Cell Therapy News Volume 15.36 | Sep 15 2014

Cell Therapy with Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Encapsulated in Injectable Nanomatrix Gel Enhances Cell Engraftment and Promotes Cardiac Repair
Investigators evaluated the therapeutic potential and long-term engraftment of cardiomyocytes derived from mouse embryonic stem cells encapsulated in an injectable nanomatrix gel consisting of peptide amphiphiles incorporating cell adhesive ligand Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser in experimental myocardial infarction. [ACS Nano]
Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Magnetic Antibody-Linked Nanomatchmakers for Therapeutic Cell Targeting
Investigators applied targeted nanomedicine to achieve in vivo cell-mediated tissue repair, imaging and localized enrichment without cellular transplantation. ​Iron nanoparticles are conjugated with two types of antibodies (one against antigens on therapeutic cells and the other directed at injured cells) to produce magnetic bifunctional cell engager. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Primed 3D Injectable Microniches Enabling Low-Dosage Cell Therapy for Critical Limb Ischemia
Primed 3D microniches facilitated cell protection from mechanical insults during injection and in vivo cell retention, survival, and ultimate therapeutic functions in treatment of critical limb ischemia in mouse models compared with free cell-based therapy. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article

Gene Therapy Cures the Anemia and Lethal Bone Marrow Failure in Mouse Model for RPS19-Deficient Diamond-Blackfan Anemia
Enforced expression of ribosomal protein S19 improves the overall proliferative capacity, erythroid colony-forming potential and erythroid differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors from ribosomal protein S19-deficient patients in vitro and in vivo following xenotransplantation. [Haematologica] Abstract | Full Article

The Interplay of Dental Pulp Stem Cells and Endothelial Cells in an Injectable Peptide Hydrogel on Angiogenesis and Pulp Regeneration In Vivo
The peptide hydrogel PuraMatrix™ was used as a scaffold system to investigate the role of dental pulp stem cells in triggering angiogenesis and the potential for regenerating vascularized pulp in vivo. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Paracrine Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Human Adipose Tissue in Bone Regeneration
Investigators evaluated by radiographic, morphometric and histological analysis the ability of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human adipose tissue and their conditioned medium, to repair surgical bone lesions using an in vivo model (rabbit mandibles). [PLoS One] Full Article

In Vivo Osteoprotegerin Gene Therapy Preventing Bone Loss Induced by Periodontitis
Researchers investigated the effects of osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene therapy on alveolar bone resorption caused by experimental periodontitis in rats, thus forming a foundation for potential clinical applications of OPG gene therapy in the treatment of periodontitis and peri-implantitis. [J Periodontal Res] Abstract

Enhanced Re-Endothelialization of Acellular Kidney Scaffolds for Whole Organ Engineering via Antibody Conjugation of Vasculatures
Scientists describe an endothelial cell seeding approach that permits effective coating of the vascular matrix of the decellularized porcine kidney scaffold using a combination of static and ramping perfusion cell seeding. [Technology] Abstract | Press Release

Tissue-Engineering-Based Strategies for Regenerative Endodontics
This review provides a comprehensive perspective on the latest discoveries related to the use of scaffolds and/or stem cells in regenerative endodontics. The authors focused on bioactive nanofibrous scaffolds, injectable scaffolds and stem cells, and pre-clinical findings using stem-cell-based strategies. [J Dent Res] Abstract

New Generation Dendritic Cell Vaccine for Immunotherapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
The authors review their extensive studies on the development of a protocol for the generation of dendritic cells with improved immunogenicity and optimized for the use in cell-based immunotherapy. [Cancer Immunol Immunother] Abstract

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

APC Announces Positive Results in Combination Cancer Immunotherapy
Advanced Proteome Therapeutics Corporation (APC) reported results from its current round of experiments that not only reinforce previous evidence of the immunotherapeutic properties of APC’s protein modification technology, but hold forth the possibility of synergistic effects with other immunotherapies while heralding the entry of a new and potentially powerful approach in the arsenal of anticancer weaponry. [Advanced Proteome Therapeutics Corporation (Marketwire L.P.)] Press Release

Former Portuguese Banker Gets Top European Research Policy Job
Carlos Moedas, secretary of state to Portugal’s center-right prime minister, has been appointed European commissioner in charge of research, science, and innovation. If his appointment is approved by the European Parliament, he will take over from Máire Geoghegan-Quinn for a five-year term in this top-level position at the European Commission, the European Union’s executive branch. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

