Cell Therapy News Volume 12.43 | Oct 31 2011

Therapeutic Vaccination with TG4010 and First-Line Chemotherapy in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Controlled Phase IIB Trial
This study assessed TG4010 in combination with first-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. [Lancet Oncol] Abstract | Press Release

AAV-8 Vector Expressing IL-24 Efficiently Suppresses Tumor Growth Mediated by Specific Mechanisms in MLL/AF4-Positive ALL Model Mice
Investigators examined the effects of adeno-associated virus type 8 (AAV8) vector-mediated muscle-directed systemic gene therapy in mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)/AF4-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using IL24. [Blood] Abstract

Nestin- and DCX-Positive Cells Reside in Adult Spinal Cord Meninges and Participate to Injury-Induced Parenchymal Reaction
In this study scientists describe a new population of cells resident in the adult rat spinal cord meninges that express the neural stem/precursor markers nestin and doublecortin. [Stem Cells] Abstract | Press Release

Significance of Re-Myelination by Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Transplanted into the Injured Spinal Cord
Findings establish the biological importance of re-myelination by graft-derived cells for functional recovery after the transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells into the injured spinal cord. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Preclinical Safety of RNAi-Mediated HTT Suppression in the Rhesus Macaque as a Potential Therapy for Huntington’s Disease
Here, scientists investigate whether a partial reduction of HTT in the normal non-human primate putamen is safe. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Normal Collagen and Bone Production by Gene-Targeted Human Osteogenesis Imperfecta iPSCs
Results demonstrate that the combination of gene targeting and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derivation can be used to produce potentially therapeutic cells from patients with genetic disease. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Atelocollagen-Mediated Systemic Delivery Prevents Immunostimulatory Adverse Effects of siRNA in Mammals
Here, researchers show that atelocollagen-mediated systemic delivery of short interfering RNA (siRNA) without chemical modifications did not cause any immunostimulation in both animals and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, even if the siRNA harbored an interferon-inducible sequence. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Refractory Cytopenias After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Investigators report for the first time four cases of refractory posttransplant cytopenias (three patients with thrombocytopenia and one with neutropenia) that were treated with mesenchymal stem cells from a third-party donor. [Transfusion] Abstract

Splicing-Directed Therapy in a New Mouse Model of Human Accelerated Aging
Using a genetically modified mouse strain that carries the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome mutation, scientists have developed an antisense morpholino–based therapy that prevents the pathogenic Lmna splicing, markedly reducing the accumulation of progerin and its associated nuclear defects. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Surgeons Successfully Regenerate Tissue-Engineered Small Intestine from Frozen Intestinal Cells
Researchers were able to successfully isolate and store organoid units and later generate tissue-engineered small intestine in a mouse model. [Press release from Newswise discussing research presented at the 2011 Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, San Francisco] Press Release

Surgeons Develop Simultaneous Tissue and Stem Cell Transplant Technique
Surgical researchers have pioneered a method using stem cells that may one day eliminate the need for antirejection drugs in transplants. [Press release from Newswise discussing research presented at the 2011 Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, San Francisco] Press Release

Herpes Virus Shows Early Promise In Treating Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Researchers report they have successfully treated triple-negative breast cancer in petri dishes and in mouse models with a method based upon a herpes simplex virus. [Press release from Newswise discussing research presented at the 2011 Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, San Francisco] Press Release

Geron Announces Presentation at ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS
Geron Corporation announced data on the use of GRNOPC1, oligodendrocyte progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells, for myelin repair in a non-human primate model. [Press release from Geron Corporation discussing research presented at the 5th Joint Triennial Congress of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, Amsterdam] Press Release

A New Hope for Patients with HIV
When an HIV-positive patient with leukemia received an experimental hematopoietic stem cell therapy to treat his cancer, something surprising occurred: the treatment also removed all traces of HIV from his blood. [Press release from the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) discussing research presented at the AABB Annual Meeting & CTTXPO 2011, San Diego] Press Release

