Category Archives: Mesenchymal Stem Cells

LEUVEN, BELGIUM and MADRID, SPAIN--(Marketwire -08/08/12)- TiGenix (EURONEXT:TIG), the European leader in cell therapy, announced today the completion of patient enrollment in the Company's Phase IIa study of Cx611, a suspension of expanded allogeneic adult stem cells, in rheumatoid arthritis. The Phase IIa clinical trial is a 53-subject, multicenter, placebo-controlled study in 3 cohorts with different dosing regimens, designed to assess safety, feasibility, tolerance, and optimal dosing. The study is being conducted at 23 centers. The Company believes that this clinical trial can set the stage not only for the further development of Cx611 in RA, but also in a wide range of other autoimmune disorders. "In addition to the primary endpoints of safety and optimal dosing, we expect this trial to yield a first indication of the duration of the efficacy of Cx611 in this very difficult patient population: the enrolled patients have previously failed to respond to at least two biologicals," said Eduardo Bravo, CEO of TiGenix. "In the trial patients are treated with three injections of Cx611. The six-month follow-up without further dosing should provide us with a truly meaningful result. This is the most advanced stem cell therapy trial in RA in the world, and completing … Continue reading →

AP Raiders linebacker Aaron Curry isnt sure when hell be able to get back on the field, but hes pretty sure that stem cell therapy will be the thing that winds up getting him back there. Paul Gutierrez of CSNBayArea.com reports that Curry has received the therapy on both of his knees. Bone marrow from his hips was used in the treatment and Curry told Gutierrez that it is the only thing hes tried that has helped him feel better. Curry is still working out on the side during Raiders practices and said hell only return to practice when hes fully able to help the Raiders. My goal is to get healthy and just go out there and be violent, be fast, be a pain in the offenses butt and whatever I have to do on the defense, do it, Curry said. And do it full speed. I cant do that until my body says its ready. The treatment has been popular with Oakland athletes. Linebacker Rolando McClain said that the treatment helped his legs feel better earlier this offseason and As pitcher Bartolo Colon has credited stem cell treatment on his shoulder with saving his baseball career. With McClain … Continue reading →

Aug. 5, 2012, 3 a.m. A GROWING number of overseas clinics touting stem cell therapy for conditions ranging from sexual disorders to HIV are targeting Australia, where such treatments are restricted. Australian scientists have raised concerns about so-called ''stem cell tourism'', saying many of the treatments offered are unproven, untested and potentially deadly. The Swiss firm Fetal Cell Technologies International has been advertising in Australia since last year and Emcell, based in Ukraine, started promoting its services last month. It is estimated as many as 200 Australians have travelled overseas for the therapy. The secretary for science policy at the Australian Academy of Science, Bob Williamson, said he empathised with the desperation of seriously ill people but warned against the unproven therapies, which can cost up to $60,000. ''The therapies are almost all untested and unproven and sometimes they have killed people,'' Professor Williamson said. The Sun-Herald's calls to Emcell's Melbourne office were not returned. Stem Cells Australia's Megan Munsie, who is conducting a study into stem cell tourism with Monash University, said many people she interviewed were unaware of the risks of therapy overseas. ''We're not talking about rubbing something into your skin or taking a capsule, we are … Continue reading →

A GROWING number of overseas clinics touting stem cell therapy for conditions ranging from sexual disorders to HIV are targeting Australia, where such treatments are restricted. Australian scientists have raised concerns about so-called ''stem cell tourism'', saying many of the treatments offered are unproven, untested and potentially deadly. The Swiss firm Fetal Cell Technologies International has been advertising in Australia since last year and Emcell, based in Ukraine, started promoting its services last month. It is estimated as many as 200 Australians have travelled overseas for the therapy. The secretary for science policy at the Australian Academy of Science, Bob Williamson, said he empathised with the desperation of seriously ill people but warned against the unproven therapies, which can cost up to $60,000. Advertisement ''The therapies are almost all untested and unproven and sometimes they have killed people,'' Professor Williamson said. The Sun-Herald's calls to Emcell's Melbourne office were not returned. Stem Cells Australia's Megan Munsie, who is conducting a study into stem cell tourism with Monash University, said many people she interviewed were unaware of the risks of therapy overseas. ''We're not talking about rubbing something into your skin or taking a capsule, we are talking about often a … Continue reading →

By Tedra DeSue - August 3, 2012 | Tickers: BAX, OSIR | 0 Comments Tedra is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited. Advances continue to be made in the field of regenerative medicine, with many products and procedures being made possible from stem cell therapy. While large companies are making headway in this area, many small companies are just as active, raising much-needed funds through the capital markets. The main challenge all of these companies face is convincing naysayers that their research and subsequent results are ethical. There has been much ado about regenerative medicine efforts that involve stem cells. This has especially been the case for research and therapy involving human embryonic stem cells. For this reason, investors who may be bullish about the industry may avoid these stocks. The stem cell market is expected to grow to be a $5.1 billion industry by 2014. One of the reasons stem cell research is important to these companies is that it can help them grow their pipelines, according to a research report on the industry Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Benchmarking Analysis of Big … Continue reading →

