Press Releases

Health research demand growth boosts Intercytex

(by Karen Sibson, Manchester Chamber of Commerce)

Manchester, 10th October 2001: Bioscience company Intercytex is doubling its laboratory space and boosting staff numbers to meet growing demand for its groundbreaking technologies.

Earlier this year the Company, located opposite Manchester Royal Infirmary, raised £7 million to fund pioneering research into combating kidney disease.

And one of the new laboratories will accommodate the Company’s innovative research programme which is developing alternatives to dialysis or transplants for patients suffering from kidney disease. The funding will also support research by Intercytex, Britain’s first dedicated regenerative medicine business, into addressing hair loss by regenerating follicles which can be transplanted onto bald patches.

All this follows in the footsteps of Intercytex’ initial research programme which started two years ago, to engineer skin from human tissue in collaboration with the Department of Surgery at University College London.

Dr Michael Leek, Commercial Director, said ‘‘The global market for regenerative technologies highlights a multi-billion dollar, unmet clinical need. Potential markets for products such as tissue engineered skin are significant with over 600,000 patients suffering from treatable burns, four million trauma cases and 2.6 million chronic dermal wounds each year in the US alone.

‘‘End-stage renal disease is a worldwide medical problem. It affects more than 300,000 patients each year in America and accounts for more than $13 billion of the US annual health-care bill.’’

Staffed by world class scientists with a total of 100 years' experience in cell therapy and regenerative medicine between them, Intercytex has come a long way in just under three years when Chief Executive officer Dr Paul Kemp decided to set up in business on his own.

With more than 12 years' experience in commercial tissue engineering, Dr Kemp left his role as Research Vice President of Organogenesis, in Boston, USA, to establish Intercytex back in Britain. He secured funding from healthcare venture capitalists and opened the first Manchester laboratory in April last year. One year later, the second laboratory was opened and Intercytex extended operations by opening additional offices and research facilities in Lexington, USA.

Other areas of research include cellular reprogramming which could lead to the production of stem cells without using human foetal tissue. This unique technology could engineer new tissues and organs such as nerve, heart muscle or blood cells opening up the potential to develop novel treatments for stroke, heart attacks and leukaemia.