Xintela's stem cells show positive treatment effects on cartilage damage in horse study

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Lund, Sweden, 4 January 2017 – Xintela AB (publ), announces today that the company´sselected stem cells have beneficial effects on joint cartilage and underlying bone in post-traumatic osteoarthritis, based on additional analysis of the company's horse study and the final report from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. The results are very promising for Xintela’s development of stem cell therapy for the treatment of cartilage damage and osteoarthritis.

Xintela previously announced that the results from the horse study show that the company's stem cells are safe and indicated a protective effect on the joint, which was to be further evaluated. This additional analysis has now been completed and shows that Xintela’s selected stem cells can protect joint cartilage from further damage after injury and also prevent damage to the underlying bone. The results will now be compiled for publication in an international scientific journal.

“It is very gratifying that our stem cells showed positive treatment effects in the horse study.  This supports the use of our marker technology in the development of an effective and quality assured stem cell product for the treatment of cartilage damage and osteoarthritis” says Xintela’s CEO, Evy Lundgren-Åkerlund.

Xintela carried out the horse study at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, in collaboration with Dr. Lisa Fortier and colleagues at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, New York. Dr. Fortier is an internationally recognized expert in cartilage repair and veterinary medicine and has extensive experience of joint damage and osteoarthritis in humans and horses.

“The results of the study support the use of Xintela’s selected stem cells for the treatment of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The treatment is safe and there is strong evidence to suggest it may reduce the effects of joint trauma and protect the cartilage from deterioration. Interestingly, the results indicated a repairing effect on the cartilage that we have never seen before in any cartilage repair study. The results are very promising for the development of a safe and effective stem cell product for both humans and animals suffering from cartilage damage and osteoarthritis,” says Dr. Lisa Fortier.

About the horse study
Xintela’s stem cells (allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells), isolated from a donor horse and selected using the company's integrin marker technology, were injected into the hind leg joint, corresponding to the human ankle. The joint of the other hind leg was injected with a salt solution as a control.

The horses in the study had a type of cartilage damage that mimics post-traumatic osteoarthritis which can develop due to sport injury or joint sprain. Upon completion of the six-month study, all tissues in the joint, including cartilage, underwent in-depth analysis including MRI scanning and histology. Several other organs were also examined for any unwanted effects of the injected stem cells. In addition, samples from the joint fluid, collected during the course of the study, were analyzed for inflammatory markers and markers of synthesis and degradation of cartilage.

About osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a disabling and often very painful chronic joint disease that involves a gradual degeneration of the cartilage. It is a complex disease that also affects other tissues of the joint such as bone, joint capsule and tendon. It is estimated that 630 million people worldwide suffer from osteoarthritis. Cartilage damage and osteoarthritis in horses is also very common. Today, there is no disease modifying treatment available for osteoarthritis. The total global market for osteoarthritis therapy is expected to grow from the current $ 3.6 billion (2014) to $ 9.2 billion (2024).

Xintela AB (publ)
Evy Lundgren-Åkerlund, CEO 

Tel:+46 70-329 18 71
E-mail: evy@xintela.se
Medicon Village 223 81 Lund, Sweden
www.xintela.se

Media and Investor Relations related queries should be directed to:
Mårten Svanberg, Laika Consulting
Tel: +46 70-362 70 05
E-mail: marten.svanberg@laika.se
www.laika.se

About Xintela 
Xintela AB (publ) is a Swedish biomedical company active in the fields of regenerative medicine and cancer, with a focus on cartilage damage and brain tumours. The key to Xintela's business is the Company's patented marker technology, XINMARK™. Xintela's markers are specific proteins which sit as "recognition flags" on certain cell surfaces.  The markers make it possible to identify and quality assure cartilage cells and stem cells and also to select a certain type of stem cells which can develop into cartilage cells. Through this technology, Xintela can, in a unique way, quality assure stem cells for the repair of damaged cartilage. The XINMARK™-technology makes it also possible to direct antibody treatment to cells in glioblastoma brain tumours with the goal to slow down tumour growth. Xintela is listed on Nasdaq First North Stockholm since 22 March 2016. Xintela's Certified Adviser at Nasdaq First North is Erik Penser Bank AB, +46 8-463 80 00.

This information is information that Xintela AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact persons set out above on 4 January 2017, at 10:30 a.m CET.