Cell Therapy News Volume 15.09 | Mar 10 2014

Human Skin-Derived Precursor Cells Are Poorly Immunogenic and Modulate the Allogeneic Immune Response
Human skin-derived precursors are multipotent somatic stem cells that persist within the dermis throughout adulthood and harbor potential clinical applicability. Scientists investigated their immunogenicity and immunosuppressive features, both in vitro and in vivo. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Optimized Lentiviral Vectors for HIV Gene Therapy: Multiplexed Expression of Small RNAs and Inclusion of MGMT^P140K Drug Resistance Gene
Investigators created lentiviral vectors with an engineered polycistronic platform derived from the endogenous MCM7 gene to express a diverse set of small antiviral RNAs and a drug resistance MGMT^P140K marker. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Transplantation of Human Menstrual Blood Stem Cells to Treat Premature Ovarian Failure in Mouse Model
Scientists aimed to determine whether human endometrial stem cells (HuMenSCs) can serve as cell therapy tools and be used for the treatment of premature ovarian failure (POF). After treating with cyclophosphamide, on the first estrus period, HuMenSCs were injected into a cyclophosphamide-induced mouse model of POF. [Stem Cell Dev] Abstract

In Vivo Gene Activity of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells after Scaffold-Mediated Local Transplantation
Researchers investigated the in vivo gene expression activity of human mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into calvarial defects either directly post-seeding on collagen sponges or after overnight in vitro culturing post-seeding. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

A Short-Term Treatment with Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Enhances Stem Cell Phenotype of Human Dental Pulp Cells
Scientists investigated the effects of a short-term treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the stem cell phenotype and differentiation ability of human dental pulp stem/progenitor cells. [Stem Cell Res Ther]
Abstract | Full Article

Low Rate of Infusional Toxicity after Expanded Cord Blood Transplantation
Investigators concluded that the infusion of unmanipulated cord blood followed by expanded cord blood products is a safe procedure associated with a low probability of inducing severe reactions. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

Gene Profiling of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Astrocyte Progenitors following Spinal Cord Engraftment
Based on the emerging roles for astrocytes in neurological disorders, researchers investigated whether human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived astrocyte progenitors could be engrafted to the rodent spinal cord and how the characteristics of these cells changed between in vitro culture and after transplantation to the in vivo spinal cord environment. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the cell, gene and immunotherapy research field.

Bioheart Announces Positive Six Month Data from ANGEL Phase I Trial
Bioheart, Inc. released six month data from its Phase I ANGEL Trial. Fully funded by Bioheart, the trial is being conducted in Mexico at the Hospital Angeles in conjunction with the Regenerative Medicine Institute. [Bioheart, Inc.] Press Release

CBER Finalizes Two Guidance Documents on Use of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells
Two new guidance documents just released by the US Food and Drug Administration finalize recommendations for Biologics License Applications and Investigational New Drug Applications submitted in support of minimally manipulated placental or umbilical cord blood intended to help treat patients with hematopoietic system disorders. [Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society] Editorial

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Genocea Biosciences Announces Collaboration to Characterize T Cell Responses to Cancer Antigens
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. announced a joint research collaboration with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School to characterize anti-tumor T cell responses in melanoma patients. This collaboration extends the use of the company’s proprietary ATLAS™ platform for the rapid discovery of T cell antigens to cancer immunotherapy approaches. [Genocea Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

NeoStem and Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Research Institute Announce Second Research Collaboration Exploring NeoStem’s VSEL^TM Technology for Retinal Repair
NeoStem, Inc. announced that it has entered into a sponsored research collaboration with Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The objective of the research is to investigate the role of very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs™), as well as CD34⁺ cells, in a study that will compare the efficacy of these two cell types for retinal repair. [NeoStem, Inc.] Press Release

Cynata Partners with University of Massachusetts to Conduct Graft versus Host Disease PoC Study
Cynata Therapeutics Ltd announced that it has commenced a study using its unique Cymerus™ stem cell technology to generate important data for partnering discussions and as a prelude to a proposed clinical trial in graft-versus-host disease. [Cynata Therapeutics Ltd] Press Release

Catalent Announces Agreement for One of the First Regenerative Therapies to Employ iPS Cells in Humans with CiRA, Kyoto University
Catalent Pharma Solutions announced an agreement with the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University in Japan to make a major advancement toward one of the first regenerative human therapies with induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells applicable to humans. [Catalent, Inc.] Press Release

OHSU Announces Creation of New Embryonic Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Center
Oregon Health & Science University announced the creation of the OHSU Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, Ph.D., a world-renowned leader in embryonic stem cell and gene therapy research. [Oregon Health & Science University] Press Release

Celladon Completes Enrollment of CUPID 2 Trial for Advanced Heart Failure
Celladon Corporation announced it has completed enrollment and randomized 250 patients in the Phase IIb trial titled “Calcium Up-Regulation by Percutaneous Administration of Gene Therapy In Cardiac Disease,” known as CUPID 2, which is evaluating the efficacy and safety of MYDICAR (AAV1/SERCA2a) in patients with NYHA class III/IV symptoms of systolic heart failure. [GlobeNewswire, Inc.] Press Release

Arrowhead Receives Regulatory Approval to Begin Phase IIa Trial of Chronic Hepatitis B Candidate ARC-520
Arrowhead Research Corporation announced that it received regulatory approval to begin a Phase IIa clinical trial of ARC-520, its RNAi-based drug candidate for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. [Arrowhead Research Corporation] Press Release

Heat Biologics Commences Dosing of First Patient in Phase I/II Study of Novel Cancer Immunotherapy Product Candidate HS-410 for the Treatment of Bladder Cancer
Heat Biologics, Inc. announced the first patient has been dosed in its Phase I/II bladder cancer clinical study with product candidate, HS-410. HS-410 is an investigational biologic designed to activate a T-cell mediated pan-antigen immune response for the treatment of bladder cancer. [Heat Biologics, Inc.] Press Release

US FDA Approves Pluristem’s Commercial Scale Cell Manufacturing Process
Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed Pluristem’s comparability studies of its PLacental eXpanded cell products and granted approval for the company to manufacture these products in its new commercial-scale cell manufacturing facility. [Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Dendreon Announces Plans to Make PROVENGE^® Commercially Available in Europe
Dendreon Corporation announced that it plans to make PROVENGE^® (autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells activated with PAP-GM-CSF or sipuleucel-T) available in Europe, beginning with Germany and the United Kingdom. [Dendreon Corporation] Press Release

NEW Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium: Medicinal Stem Cell Products
October 9-14, 2014
Leipzig, Germany

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Postdoctoral Position – Human Stem Cell Biology and Hematopoiesis (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

Cell Culture Specialist – Manufacturing of Cell Therapy Products (Tisch MS Research Center of New York)

Translational Research Scientist – Hematopoietic Cellular Therapy Program (University of Chicago)

Postdoctoral Position – Cardiovascular Electrophysiology Research Involving Human ESC or iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Hemostasis Gene Therapy (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Postdoctoral Fellowships – Tissue Regeneration and Molecular Cell Engineering (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Project Manager – Cell Therapy (University of California, Irvine)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetic Enzymes in Breast Cancer (University of Wisconsin – Madison)

Postdoctoral Position – Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (RUNMC)

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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