L.A., California, March 23, 2005 --- Proneuron Biotechnologies (www.proneuron.com) announced today the grant of the European patent for ProCord (autologous incubated macrophages) for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury by the European Patent Office. European Patent number EP 0952772 B1, dated 16 March 2005, for the use of, mononuclear phagocytes to promote axonal regeneration, was granted to Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. from which Proneuron Biotechnologies has an exclusive license. The main inventor is Proneuron Scientific Founder Professor Michal Schwartz of the Weizmann Institute of Science. ProCord was previously patented in the U.S. under US 5,800,812, dated 1 September 1998, US 6,117,424, dated 12 September 2000 and US 6,267,955, dated 31 July 2001, and received an orphan drug designation by the FDA in September 2004.

“The patent granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) is yet another brick in the road towards developing a potential treatment for spinal cord injury. It is our intention to continue working hard to determine how to most effectively use macrophages (special type of white blood cell) to introduce a beneficial immune reaction to an immune restricted area such as the central nervous system,” said Professor Schwartz.

Proneuron is currently engaged in a Phase II international, multi-center, randomized controlled study of ProCord. Potential candidates must be enrolled within 12 days of injury in order to receive the treatment within the 14-day window of the clinical trial. For additional information as well as a complete list of sites and clinical teams please visit: www.spinalcordtrial.com.

“This is an important patent for several reasons. First, following the patents of ProCord in the U.S., it lends further support to the concept of using macrophages and or dendritic cells to induce spinal cord injury recovery. The EP patent also comes at a time when the Phase II study is moving ahead at a particularly aggressive pace at trial sites in the U.S. and Israel, the latter of which serves as the designated enrollment site for patients from Europe. It is our hope that this news will encourage the medical community in Europe to more actively join in this research effort,” said Proneuron CEO Mr. Nir Nimrodi.

Patient, Immediate Family of Patient and/or Physician inquiries:
24 hour a day Patient Recruitment Center:
Email: clinical.trial@proneuron.com
Telephone: 1 866 539 0767 (U.S. toll free) or 1 506 652 3486.
Fax: 1 866-214-7078
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Proneuron Biotechnologies Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing products for the medical treatment of spinal cord injuries and other disorders of the central nervous system. Its products are based on proprietary technology licensed from Yeda for modulating the interaction between the nervous and immune systems. The company's products are currently being evaluated in several clinical studies located in the U.S., Belgium and Israel. These include: an independently managed, international, multi-center, randomized-controlled Phase II trial of ProCord, autologous incubated macrophages, an experimental procedure for spinal cord injuries and a Phase II program of Cop-1 for the treatment of Huntington’s disease (HD), Glaucoma and other neurodegenerative diseases. The latter is being managed by Teva as part of the Proneuron’s strategic collaboration for development and commercialization of Cop-1 for various neurodegenerative indications. The Company is also developing PN277 for the treatment of additional neurodegenerative diseases.

For additional information, please contact Marjie Hadad, Media Liaison, Proneuron, Marjie.hadad@proneuron.com or at +972-54-536-5220.