TxCell Presents Final Positive Results of the Phase I/II Clinical Trial with Antigen-Specific Regulatory T Cells in Crohn’s Disease
TxCell SA announces the presentation of final positive results of the phase I/II study in Crohn’s disease (CATS-1) with its leading product candidate, OvaSave®. [Press release from TxCell SA discussing research presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week, Stockholm] Press Release

Using Gene Therapy to Make Thyroid Tumors More Susceptible to Radioiodine Therapy
Using a non-viral gene delivery system based on nanoparticle vectors, researchers are able to introduce the gene for the sodium iodide symporter into radioiodine-refractory tumor cells, enhancing their uptake of therapeutic radioiodine. [Press release from Newswise discussing research presented at the 81st Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association, Indian Wells] Press Release

Neuralstem Receives FDA Approval to Dose Patients in Cervical Region in Ongoing ALS Trial
Neuralstem, Inc. announced that, after reviewing safety data from the first 12 patients, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the trial to advance to transplanting patients in the cervical region. [Neuralstem, Inc.] Press Release

First Patient Receives Novel Gene Therapy for Type of Blindness
The first patient to receive gene therapy for an incurable type of blindness was treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford as part of a trial led by Oxford University. [University of Oxford] Press Release

Stem Cell Action Coalition Calls for Mississippi Voters to Reject Initiative 26 “Personhood Amendment”
The Stem Cell Action Coalition calls for voters in Mississippi to vote “no” on Initiative 26, the so-called Mississippi “personhood amendment”. [Stem Cell Action Coalition, United States] Press Release

Five University Teams Bid for New Research Campus in New York City
New York City received bids from at least five university-based teams to build a science and engineering center in the city. [New York City, United States] Press Release

CIRM Allocates $38 Million for Programs to Foster Young Scientists and Fund Basic Stem Cell Discoveries
The governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved future funding rounds worth $38 million that would foster creativity and scientific innovation in high school students and fund basic stem cell discoveries. [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, United States] Press Release

European Ban on Stem-Cell Patents Has a Silver Lining
In the days following the ruling, lawyers, funders and researchers have taken a more moderate view. There are other ways for companies and scientists who commercialize embryonic stem cells to protect their inventions in Europe, they say. [European Court of Justice, European Union] Press Release

EU to Fund Tunisian Research Program
Tunisia has launched a program to promote science research and innovation, which will run from 2011 to 2014 with a €12 million fund provided by the European Union (EU). [Tunisian Agency for the Promotion of Scientific Research, Tunisia] Press Release

Silence Therapeutics Signs Collaboration with Mirna Therapeutics to Evaluate Delivery of Novel MicroRNA Therapeutics
Silence Therapeutics plc announced that it has entered into an agreement with Mirna Therapeutics Inc. to assess the delivery capabilities of Silence’s proprietary AtuPLEX™ and DBTC delivery systems for Mirna’s novel microRNAs. [Silence Therapeutics plc] Press Release

CCMTR Begins Collaboration with Wake Forest University Institute for Regenerative Medicine
NC State’s Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research (CCMTR) and the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest’s Baptist Medical Center are pooling resources in order to find safe and effective ways to use stem cells to regenerate damaged organs in people and pets. [North Carolina (NC) State University College of Veterinary Medicine] Press Release

ViaCord Nabs Rights to TRT’s Platform for Extracting Stem Cells from Cord Tissue
ViaCord® negotiated exclusive U.S. rights to Tissue Regeneration Therapeutics’ (TRT) human umbilical cord perivascular cell technology for extracting mesenchymal stem cells from the tissue surrounding umbilical cord vessels. [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News] Press Release

Tech Entrepreneur Offers Grants for Indie Science
Breakout Labs is offering grants to independent researchers working on “radical” ideas. [Science Insider] Press Release

