Living Cell Technologies appoints new chief scientific officer

Biotechnology company Living Cell Technologies (ASX: LCT) has appointed experienced Australian research scientist Dr James A Mckenna to the role of chief scientific officer.

Dr Mckenna holds a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Melbourne.

He has worked as a research scientist for 23 years in the areas of academic science, commercial drug development and intellectual property generation.

Most recently, he held a leadership position at an Australian Stock Exchange-listed biotechnology company where he was involved in the management of teams working on advancing pre-clinical and clinical research and development programs for US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration.

Dr Mckenna’s new role will include research pertaining to drug candidate development; the arrangement of pre-clinical and clinical studies; and liaising with intellectual property attorneys and pharmaceutical regulators.

Additional projects under assessment

In November of 2022, Living Cell underwent a significant board changes to include corporate advisors from Alignment Capital, Mr David Hainsworth and Mr Brad Dilkes.

The new directors in a notice of meeting to shareholders presented an attitude to strategically diversify the company’s product pipeline, increasing overall R&D activity.

Dr Mckenna’s appointment is believed to coincide with Living Cell’s corporate strategy to expand and diversify its development pipeline.

Living Cell has reported that it has multiple projects under scientific and commercial assessment and has entered discussions with contract research organisations and academic institutions to assist in the advancement of new project assessments.

Furthermore, EAS Consulting Group (EAS) has been engaged to provide advice related to international regulatory affairs associated with pharmaceutical products. EAS is a provider of regulatory compliance solutions to industries regulated by the FDA.

The company said in today’s announcement that it will seek to re-name and rebrand Living Cell Technologies in due course when the company reflects a diversified product pipeline.

Existing NTCELL project to Combat Parkinson’s

Living Cell’s only current existing therapeutic candidate called “NTCELL” has been developed to combat Parkinson’s disease.

The alginate-coated capsule contains clusters of neonatal porcine choroid plexus cells sourced from a unique herd of designated pathogen-free pigs bred from stock originally discovered in the remote sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands.

Choroid plexus cells are naturally occurring “support” cells for the brain and secrete cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which contains a range of factors that support nerve cell functions and protective enzymes crucial for nerve growth and healthy functioning.

In NTCELL, the plexus cells are coated with Living Cell’s proprietary technology Immupel to protect them from attack by the immune system, meaning patients do not require an immunosuppressive regimen for treatment.

Following implantation into a damaged site within the brain, NTCELL functions as a neurochemical factory producing CSF and secreting multiple nerve growth factors which promote new central nervous system growth.

Living Cell is preparing for a third clinical trial of NTCELL after signing an agreement with NZeno to secure the necessary tissue needed for testing.