabetes. The study has prompted improvements to the product and the implant procedure which are now incorporated into the Phase II trial recently started in New Zealand.

LCT Annual Report 2009

19 October, 2009 - - LCT Annual Report 2009

LCT appoints two new directors and a new chairman

30 September, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies appoints two new directors and a new chairman

23 September 2009: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand- Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced the appointment of Mr Bob Finder and Mr David McAuliffe as independent directors and the election of Dr David Brookes as chairman.

Obituary: LCT Founding Director David Collinson

10 August, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies Limited                                              

Obituary: LCT Founding Director David Collinson

10 August 2009: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand- Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced with regret that David Collinson, founder and director of LCT died at his home on Friday 7 August 2009.

LCT Raises A$4.2m From A Placement Of Shares To Fund Clinical Trials Of DIABECELL^®

30 July, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies Raises A$4.2m From A Placement Of Shares To Fund Clinical Trials Of DIABECELL^® 

30 July 2009: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) announced that it has closed a private placement of share capital raising A$4.2m. The placement provides for the issue of up to 25.5m ordinary shares at A$0.165 with a 2 for 5 option attached (10.2m options), exercisable at any time until 31 December 2010 at A$0.24 per share. The $0.165 issue price is a 14.37% discount for the 5 day volume weighted average price to 27 July 2009.

Encapsulated Choroid Plexus Cells May Be Used To Treat Hearing Loss

08 July, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies' Encapsulated Choroid Plexus Cells May Be Used To Treat Hearing Loss

8 July 2009: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand- Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today reports that its encapsulated choroid plexus cells (NeurotrophinCell, NTCell) were shown to protect nerve cells in the inner ear from degeneration in studies done with the Bionic Ear Institute (BEI), Melbourne, Australia.

New Pig Breeding Facility for New Zealand Diabetes Clinical Trial

02 July, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies Opens New Pig Breeding Facility for New Zealand Diabetes Clinical Trial

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

Diabetes Clinical Trial Authorized by New Zealand Government

24 June, 2009 - -

Living Cell Technologies' Diabetes Clinical Trial Authorised by New Zealand Government.

24 June 2009: Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand- Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced that the New Zealand Minister of Health, the Honourable Tony Ryall, has authorized LCT's New Zealand Phase I/IIa clinical trial of DIABECELL^® for insulin dependent diabetes.

MEDIA ARTICLE ABSTRACT

21 June, 2009 - -  

Media Article Abstract

Journalist Martin Johnston from The New Zealand Herald continues to report on the success of LCT's Russian trial in which two people are now free of insulin injections. Mr Johnston's story also discusses how Mr David Collinson's  financial investment and ability to promote LCT's concept of transplanting, into human diabetics, coated insulin-produced cells from pigs, and how to enthuse others enough to contribute their own capital.

The company now  awaits only the approval of the Minister of Health, Tony Ryall, before starting a trial at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland.

Living Cell is also developing pig-cell treatments for Parkinson's and many more diseases could be treated in this way.

To access the full article visit: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10579568

Living Cell Technologies' Diabetes Product from Pigs Part of New Agricultural Biotechnology

02 June, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies' Diabetes Product from Pigs Part of New Agricultural Biotechnology According To UK Report - 2 June 2009 - Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand- Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY)

For further information on this story please click on PDF attached

Encapsulated Porcine Cells Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society Horizons Meeting

21 May, 2009 - - Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society Horizons Conference

1-3 April 2009

LCT presented at the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) Horizons Conference held in San Francisco, USA between 1-3 April.

Reports Insulin Independence in Two Patients Following Implants of DIABECELL

05 May, 2009 - - Living Cell Technologies Reports Insulin Independence in Two Patients Following Recent Implants of DIABECELL® in Diabetes Clinical Trial

5 May 2009 - Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand- Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today reported that following the latest implants of DIABECELL®, two recipients with long standing insulin dependent diabetes currently do not require insulin injections.

DIABECELL® is LCT's encapsulated insulin-producing porcine pancreatic islet cells.

