Bone Therapeutics Starts Patient Treatment in First Ever Clinical Trial with Allogeneic Bone Cell Therapy Product Bone Therapeutics announced that the first patient has been treated with its novel allogeneic osteoblastic (bone-forming) cell therapy product ALLOB® in its Phase I/IIa study for the treatment of delayed union fractures. [Bone Therapeutics] Press Release Merck’s Investigational Anti-PD-1 Antibody, Pembrolizumab, under Regulatory Review in Europe for the Treatment of Advanced Melanoma Merck announced the European Medicines Agency has accepted for review a marketing authorization application for pembrolizumab (MK-3475), the company’s investigational anti-PD-1 antibody, for the treatment of advanced melanoma. [Merck] Press Release Phase III First-Line Melanoma Study of Nivolumab, an Investigational PD-1 Checkpoint Inhibitor, Demonstrates Superior Overall Survival Compared to Dacarbazine; Study Stopped Early Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that a randomized blinded comparative Phase III study evaluating nivolumab versus dacarbazine in patients with previously untreated BRAF wild-type advanced melanoma was stopped early because an analysis conducted by the independent data monitoring committee showed evidence of superior overall survival in patients receiving nivolumab compared to the control arm. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release Calimmune Approved to Treat Second Group in HIV Stem Cell Gene Calimmune, Inc. announced that encouraging results from a first group of participants indicates the company is ready to begin treating a second cohort in a clinical trial involving the use of Cal-1, an innovative gene-based stem cell therapy to help protect individuals infected with HIV from progressing to AIDS. [Calimmune, Inc.] Press Release Pluristem Selects Rotator Cuff Repair as New Orthopedic Indication Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. announced it has selected rotator cuff repair as the second indication in its orthopedic clinical program. The company’s placental expanded cells offer potential as the first off-the-shelf cell therapy product for muscle and tendon regeneration that can be used to enhance repair after rotator cuff surgery. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release Yale Stem Cell Researchers Receive $5.6 Million in State Grants Yale researchers received a total of $5.6 million for stem cell research out of $10 million given to 18 state-based researchers. The largest sum, $1.2 million, is a group grant given to Yale University, led by principal investigator Joseph Craft, for research into the therapeutic role of induced pluripotent stem cells in human lupus, an autoimmune disease. [The New Haven Register] Article Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Launches Linda Rodgers Emory Fund for Accelerating Immune Therapy in Multiple Myeloma MMRF announced the generous donation of $1 million by Linda Rodgers Emory, a longtime supporter of the MMRF and recognized philanthropist. The Linda Rodgers Emory Fund for Accelerating Immune Therapy in Multiple Myeloma will urgently advance a pipeline of immunotherapeutic agents to benefit myeloma patients and enable critical research into the basic biology and mechanisms of immune response in myeloma. [Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation] Press Release Cellectis’ UCART19 Receives Advanced-Therapy Medicinal Product Classification from EMA Cellectis announced it received a scientific recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in consultation with the European Commission, for UCART19, its lead product candidate in adoptive immunotherapy against CD19 expressing leukemias and lymphomas. [Cellectis] Press Release Frederic Bushman, Ph.D. Receives Pioneer Award for Advancing Therapeutic Gene Delivery Methods Frederic D. Bushman’s early pioneering work in understanding how HIV reproduces by inserting its genetic material into the DNA of a host cell led to key advances in the ability to move pieces of DNA and whole genes between cells. In recognition of his scientific achievements and leadership in the field, Dr. Bushman is the recipient of a Pioneer Award from Human Gene Therapy. [Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (EurekAlert!)] Press Release | Editorial |