Category Archives: Stem Cell Human Trials

Long clouded by ethical concerns, medical treatments and research based on stem cells taken from adults or the umbilical cords of newborns but not human embryos are getting renewed support from lawmakers and religious leaders. In the deep-red state of Kansas, lawmakers are waiting to see whether Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, will sign a bill making the University of Kansas Medical Center a hub for adult stem cell research and therapies in the region. Mr. Brownback, a social conservative who promised to build a culture of life in the state, has signaled support for such a center. The bill passed the Legislature on Friday but has not reached his office, an aide said Wednesday. If enacted, the new Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center would focus on research and therapies exclusively using stem cells from human adults and cord blood and tissue. Stem cells harvested from human embryos or tissues from aborted fetuses would be specifically prohibited. Treatments exploiting the unique qualities of stem cells biological cells with the ability to reproduce and develop into specialized cells used throughout the body have been used for decades to cure some diseases, and researchers say the approach has exciting potential to treat … Continue reading →

NEW YORK, April 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Stem for Life Foundation, NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE MKT:NBS), The Pontifical Council for Culture, and STOQ International today announced the beginning of its historic three day event, The Second International Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference: Regenerative Medicine -- A Fundamental Shift in Science & Culture, taking place from within The Vatican, April 11-13, 2013. This event is part of a five-year collaboration between The Stem for Life Foundation, a not-for-profit organization devoted to raising global awareness of the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells, NeoStem, a leader in the emerging cellular therapy industry, The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture and its foundation, called STOQ International (Science, Theology and the Ontological Quest). "We created this event so that we could educate the world on the ability of adult stem cell therapies to address countless diseases and medical conditions, reducing suffering on a truly global scale," said Dr. Robin Smith, President of The Stem for Life Foundation and CEO of NeoStem. "To tell this story of hope and healing, and to address the many misconceptions surrounding stem cell therapies, we have gathered leaders and pioneers of the regenerative medicine industry, as well as patients … Continue reading →

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 10, 2013) - VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: VSTA), a biotechnology company applying stem cell technology for drug rescue, predictive toxicology and drug metabolism assays, today announces the signing of a strategic financing agreement with the European subsidiary of Bergamo Acquisition Corp. (PINKSHEETS: BGMO), a global diversified investment holding company. Under the terms of the agreement, Bergamo's European subsidiary will invest $36 million in VistaGen in consideration for 72 million shares of restricted VistaGen Common Stock at a price of $0.50 per share.The Company's self-placed strategic financing does not include warrants or any investment banking fees.The transaction is scheduled to close on or before April 30, 2013.At closing, the shares issued in connection with the strategic financing will represent a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of VistaGen's Common Stock. VistaGen plans to use proceeds of the financing to accelerate and expand its stem cell technology-based drug rescue programs.Using its innovative CardioSafe 3D and LiverSafe 3D bioassay systems and modern medicinal chemistry, the Company is focused on generating new, safer, proprietary variants (Drug Rescue Variants) of once-promising small molecule drug candidates discontinued in development by large pharmaceutical companies due to heart or liver safety … Continue reading →

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 10, 2013) - VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: VSTA), a biotechnology company applying stem cell technology for drug rescue, predictive toxicology and drug metabolism assays, today announces the signing of a strategic financing agreement with the European subsidiary of Bergamo Acquisition Corp. (OTC: BGMO), a global diversified investment holding company. Under the terms of the agreement, Bergamo's European subsidiary will invest $36 million in VistaGen in consideration for 72 million shares of restricted VistaGen Common Stock at a price of $0.50 per share.The Company's self-placed strategic financing does not include warrants or any investment banking fees.The transaction is scheduled to close on or before April 30, 2013.At closing, the shares issued in connection with the strategic financing will represent a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of VistaGen's Common Stock. VistaGen plans to use proceeds of the financing to accelerate and expand its stem cell technology-based drug rescue programs.Using its innovative CardioSafe 3D and LiverSafe 3D bioassay systems and modern medicinal chemistry, the Company is focused on generating new, safer, proprietary variants (Drug Rescue Variants) of once-promising small molecule drug candidates discontinued in development by large pharmaceutical companies due to heart or liver safety … Continue reading →

NEWARK, Calif., April 9, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (STEM) today announced that it has closed a $10 million debt financing from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). The loan funds will be used for general corporate purposes, and increase the Company's December 31, 2013 pro forma cash balance to $34.4 million. This total also includes $2.0 million in net proceeds received subsequent to the end of the year from the exercise of warrants and the sale of shares of common stock. "We are pleased to have secured this loan from Silicon Valley Bank," said Martin McGlynn, President and CEO of StemCells, Inc. "These funds will extend our cash runway and provide us with increased financial flexibility. Sophisticated institutions like SVB are very careful and thoughtful when making their lending decisions, and we appreciate the confidence shown by SVB in our company." The loan has a three-year term and interest will accrue at 6% per annum. For the first six months, payments will be interest only and then the loan will be amortized over 30 months. In addition, there will be a final payment at the end of the term equal to $1 million. In connection with the debt financing, the … Continue reading →

