Cell Therapy News Volume 13.38 | Oct 1 2012

May 12, 2022

Issue 13.38 October 1, 2012

TOP STORY

The Mouse Lymph Node as an Ectopic Transplantation Site for Multiple Tissues
Cell-based therapy has been viewed as a promising alternative to organ transplantation, but cell transplantation aimed at organ repair is not always possible. Researchers showed that the mouse lymph node can support the engraftment and growth of healthy cells from multiple tissues. [Nat Biotechnol] Abstract | Press Release

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Use of Reprogrammed Cells to Identify Therapy for Respiratory Papillomatosis
Researchers used conditional reprogramming to generate cell cultures from the patient’s normal and tumorous lung tissue. Chemosensitivity testing identified vorinostat as a potential therapeutic agent. At three months after treatment initiation, tumor sizes had stabilized, with durable effects at 15 months. [N Engl J Med]
Abstract | Press Release

Recombinant Human Interleukin-7 (CYT107) Promotes T Cell Recovery following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation
Results indicated that recombinant human interleukin-7 can enhance immune recovery after a T-cell depleted allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation without causing significant GvHD or other serious toxicity. [Blood] Abstract

Therapeutic Stem Cells Expressing Variants of EGFR-Specific Nanobodies Have Antitumor Effects
Stem cell-delivered immunoconjugates of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-specific nanobodies and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) target a wide spectrum of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell types with varying degrees of TRAIL resistance and significantly reduce GBM growth and invasion in both established and primary invasive GBM in mice. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

A Kinase Inhibitor Screen Identifies Small-Molecule Enhancers of Reprogramming and iPS Cell Generation
Researchers performed an inhibitor screen to identify kinases that enhance, or present a barrier to, reprogramming. In particular, inhibitors of p38, inositol trisphosphate 3-kinase, and Aurora A kinase potently enhance induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation, and iPSCs derived from inhibitor-treated somatic cells are capable of reaching a fully reprogrammed state. [Nat Commun] Abstract | Press Release

Improved Survival and Reduced Phenotypic Severity following AAV9/MECP2 Gene Transfer to Neonatal and Juvenile Male Mecp2 Knockout Mice
Scientists reported improvements in survival and phenotypic severity in methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (Mecp2)-null male mice after neonatal intracranial delivery of a single-stranded AAV9/chicken β-actin-MECP2 vector. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Methods to Improve Adoptive T-Cell Therapy for Melanoma: IFN-γ Enhances Anticancer Responses of Cell Products for Infusion
Further development of adoptive T-cell therapy with autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes has the potential to markedly change the long-term prognosis of patients with metastatic melanoma, and modifications of the original protocol that can improve its clinical efficacy are highly desirable. Researchers demonstrated that a high in vitro tumor reactivity of infusion products was associated with clinical responses upon adoptive transfer. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

The Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of Intravenous Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Alzheimer’s Disease Mice
Investigators reported that intravenously or intracerebrally transplanted human adipose-derived stem cells significantly rescued memory deficit and neuropathology, in the brains of Tg mice by up-regulating IL-10 and VEGF, and may be of possible use for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. [PLoS One]
Full Article | Press Release

Apoptotic Susceptibility to DNA Damage of Pluripotent Stem Cells Facilitates Pharmacologic Purging of Teratoma Risk
Researchers exploited a hypersensitive apoptotic response to DNA damage within pluripotent stem cells to decrease risk of dysregulated growth and augment the safety profile of transplant-ready, bioengineered progenitor cells. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

REVIEWS

Stem Cell Transplantation as a Therapy for Cardiac Fibrosis
The main focus of this article was to discuss the impact of different types of stem cells on cardiac fibrosis and associated cardiac remodeling in a variety of experimental models of heart failure, particularly myocardial infarction. [J Pathol] Abstract

Development of Stem Cell Therapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence
This article reviews the biology of stem cells and their applications as a cell-based treatment for stress urinary incontinence. [Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol] Abstract

SCIENCE NEWS

Neuralstem Approved to Commence Ischemic Stroke Trial in China
Neuralstem, Inc. announced it has been approved to commence a clinical trial to treat motor deficits due to ischemic stroke with its spinal cord stem cells at BaYi Brain Hospital, in Beijing, China, through its subsidiary, Neuralstem China. [Neuralstem, Inc.] Press Release

StemCells, Inc. Achieves Spinal Cord Injury Milestone with First Neural Stem Cell Transplant Into Patient with Sensory Function Below the Level of Injury
StemCells, Inc. announced that the first patient with an incomplete spinal cord injury has been enrolled in the Company’s Phase I/II clinical trial in chronic spinal cord injury and transplanted with the Company’s proprietary HuCNS-SC^® neural stem cells. [StemCells, Inc.] Press Release