To date, seven patients with insulin dependent diabetes have received between one and three implants of DIABECELL® without remarkable adverse events in LCT's on-going Phase I/IIa clinical trial.

LCT Medical Director, Professor Bob Elliott, who is in San Diego, USA, delivering a plenary lecture on DIABECELL® at the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Cell Therapy, said, "Having two patients going off their insulin injections gives me tremendous confidence that we have a treatment which can return people with diabetes to a normal life.

All patients followed-up show improvement of diabetes control with better glycated haemoglobin (%HbA1c) levels.  I am extremely pleased to see all blood glucose levels in their seven-point recordings to be in the normal range, even with a lower daily dose of insulin."

LCT CEO, Dr Paul Tan added, "The dose escalation and the tightening of the quality specifications of DIABECELL® for the last two implants have led to a very satisfying outcome with the recipients becoming insulin independent and we look forward to an equally positive outcome for future patients. LCT expects DIABECELL® to be established as a product of exceptional commercial value". 

Progress Report of DIABECELL® Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial

· The trial is an open labelled Phase I/IIa investigation to obtain data on the safety and preliminary efficacy of DIABECELL®, encapsulated neonatal porcine pancreatic islets, without the use of immunosuppressive drugs.

· The trial started in Moscow in 2007 and is intended to enrol a total of 10 patients with type 1 diabetes who have given informed consent for their participation. The trial is being monitored by Geny Research Group Inc, a U.S.-based contract research organization.

· To date, seven insulin dependent diabetes patients have been implanted:

· The trial was designed for Patients #1 - #5 to receive two implants of DIABECELL® at the dose of 5,000 Islet Equivalents per kg body weight (IEQ/kg) at least 6 months apart and for Patients #6 - #10 to receive one implant of 10,000 IEQ/kg.

· Based on clinical assessment, amendments to the protocol were requested by the investigators to optimise the treatment in this dose-finding study. Patients #3, #4 and #5 received implants of 5,000 and 10,000 IEQ/kg. Patient #2 received a third implant of 10,000 IEQ/kg.

· As summarised in the following Table, patients have been followed up from a minimum of 18 weeks to 96 weeks. Patient #6 failed to attend follow up after 20 weeks and attempts to resume follow-up continue.

· There were no remarkable adverse events following implants of either dose. Repeat implants have been safe to date.

· All patients show improved blood glucose control as reflected by a decrease in their glycated haemoglobin (%HbA1c) level after the implant, apart from Patient #6.

· All blood glucose levels in the seven-point recordings at last follow-up were in the normal range for patients #1, #2, #3, #4, #7. The mean glucose level in all patients is within the range of 5.8 to 8.2 mMol/L. At last follow up, Patient #6 recorded a mean blood glucose of 9.4 mMol/L.

· Two patients, #2 and #7, have both shown an excellent response and do not require exogenously administered insulin.

 Patient #2 is a 37 year old female with a 15-year history of insulin dependent diabetes.  This patient has received two implants of 5,000 IEQ/kg and in February 2009 a third implant of 10,000 IEQ/kg. Prior to the first implant this patient required an average daily insulin dose of 22 units/day.  This patient's HbA1c level prior to implant was 8.2% and is currently 7.1%, her current mean blood glucose level is normal at 6.8 mMol/L.
 Patient #7 is a 63 year old male with a 5-year history of insulin dependent diabetes.  He received one implant at the dose of 10,000 IEQ/kg in January 2009. Prior to implant this patient required an average daily insulin dose of 37 units/day.  This patient's HbA1c level prior to implant was 8.3% and is currently 4.8%, his current mean blood glucose level is normal at 6.6 mMol/L

· As previously reported, capsules containing viable cells have been retrieved from second implants and porcine insulin has been detected in blood of patients following glucose tolerance test

• The body weight of all patients during the study varied by less than 5% of their pre-implant weight.

