Epistem and CRT Announce Agreement for the Use of Patient Derived Leukemic Samples

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - April 21, 2015) - Epistem Holdings Plc (LSE:EHP)(AIM:EHP.L), Manchester, UK, the biotechnology and personalized medicine company, is pleased to announce the signing of a licensing agreement with Cancer Research Technologies (CRT) and Newcastle University for access to and development of patient derived Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Primagraft samples for commercial use.

This agreement builds upon Epistems expertise with cell line based disseminated models of leukemia, and will further enhance the Company's ability to support pre-clinical therapeutic evaluation in haematological disease. The licensed Primagraft models include a range of fully cytogenetically characterized samples, with complete clinical history. In addition to FACs based methodologies, several of these systemic Primagraft models have been stably lentivirally transduced with a luciferase vector allowing monitoring of in-life treatment responses and evaluation of disease severity using Epistems Bruker In Vivo Xtreme Optical imaging system.

"We are delighted to have signed an agreement with CRT and Newcastle to access these unique Primagraft models. Alongside our existing cell line based models of AML and ALL, these valuable samples will allow us to examine therapeutic efficacy in clinically relevant disease." said Dr. Catherine Booth, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Contract Services Business. "Epistem's contract research service is strongly committed to providing high quality, reliable and innovative pre-clinical models and services."

Notes for editors

Epistem is a biotechnology and personalised medicine company commercialising its expertise in stem cells in the areas of epithelial (oncology, gastrointestinal and dermatological) and infectious diseases. Epistem develops innovative therapeutics, biomarkers and diagnostics (Genedrive^®) alongside contract research services for drug development companies. The Group's core expertise is focused around the regulation of adult stem cells located in epithelial tissue including the gastrointestinal tract, skin, hair follicles, breast and prostate and utilizing novel, proprietary next generation molecular biology for use in personalised medicine. www.epistem.co.uk