GAITHERSBURG, MD--(Marketwired - Apr 3, 2013) - Cytomedix, Inc. (OTCQX: CMXI), a regenerative therapies company commercializing and developing innovative platelet and adult stem cell technologies, today announced the appointment of Steven A. Shallcross, CPA, as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer, effective as of May 10, 2013. Mr. Shallcross has over 25 years of international financial, business and strategic planning experience, primarily working with companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Martin Rosendale, Chief Executive Officer of Cytomedix commented, "Steve joins Cytomedix at a very exciting time for the company as we continue to expand the commercial opportunity for the Angel cPRP System, begin Medicare reimbursement for AutoloGel and continue to advance our Bright Cell pipeline products through clinical development. His extensive experience in capital market and business development activities, and implementing strategic financial programs makes Steve ideally suited for the position. Going forward, Steve will lead the effort to build the financial and accounting infrastructure necessary to support the significant corporate and commercial opportunities ahead for Cytomedix." "I am pleased to be joining Cytomedix, and to have the opportunity to work with this impressive team to drive value for the company and its stakeholders," said Mr. … Continue reading →

Patients in U.S. Clinical Trials Injected with 150,000 human embryonic stem cell-(hESC) derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, today announced treatment of patients in the third patient cohort, in each of its two U.S. clinical trials for forms of macular degeneration. The patients were injected with 150,000 human embryonic stem cell-(hESC) derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, as compared with the 100,000-cell dose used in the previous three patients of the second cohort. The Stargardts Macular Dystrophy (SMD) patient was treated on Wednesday, March 27, at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, with the patient with dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) having been treated the prior day, at another clinical trial site. Both patients successfully underwent the outpatient transplantation surgery, and are recovering uneventfully. We are eagerly anticipating completing this cohort and moving on to the fourth one. We are also looking forward to initiating treatment of patients with better vision in cohort 2a, for which we are currently reviewing and qualifying patients. We are very pleased to have commenced with treatment of the third patient … Continue reading →

Public release date: 27-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Jordi Morato comunicacio@idibell.cat IDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) has signed a licensing agreement with the Spanish biotech company Histocell to make use of a patent for the treatment of acute pulmonary diseases with mesenchymal stem cells. These cells, administered intravenously, have the ability to go directly to the damaged lungs, acting as a "smart drug". To enhance the effect, researchers have modified this cells by genetic engineering. The studies have been developed by a team led by Josep Maria Aran, researcher at the Human Molecular Genetics group of IDIBELL, in collaboration with researchers of the Pneumology group at Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Biomedical Research Network Centre for Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES). The outcomes of the research have supposed an international patent application managed by the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at IDIBELL. The researchers use adult mesenchymal stem cells extracted from adipose tissue obtained from liposuction. These cells are capable of enhancing the regeneration of the damaged lung tissue and secrete inflammatory proteins therein when injected into the blood. Improvements The novelty patented by IDIBELL and VHIR researchers has been the insertion of … Continue reading →

Public release date: 27-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Robert Miranda cogcomm@aol.com Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair Putnam Valley, NY. (March. 27, 2013) A team of Korean researchers investigated whether "environmental enrichment" can improve the neurobehavioral function of six week-old mice after transplantation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to treat hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, and found that brain repair (neurogenesis) was aided in some animals through exercise-induced fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), a strong pro-angiogenic factor. The post-transplantation environmental enrichment (EE) included use of a running wheel and exposure to "novel objects." The study appears as an early e-publication for the journal Cell Transplantation, and is now freely available on-line at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct/pre-prints/ct0633seo. "FGF2 was synergistically enhanced in the striata of mice treated with EE after ASC transplantation," said study co-author Dr. Sung-Rae Cho of the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. "The underlying mechanisms of this synergism included an enhanced repair process, such as higher engraftment of the transplanted ASCs, increased endogenous neurogenesis, and astrocytic activation coupled with the increase in FGF2." Astrocytes, star-shaped brain cells that are also the most abundant brain cell, perform many functions, including supporting the cells that … Continue reading →

Stem cell therapy is a minimally-invasive procedure that offers people suffering from joint pain the opportunity to use their bodies' own cells to repair and replace damaged joint tissue. An alternative to joint replacement surgery, stem cell therapy can be used on any joint. Tendonitis or injuries to the Achilles tendon are also good responders to the treatment. Dubbed the 21st Century penicillin, stem cell therapy now offers hope and unprecedented opportunities for healing. Medicine is entering a new era. While in the news for years, stem cell discussions focused on the use of human embryos, producing much debate. Now, however, most scientists and physicians use adult stem cell harvesting and re-implantation, extracting adult stem cells from a person's own body not from human embryos and fetuses. Unfortunately the United States had a ban on stem cell research and, therefore, American medicine was to some extent 10 to 15 years behind its European counterparts. In 2009, however, the United States created a minimally manipulated threshold, giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority over the regenerative application of stem cell therapy. The new rules have allowed the restorative field to catch up with similar practices in Europe. Despite the inaccessibility … Continue reading →