Table: Preliminary Efficacy Response Data

Summary: The Phase I/II dose escalation trial to date has implanted seven insulin dependent diabetes patients with one to three implants of DIABECELL® without remarkable adverse events. Preliminary efficacy data show normalised blood glucose levels and improved HbA1c with reduction of daily insulin dose. Two recipients have discontinued insulin injections.

Presentation by Professor Bob Elliott
Title: Practical, Methodological, Regulatory Aspects of Islet Cell Implants - DIABECELL®.
International Society for Cell Therapy 15th Annual Meeting
5th May 2009 at 1:30 -3:00 pm US Pacific Time
Sheraton, San Diego, CA, USA

Living Cell Technologies' New Zealand Pigs Free of Viruses

27 April, 2009 - -  

Living Cell Technologies’ New Zealand Pigs Free of Viruses

27 April 2009 – Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand– Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today emphasized that its pig cell product, DIABECELL®  presently in Phase I/IIa clinical trial for the treatment of insulin dependent diabetes, is free of pig viruses, bacteria and parasites. In the wake of recent reports of a new strain of influenza virus in Mexico and the United States, LCT referred to Professor Roger Morris, emeritus professor of New Zealand’s Massey University, and an international expert on pig infections, who said that swine influenza is not endemic in New Zealand.

The appearance of pig-avian-human viruses is a consequence of human co-existence with pigs and birds in nature. Viral infections from pigs to humans have never arisen from pig tissue implanted into humans. New Zealand’s geographical isolation, historical biosecurity and strict animal quarantine practice have kept the country free from a number of pig pathogens including swine influenza. LCT’s pig herd is derived from the Sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands and bred in bird-proof pathogen free facilities.

LCT Medical Director, Professor Bob Elliott said, “As swine influenza infection has not been endemic in New Zealand, there has been no opportunity for pig, bird and human viruses to recombine as has occurred naturally elsewhere. LCT’s pig cell treatment uses cells from pigs bred from our own facilities in New Zealand. The complete isolation of our herd in a containment facility means that even if swine influenza did happen in other New Zealand pigs it is very unlikely to occur in this herd.   

Professor Elliott continued, “Those who have received pig cell implants without immunosuppressive drugs have a normal immune system and are not at any additional risk and should follow the same travel precautions and advice that public health authorities have for healthy citizens”.

-Ends-

Working with the Ministry of Health on New Zealand clinical trial of DIABECELL®

17 April, 2009 - COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT align="left">17 April 2009 - Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand- Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) On 21 October 2008 the New Zealand Minister of Health authorised an application from the company to conduct a clinical trial of DIABECELL® in New Zealand. As stated at the time, the approval was subject to conditions designed to safeguard the health and safety of the trial's participants and the wider public. One of these conditions was completion of an international peer review to advise the Minister on the adequacy of LCT's application and the risk management and safety procedures in the protocol and to make recommendations on whether any changes are required to the conditions of approval placed on the study in order to adequately manage any outstanding risk of patient harm.

The peer reviewer has asked for further information about the safety of the proposed trial. LCT has provided a response for consideration by the peer reviewer and understands that the review of the additional data provided will be completed by early May.

LCT is continuing to monitor the seven patients in the on-going trial in Russia and is planning further implants. Product quality specifications have been narrowed and indications from the last implant reported early this month, where the patient has gone off insulin altogether, are very promising.

The new pig breeding facility is expected to be completed in the next four to six weeks. When fully commissioned, the new facility advances LCT's capability to supply pig cells for the next two years of the Company's clinical program and supports LCT's leading position in this field.

Click here to download this release in PDF format.

LCT Clinical Update

06 April, 2009 - Living Cell Technologies gains additional benefit from Diabecell with modified diabetes clinical trial protocol   Living Cell Technologies Ltd                                          

COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT

Living Cell Technologies Gains Additional Benefit From DIABECELL® With Modified Diabetes Clinical Trial Protocol

April 6, 2009 - Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand- Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) reports insulin independence in a patient with insulin dependent type 1 diabetes who received DIABECELL^®, its encapsulated insulin-producing porcine cells, as part of an on-going Phase I/IIa clinical trial. The patient is a 37 year old woman who was on daily insulin injections for 15 years and now maintains good blood glucose control without insulin injections. Live porcine cells in intact capsules have been biopsied from the site of implants in the abdomen and porcine insulin was detected in the patient's blood.