RUSNANO Invests in Selecta Biosciences and BIND Biosciences to Develop and Commercialize Vaccines and Cancer Drugs through Expanded Operations in Russia
RUSNANO is co-investing $25 million in BIND Biosciences and $25 million in Selecta Biosciences, for a total RUSNANO investment of $50 million within the total financing rounds of $94.5 million in the two companies combined. [RUSNANO] Press Release

Upstate Researcher Lands $1.5 Million NIH Grant for Vision Research
Upstate Medical University researcher Andrea Viczian, Ph.D., has been awarded a four-year grant totaling nearly $1.5 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [Upstate Medical University] Press Release

Consortium Gets $7.2 Million Contract Renewal To Promote Phase II Clinical Trials
The National Cancer Institute recently awarded $7.2 million for the competitive renewal of the Southeast Phase 2 Consortium. [Newswise] Press Release

Activartis Develops Dendritic Cell-Based Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine in Phase II
Activartis GmbH is developing a cancer immunotherapy concept which is currently in phase II clinical trials. Initially directed against aggressive brain cancer, it will, in principle, be applicable to all types of cancerous diseases. [b3c Newswire] Press Release

Japan’s New Okinawa Institute Officially Becomes Graduate University
A budding new Japanese graduate school backed by the likes of Nobel laureates Sydney Brenner, Susumu Tonegawa, Jerome Friedman, and others has cleared the last hurdle required to start teaching. Earlier, Japan’s cabinet officially approved the law formally recognizing the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University. [ScienceInsider] Press Release

Announcement of Requirements and Registration for the NIBIB DEsign by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge (FR Doc No: 2011-27860)

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2011-27862)

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing (FR Doc No: 2011-27858)

Initiation of Public Private Industry Partnership on Translation of Nanotechnology in Cancer (FR Doc No: 2011-27939)

National Cancer Institute; Amended Notice of Meeting (FR Doc No: 2011-27868)

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc No: 2011-27863)

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Meetings (FR Doc No: 2011-27863)

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Meetings (FR Doc No: 2011-27865)

National Human Genome Research Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc No: 2011-27866)

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request: National Institutes of Health Construction Grants (FR Doc No: 2011-27850)

SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of Cancer Therapeutics, Imaging Technologies, Interventional Devices, Diagnostics, and Prognostics Toward Commercialization (R44)

NCI Will Participate in RFA-ES-11-010, “Environmental Influences on Stem Cells in Development, Health and Disease” (R21)

Roster of the Blood Products Advisory Committee

SOPP 8420: FDAAA Section 921: Posting of Potential Signals of Serious Risk

FDA Invests $2 Million in Partnerships through Centers of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the award of $2 million to support two regional Centers of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation. Press Release

Bar Code Technologies for Drugs and Biological Products; Retrospective Review Under Executive Order 13563; Request for Comments [FR Doc No: 2011-27657]

Pilot Program for Parallel Review of Medical Products; Correction [FR Doc No: 2011-27694]

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

European Medicines Agency’s 2009 Budget Approved
The European Parliament has approved the discharge of the European Medicines Agency’s budget from 2009. Press Release

European Medicines Agency Simplifies SME Assignment Process
The European Medicines Agency has introduced a simplified process for handling requests from companies that wish to register as micro, small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Press Release

Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Medicines Consolidation Consultation Paves the Way for Regulatory Excellence
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency launched a formal public consultation on the consolidation of UK medicines legislation. Press Release

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Lab Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies)

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Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies)

Senior Development Associate (Genzyme Corporation)

Research Associate – Cell Culture (Stemgent, Inc.)

Scientist – Differentiation Segment (Stemgent, Inc.)

Clean Room Associate – Cell Therapy Manufacturing (Cell Medica Limited)

Junior/Senior Research Fellowship in Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research (Masaryk University)

Scientist II, Innovation – Cell Processing Technologies (Lonza Walkersville, Inc.)

Senior Manager, Innovation – Cell Processing Technologies (Lonza Walkersville, Inc.)

Lab Technologist Position (Michigan State University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Islet Cell Electrophysiology (Vanderbilt University)


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