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POLICY

Bucking European Trend, Swedish Government Plans Major Science Investment
The Swedish government has proposed to raise its spending on research and innovation significantly. A new plan calls for adding $609 million to the annual budget by 2016, a 13.2% increase. The hike would be implemented in steps, starting with $264 million in 2013. [Swedish Education and Research Minister, Sweden] Press Release

Billions of Spanish Research Euros Remain Unspent
The Spanish government’s science budget has been declining sharply for years. But the situation is even worse than the official numbers show. Billions of euros in the government’s science budget were never spent, according to an analysis by the Confederation of Spanish Scientific Societies. [Confederation of Spanish Scientific Societies, Spain] Press Release

French Science Dodges Austerity
French Higher Education and Research Minister Geneviève Fioraso had something to smile about as she briefed reporters the day before the government unveiled its 2013 austerity budget. Hers was one of the few ministries to escape spending cuts as socialist President François Hollande and his team strive to honor their commitment to slash the deficit from 4.5% of gross domestic product to 3% next year. [French President, France]
Press Release

BUSINESS

Pluristem Selects Fisher BioServices as Worldwide Dispatch Distributor of Its PLX Cell Therapies to Serve Global Clinical Studies
Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. announced it has selected Fisher BioServices, Inc. as worldwide dispatch distributor of its off-the-shelf PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cells. Fisher BioServices will provide cryogenic storage and distribution of Pluristem’s PLX cells for its clinical trials and preclinical sites around the world. [Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Stem Cell-Modifying Antibodies for Regenerative Therapies
Stem cell therapeutics firm Medistem and Superview Biotechnology signed a collaboration centered on the use of Medistem’s stem cell lines to screen for monoclonal antibodies with potential in regenerative medicine. The aim of the collaboration is to identify monoclonal antibodies that modulate the activity of stem cells that are already present in the body, in effect, taking an alternative tack to approaches based on developing stem cells-derived therapeutics. [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News] Press Release

Power of the Dream Ventures Acquires Genetic Immunity
Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc. announced the acquisition of Genetic Immunity, Inc. a Phase III clinical stage biotech company with experimental nanomedicines that will lead to the next generation of immunotherapies in a market that that is projected to reach $11.00 billion by 2018. [Genetic Immunity, Inc.] Press Release

Cytori Awarded Contract Valued up to $106 Million by Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to Develop Cell Therapies for Thermal Burns Combined with Radiation Injury
Cytori Therapeutics has been awarded a contract that may be valued up to $106 million by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s BARDA, if all Contract Options are executed. The Contract is for preclinical and clinical development of the Company’s cell therapy for the treatment of thermal burns combined with radiation injury. [Cytori Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Carnegie Mellon’s Adam W. Feinberg Wins Prestigious Innovation Award from National Institutes of Health
Carnegie Mellon University’s Adam W. Feinberg was awarded a five-year, $2.25 million National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award to continue developing new biomaterials and cardiac tissue engineering strategies to help repair the human heart following injury and disease. [PR Newswire Association LLC]
Press Release

Vital Therapies, Inc. Announces First Closing of $76 Million Staged Financing to Fund Phase III Pivotal Clinical Trial of ELAD^® in USA and EU
Vital Therapies, Inc. announced the first closing of $16 million from a multi-stage commitment to invest $76 million in the company led by Vital Therapies’ existing private investors. The investment is designed to fund three pivotal phase III trials of the company’s bio-artificial liver therapy, ELAD, in two specific forms of acute liver failure. [Vital Therapies, Inc.] Press Release

Animal Cell Therapies Announces $1.5 million Developmental Work in Canine Orthopedic Product Line
Animal Cell Therapies, Inc. announced the commitment of $1.5 million to develop a proprietary line of canine orthopedic products called PROTECT. The dedicated funds will allow Animal Cell Therapies, in partnership with leading researchers, to fully develop the PROTECT Cell Therapy product portfolio. [Animal Cell Therapies, Inc.] Press Release

Osiris Therapeutics Regains Worldwide Rights to Prochymal and Chondrogen
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. announced the conclusion of its collaboration with Genzyme, a Sanofi company. As the Collaboration Agreement is now ended, all rights to Prochymal® and Chondrogen^TM worldwide revert back to Osiris. [Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

TiGenix’s New European Production Facility Obtains EMA Approval for Commercial Production of ChondroCelect
TiGenix announced that after the successful cGMP inspection by the Dutch authorities, it has obtained the crucial approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the production of ChondroCelect, the company’s commercial cell therapy product for cartilage repair in the knee, in its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sittard Geleen. [TiGenix NV] Press Release

New Edition of Definitive (Two-Volume) Resource in Stem Cells Released
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced that its chief scientific officer, Robert Lanza, M.D. and Anthony Atala, M.D. have released the second edition of Handbook of Stem Cells (Academic Press/Elsevier), the widely-recognized definitive resource in the field of stem cells. [Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.] Press Release

NIH

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-23623)

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-23626)

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-24009)

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc No: 2012-24012)