LCT Medical Director, Professor Bob Elliott said, "Patients who have received the initial doses of the implants have clearly shown benefit."

Professor Elliott explained, "Early in the study, one patient attained insulin independence for eight weeks following the lowest dose of 5,000 islet equivalents (IEQ per kg body weight). She was given another implant at the lowest dose six months after the first. Subsequently, she required half the daily pre-implant insulin dose to maintain satisfactory blood glucose levels for the following year. A third implant of 8,000 IEQ per kg was administered and she again did not need insulin injections to maintain normal blood glucose levels."

Dr Paul Tan, LCT Chief Executive Officer, said, "These encapsulated cells offer not only an alternative but a physiological replacement therapy to provide new hope and improved lifestyles for people with diabetes.

At this early stage of clinical trials, results show that insulin independence is potentially achievable at least in some patients and that repeat implants are safe. LCT has narrowed product quality release specifications and responses to higher doses at first implants in future patients will clarify when and if repeat doses are necessary."

DIABECELL^® is LCT's encapsulated porcine insulin-producing cell product designed for the treatment of type 1 diabetes without the use of immunosuppressive drugs.

A total of seven patients have received DIABECELL^® implants in the safety and dose finding study. Patients were administered low or medium dose implants (5,000 to 10,000 islet equivalents (IEQs) per kg body weight) and some have had a repeat implant at least six months after the first. There have been no remarkable adverse events attributed to repeat implants.  

Interim results from the trial conducted in Moscow has shown good blood glucose control as reflected by a reduction in glycated hemoglogin (% HbA1c) levels following the implants with reduction in daily insulin doses of varying magnitude for the implant doses administered to date.

Half yearly report

02 March, 2009 - Living Cell Technologies half yearly report for the period ended 31 December 2008 Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX:LCT, OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced the half yearly report for the six months ended 31 December 2008.

Quarterly Report

30 January, 2009 - Quarterly cash flow report for the period ended 31 December 2008 Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced the quarterly cash flow report for the quarter ended 31 December 2008. 

The cash balance at the end of the quarter was $7,235,292 compared to $8,670,253 at the end of the quarter to 30 September 2008.

LCT announces collaboration with Centocor Research & Development

18 December, 2008 - Living Cell Technologies Announces collaboration with Centocor Research & Development, Inc. December 18, 2008 - Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand and Boulder, Colorado, US - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT, OTCQX LVCLY) Today announced that the Company has commenced a research agreement with Centocor Research & Development, Inc. (Centocor). Through this agreement, Centocor will have access to LCT's proprietary encapsulation technology.

Living Cell Technologies Reports on 12-Month Clinical Effects of DiabeCell^® at Annual

06 November, 2008 - Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand and Boulder, USA - Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today updated shareholders at their Annual General Meeting in Adelaide, Australia on the Phase I/IIa clinical trial of DiabeCell®, LCT's lead product candidate for the treatment of insulin dependent (Type 1) diabetes.

Living Cell Technologies Receives Health Minister's Approval to Start Leading Edge Live Cell Therapy

21 October, 2008 - Living Cell Technologies today announced that New Zealand Health Minister, the Honorable David Cunliffe, has approved an application from the company to conduct in New Zealand a Phase I/IIa clinical trial of DiabeCell®, LCT's lead product candidate for the treatment of insulin dependent (Type 1) diabetes.

Annual Report

07 October, 2008 - Living Cell Technology's 2008 Annual Report Living Cell Technologies (LCT) is a global company focused on developing cell-based therapy products to treat life threatening human diseases. The Company has offices in Australia, New Zealand and the USA and is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange as well as the international OTCQX.