ScienceDaily (May 10, 2012) This summer's action film, "The Amazing Spider-Man," is another match-up between the superhero and his nemesis the Lizard. Moviegoers and comic book fans alike will recall that the villain, AKA Dr. Curt Connors, was a surgeon who, after losing an arm, experimented with cell generation and reptilian DNA and was eventually able to grow back his missing limb. The latest issue of the journal Physiology contains a review article that looks at possible routes that unlock cellular regeneration in general, and the principles by which hair and feathers regenerate themselves in particular. The authors apply what is currently known about regenerative biology to the emerging field of regenerative medicine, which is being transformed from fantasy to reality. Review Article While the concept of regenerative medicine is relatively new, animals are well known to remake their hair and feathers regularly by normal regenerative physiological processes. In their review, the authors focus on (1) how extrafollicular environments can regulate hair and feather stem cell activities and (2) how different configurations of stem cells can shape organ forms in different body regions to fulfill changing physiological needs. The review outlines previous research on the role of normal regeneration of … Continue reading →

Connie K. Ho for RedOrbit.com A new study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has discovered two adult stem cell-like subpopulations in adult human skin. The findings allow for further research to be done in the area of personalized medicine and patient-specific cellular therapies. The study, using technology from Fibrocell Science, allowed the researchers to identify and confirm two types of cells in human skin cell cultures; the possible source of stem cell-like subpopulations from skin biopsies would be faster to perform, painless, and less invasive than current extractions from adipose tissues and bone marrow. The research, featured in the inaugural issue of BioResearch Open Access, discusses two subtypes of cells. BioResearch Open Access is a bimonthly, peer-reviewed journal. It features scientific topics like biochemistry, bioengineering, gene therapy, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, stem cells, systems biology, tissue engineering and biomaterials, and virology. Being able to identify two sub-populations of rare, viable and functional cells that behave like stem cells from within the skin is an important finding because both cell types have the potential to be investigated for diverse clinical applications, commented Dr. James A. Bryne, lead author of the report. Brynes research, first at … Continue reading →

SEATTLE, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cell Therapeutics, Inc.("CTI") (CTIC) today announced that it has received conditional marketing authorization from the European Commission ("EC") for Pixuvri (pixantrone) as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with multiply relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas ("NHL"). Pixuvri is the first approved treatment in the European Union ("EU") in this patient setting. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120510/SF05192) The decision allows CTI to market Pixuvri in the 27 Member States of the EU as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. CTI expects to make Pixuvri immediately available in the EU, initially through a named patient program. CTI plans to market and commercialize Pixuvri with its own sales force in the EU starting in the 2nd half of 2012. "Pixuvri is a welcome addition in our efforts to control disease progression in these late-stage aggressive NHL patients as it has demonstrated a significant benefit compared to standard treatments used at this stage of disease. By addressing this unmet need, Pixuvri adds an important treatment option for patients," said Norbert Schmitz, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Department of Hematology, Askelepios Klinik St. Georg in Hamburg, Germany. "The EC's decision for Pixuvri is an important milestone for adult … Continue reading →

SEATTLE, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cell Therapeutics, Inc.("CTI") (CTIC) today announced that it has received conditional marketing authorization from the European Commission ("EC") for Pixuvri (pixantrone) as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with multiply relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas ("NHL"). Pixuvri is the first approved treatment in the European Union ("EU") in this patient setting. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120510/SF05192) The decision allows CTI to market Pixuvri in the 27 Member States of the EU as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. CTI expects to make Pixuvri immediately available in the EU, initially through a named patient program. CTI plans to market and commercialize Pixuvri with its own sales force in the EU starting in the 2nd half of 2012. "Pixuvri is a welcome addition in our efforts to control disease progression in these late-stage aggressive NHL patients as it has demonstrated a significant benefit compared to standard treatments used at this stage of disease. By addressing this unmet need, Pixuvri adds an important treatment option for patients," said Norbert Schmitz, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Department of Hematology, Askelepios Klinik St. Georg in Hamburg, Germany. "The EC's decision for Pixuvri is an important milestone for adult … Continue reading →

BOUDRY, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Celgene International Srl, a subsidiary of Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG - News), today announced that results from three phase III studies evaluating the use of continuous REVLIMID (lenalidomide) treatment in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients or maintenance treatment with lenalidomide following autologous stem cell transplant were published online in the May 10, 2012 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. All three publications highlight the expanding body of clinical evidence supporting lenalidomide treatment in these areas. Continuous Lenalidomide Therapy (non-transplant eligible population): The first article highlights a Celgene-sponsored study of continuous lenalidomide treatment in elderly patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Continuous Lenalidomide Treatment for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (MM-015) This double-blind, phase III, multicenter, randomized study conducted by Celgene compared melphalanprednisonelenalidomide induction followed by lenalidomide maintenance (MPR-R), with melphalanprednisonelenalidomide (MPR), or melphalanprednisone (MP) followed by placebo in 459 patients aged 65 years with newly-diagnosed myeloma who were not eligible for autologous stem-cell transplant. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1112704 Post-transplant maintenance The two additional articles published in the edition highlighted cooperative group studies that evaluated the use of lenalidomide maintenance following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). In each of the studies, one funded by the National Cancer Institute and … Continue reading →