FDA Defends Plan to Regulate Lab-Developed Tests
A move by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate diagnostic tests developed in thousands of laboratories is picking up steam – and drawing fire. The agency recently notified Congress that it plans to regulate some of these so-called laboratory developed tests – which, unlike tests marketed by diagnostic manufacturers, don’t currently require FDA approval. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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Cancer Research UK, Cancer Research Technology and Asterias Biotherapeutics Partner to Trial Immunotherapy Vaccine for Lung Cancer
Cancer Research UK and Cancer Research Technology have reached an agreement with Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. to take forward Asterias’ novel immunotherapy treatment AST-VAC2 into clinical trials in subjects with non-small cell lung cancer. [Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Merck KGaA Discontinues Clinical Development Program of Tecemotide as a Monotherapy in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Merck KGaA announced that its biopharmaceutical division will discontinue the clinical development program of its investigational MUC1 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy tecemotide as a monotherapy in Stage III non-small cell lung cancer. [Merck KGaA] Press Release

Initiation of Phase III IMPALA Study with Immunotherapy MGN1703 in Colorectal Cancer
MOLOGEN AG has enrolled the first patient in the international IMPALA study. Primary objective of the Phase III pivotal trial is to prove that a switch maintenance therapy with the cancer immunotherapy MGN1703 leads to an increased overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. [MOLOGEN AG] Press Release

Bone Therapeutics Receives Clearance for ALLOB^® Phase II Trial in Spinal Fusion
Bone Therapeutics announced that it has received clearance from the Competent Authorities and Central Ethics Committee in Belgium for a Phase II proof-of-concept study to assess safety and efficacy of its allogeneic osteoblastic cell therapy product ALLOB^® in spinal fusion procedures for degenerative lumbar disc disease. [Bone Therapeutics] Press Release

Clinical Trial to Test Safety of Stem Cell-Derived Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, in partnership with ViaCyte, Inc. have launched the first-ever human Phase I/II clinical trial of a stem cell-derived therapy for patients with Type 1 diabetes. [University of California, San Diego] Press Release

BerGenBio Granted Platform Patent – CellSelect™ Platform also Described in Peer-Reviewed Journal
BerGenBio AS announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued United States Patent 8,735,064 covering a method for creating and identifying functional interference RNA molecules. [BerGenBio AS (MarketWatch, Inc.)] Press Release

Advaxis Provides a Clinical Development Update for Its Immunotherapy, ADXS-HPV, for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer
Advaxis, Inc. announced the completion of an End-of-Phase II Meeting with the United States Food and Drug Administration, for its lead Lm-LLO cancer immunotherapy, ADXS-HPV, for the treatment of recurrent cervical cancer in women. [Advaxis, Inc.] Press Release

Tory Williams Combats Controversy Surrounding Stem Cell Therapy with New Book
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. announced the launch of first time hard cover title Inevitable Collision: The Inspiring Story that Brought Stem Cell Research to Conservative America, in an effort to bring awareness to the growing conversation and debate surrounding stem cell research and regenerative medicine. [Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (EurekAlert)] Press Release

Prospective Grant of Exclusive Evaluation License: Development of Antibody-Drug Conjugates Comprising Topoisomerase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Human Cancers (FR Doc. No: 2014-21855)

Revocation of General Safety Test Regulations That Are Duplicative of Requirements in Biologics License Applications; Correction (FR Doc. No: 2014-21481)

Agency Information Collection Activities; Announcement of Office of Management and Budget Approval; Testing Communications on Biological Products (FR Doc. No: 2014-21533)

Unique Device Identification System: Small Entity Compliance Guide; Guidance for Industry; Availability (FR Doc. No: 2014-21480)

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PhD Opportunities – Cell Therapies (Cooperative Research Centre for Cell Therapy Manufacturing)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiac Animal Surgery (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Position – Transplantation Aspects of Hepatocytes Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (INSERM UMR 1064)

Associate Research Fellow – Cell Therapy Manufacturing Process (Pfizer, Inc.)

Research Associate – Gene Therapy Center (University of Massachusetts)

Postdoctoral Fellow – New Combination Immune Therapies for Cancer (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Postdoctoral Position – Scaffolding and Drug Delivery for Regenerative Medicine Applications (Ospedale Niguarda)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Liver Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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