Creo Medical Group joins European stem-cell cancer project

Medical device company Creo Medical Group said it was taking part in a European programme researching a stem-cell cancer treatment for brain tumours.

The AIM-listed company is to join the Semiconductor-based Ultrawideband Micromanipulation of Cancer Stem Cells (SUMCASTEC) H2020 FET open research programme, led by the XLIM Research Institute at the University of Limoges in France.

Creo will be one of six European partners in a consortium of neurologists, microbiologists and engineers, who are aiming to develop a "micro-optofluidic lab-on-chip platform that deploys semi-conductor technology to neutralize cancer stem cells with electromagnetic waves".

The consortium was awarded a €4m (£3.4m) grant, and €530,000 of which will be allocated to Creo, which lead on the development of the cell neutralisation aspect of the programme with a view to potentially commercialise the lab-on-chip platform.

Creo said that certain aspects of the project are closely related to the work it is already doing for the treatment of lung tumours.

SUMCASTEC is based on the isolation and neutralisation of cancer cells associated with some of the most aggressive brain tumours, specifically Glioblastoma Multiforme and Medulloblastoma.

Brain cancers are a leading cause of death in Europe, as according to the World Health Organisation 57,000 new cases and 45,000 deaths were reported in Europe in 2012.

Chris Hancock, chief technology officer of Creo, said: "This grant recognises the potential of Creo Medical's innovative ablation technology and its potential application in new and challenging fields. This new system has the potential to provide a new treatment option for some of the most aggressive brain tumours."

Arnaud Pothier, main project leader and senior researcher at Limoges University, added: "Creo's development expertise and growing commercial infrastructure makes them an ideal consortium partner to bring the lab-on-chip into human use and then to market."

Shares in Creo Medical Group were up 0.77% to 92.2p at 1524 GMT.