The latest round of a stem cell debate may have concluded, but as far as the lawyers representing an orthopedics company that has offered stem cell treatments are concerned, its a long way from over. The lawyers representing Colorado-based Regenerative Science said they were filing a notice of appeal this week after a U.S. District Court judges ruling in favor of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that its stem cell therapy is a drug. The case is being closely watched by everyone with a stake or an interest in the use of stem cells in medicine and could have significant ramifications for stem cell entrepreneurs who dont believe their procedures amount to a drug or biologic. Regenerative Science Colorado-based Regnerative Sciences Regenexx procedure is presented as an alternative to traditional surgery that can treat fractures that have failed to heal, joint cartilage problems, partial tears of tendons, muscles, or ligaments, among other problems. It works like this: A physician takes a small bone marrow sample from the back of the patients hip through a needle. Blood samples are taken from a vein in the patients arm. The samples are sent to the Regenerative laboratory where the mesenchymal stem cells … Continue reading →

HOUSTON, Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Celltex Therapeutics Corporation, a leader in regenerative medicine services, today announced the appointments of Andrea Ferrenz, Executive Vice President, Legal Counsel, and Jane Shen Young, Manufacturing Research Scientist. Ferrenz's primary responsibility will be overseeing operations, including compliance with federal and state regulatory agencies. Young's primary responsibility will be research and development of manufacturing processes and products in regenerative science. "Celltex is a fast growing company. The additions of Andrea and Jane will enhance our capabilities as we continue to grow," said David Eller, Chief Executive Officer of Celltex. "At Celltex, we firmly believe in the great therapeutic potential for adult stem cells and we are committed to the highest quality banking and multiplication services for clients and physicians." Ferrenz has more than 15 years of experience in regulatory compliance and litigation, with expertise in food, drug and health law. Prior to Celltex, Ferrenz was Principal Attorney at Emord & Associates, P.C., in Washington, D.C.There, she counseled both national and international clients in health products industries operating under the jurisdiction of the FDA and FTC.Early in her career, Ferrenz worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Children's National Medical Center's Center for … Continue reading →

DALLAS and GERMANTOWN, Md., Aug. 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioLife Cell Bank, Inc., the leader in cryogenic storage of adipose (fat) tissue and adult mesenchymal stem and regenerative cells, and Intrexon Corporation, a synthetic biology company that utilizes its proprietary products to provide control over cellular function, announced today the formation of a global exclusive research collaboration. Under the collaboration, BioLife, with its extensive physician network and stem cell experience coupled with Intrexon's innovative technology, will strive to produce new treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). "With the tremendous potential of this collaboration, we are more than excited for the SMA community," said John A. Carbona, Chief Executive Officer of BioLife. "Intrexon's impressive suite of technologies will give researchers access to unprecedented resources including new techniques and processes which could rapidly propel us toward the development of new treatments and products to help treat children with SMA." Carbona continued, "I am happy to help realize the dream of our founders, Dr. David G. Genecov and John D. Harkey Jr., to make a positive and sustainable impact in health care. We're elated by our new collaboration with Intrexon and will undertake immediately the establishment of relationships with the world's leading … Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines Talent manager Annabelle Rama revealed that she will be undergoing stem cell therapy in September. She confirmed this report to The Philippine Stars entertainment columnist Ricky Lo. Rama said shes been suffering from several illnesses and that stem cell therapy may help make her feel better. Im suffering from high-blood pressure, high-blood sugar and other ailments and from what I heard, after the therapy I would feel better. Lahat daw yon gagaling, she said. Rama said her son Richard Gutierrez, who will be paying for the whole procedure, also urged her to have her back problem checked. Richard wants me to have my scoliosis checked and my lumbar region which are giving me so much pain. So I will have two more injections for that, each costing an extra one thousand euros, she said. Lo said in his article that the whole package, which will include nine injections, will cost around P1 million. Meanwhile, although she earlier vented on Twitter her disappointment that her family is against her plan to run for Congress, it seems that her children have changed their mind about politics. Rama said she is hoping that she will feel renewed after her upcoming stem … Continue reading →

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Osiris Therapeutics Inc. fell Monday as the company said it is still negotiating with French drugmaker Sanofi about the rights to its stem cell therapy Prochymal. Osiris President and CEO Randal Mills said his company's dispute with Sanofi is "in the hands of lawyers" and that Osiris and Sanofi are trying to amicably resolve their disagreements over the status of Prochymal. The therapy is a treatment for graft vs. host disease, a condition in which transplanted bone marrow cells attack the body of the patient. The Columbia, Md., company was developing Prochymal through a partnership with biotechnology company Genzyme. French drugmaker Sanofi later acquired Genzyme, and in February, Sanofi said it discontinued late-stage testing of Prochymal. Osiris said that means the collaboration is over and it should regain the rights to Prochymal, allowing it to market the drug or find another partner. Sanofi disagrees. Shares of Osiris Therapeutics fell 95 cents, or 9.5 percent, to $9.08 in afternoon trading. Canadian regulators granted conditional approval to Prochymal in May, and regulators in New Zealand gave full approval to Prochymal in June. In a conference call, Osiris said it expects Prochymal to be available in Canada … Continue reading →