Novosibirsk Nanocentre invests in Pepric in the field of regenerative medicine and targeted particle therapies.

SYGMA.Novosibirsk Nanocentre invested 1 million Euro in the Belgian company Pepric that developed particle analysis instruments for studies in the field of regenerative medicine and magnetic particle therapies. The advanced equipment allows to monitor the dynamics of injected therapeutic cells and targeted particle therapies within the animal body. And applications are successfully demonstrated in international collaborations with major centers for preclinical research and magnetic particle and stem cell companies in Europe and US.

For the development and testing of new generation regenerative medicines, for example in the promising field of stem cell therapies, cell vaccines and tissue engineering, Pepric’s unique technology allows to determine the distribution and migration of the cells labelled with magnetic particles within the animal body. This makes it possible to carry out preclinical studies with the most accurate results and a minimum number of test animals. With Pepric’s method the results obtained in pre-clinical studies can be translated faster to the clinical trials since cells can be labelled with magnetic particles already in use in the clinic. And the distribution and migration of the injected therapeutic cells can be followed over several days or even weeks for example to determine to optimal dose of the therapy. As a result the use of the Pepric particle spectrometer can significantly reduce the cost and time associated with the development of new therapies.

Within the area of targeted magnetic particles for diagnosis and treatment many new particles for targeted therapy are being developed. With Pepric’s method it becomes possible to determine the efficacy of the targeting of the new particles and monitor the distribution quantitatively after injection. The potential market of cell and particle therapies is growing rapidly especially in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

"SYGMA.Novosibirsk provides a second round of investments for the company Pepric, a spinoff company of imec performing world leading research in nanoelectronics. We plan not only to finance the development, but also to organize in Novosibirsk an international reference center on the basis of our Bio-incubator. With this investment we can further establish Sygma as a reference centre in cell and particle therapies when the Pepric particle spectrometer will become available for use in 2015 in the Novosibirsk Medtekhnopark. This fits perfectly well with our objectives of the center – to conduct studies using new equipment, to provide consulting services to medical and scientific personnel, to get feedback from the developers. To accomplish this, Novosibirsk has everything necessary: serious scientific potential and the right partner - Innovative Medical Technology Centre, where it is planned to introduce the state-of-the-art methods of regenerative medicine.", - Luiza Lesnaya, the CEO of the SYGMA Nanocentre said.

"With the development of the particle spectrometer Pepric introduces highly innovative solutions to the cell and particle therapy developers and companies. The new investment of Sygma will allow us to move further with the commercialization of our instruments and will bring Pepric to the next level for further expansion and realization of our ambitions as a groundbreaking company.", - Ms. Stephanie Teughels, the CEO of Pepric NV said on the outcome of the closed transaction.

"It is important that with this investment we were able to participate into a company developing world class technology with applications in such a promising area as regenerative medicine. This is the first time we joined as a full shareholder into a highly innovative European company. It is a result of the international network with partners like imec, the Belgian world leading research centre for nanoelectronics. I hope that based on this success we will be able to reach out and gain access to other technologies we need to work on for the Russian market. In fact the model of our deal with Pepric is the most effective way for the implementation of new solutions and instruments in our Russian nanocentres in order to take a head start in emerging and fast growing markets.", - Ruslan Titov, the Director of the Department for Nanotechnology Centers of FIEP RUSNANO said.

Contact

Sygma.Novosibirsk, the RUSNANO nanocentre, Elisabeth Malikova, project manager, Inzhenernaya str 18, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia, Tel. 8 985 640 51 46, malikova.ea@sygma.ru.
Pepric nv, Stephanie Teughels CEO, Kapeldreef 75, B-3001 Leuven, www.pepric.com, Tel +32 16 28 82 82, stephanie.teughels@pepric.com

About SYGMA.Novosibirsk Nanocentre

The Novosibirsk nanocentre is engaged in the formation of infrastructure that will support the development of nanotechnology companies at various stages of their existence in the Novosibirsk Region. The major technological platforms for on which bases the startups of SYGMA operate are: "Nanomodified Metals and Alloys", "Coatings", "Ceramic Technology Incubator", "Biomedical Technology Incubator". In July 2014 SYGMA.Novosibirsk Nanocentre and the Novosibirsk Innovative Medical Technology Centre (IMTC) signed an agreement on establishment of a joint biotechnology business incubator "BioStart" for the development of regenerative medicine.

About Pepric

Pepric develops and commercializes instrumentation for quantitative cellular and molecular detection and imaging. The tools find applications in the longitudinal and quantitative monitoring of the distribution and kinetics of cells and particles. Pepric was founded in 2009 as a spin-off companyof Imec, and has its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium.

About Rusnanо

RUSNANO implements state policy for the development of the nanoindustry in Russia, acting as a co-investor in nanotechnology projects, which have substantial economic or social potential.