Cell Therapy News Volume 16.20 | May 25 2015

Polymeric Microparticles for Sustained and Local Delivery of AntiCD40 and AntiCTLA-4 in Immunotherapy of Cancer
Scientists investigated the feasibility of the use of polymeric microparticles for sustained and local delivery of immunomodulatory antibodies in immunotherapy of cancer. Mice bearing subcutaneous MC-38 tumors were treated with the same dose of immunomodulatory antibodies formulated either in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant or in microparticles. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Nitric Oxide Releasing Hydrogel Enhances the Therapeutic Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Myocardial Infarction
Researchers transplanted adipose derived-mesenchymal stem cells with a hydrogel, naphthalene covalently conjugated a short peptide, FFGGG, and β-galactose caged nitric oxide (NO) donor, which can release NO molecule in response to β-galactosidase. [Biomaterials] Abstract

Longitudinal In Vivo Evaluation of Bone Regeneration by Combined Measurement of Multi-Pinhole SPECT and Micro-CT for Tissue Engineering
The authors employed modular designed poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels that release bone morphogenetic protein to guide the healing of critical sized calvarial bone defects. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Hypoxia-Preconditioned Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis
Investigators aimed to prolong the duration of survival of engrafted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and to enhance the effectiveness of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis transplantation therapy by the use of hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Ectopic Expression of miR-494 Inhibited the Proliferation, Invasion and Chemoresistance of Pancreatic Cancer by Regulating SIRT1 and c-Myc
Scientists showed that overexpressed microRNA-494 (miR-494) could inhibit proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, which was due to induction of apoptosis, G1 phase arrest and senescence. [Gene Ther] Abstract

Generation of Donor-Specific T Regulatory Type 1 Cells from Patients on Dialysis for Cell Therapy after Kidney Transplantation
Investigators tested the ability to generate donor-specific T regulatory type 1 cell-enriched lymphocytes from patients on dialysis on the waiting list for kidney transplantation. [Transplantation] Abstract

Regenerative and Immunogenic Characteristics of Cultured Nucleus Pulposus Cells from Human Cervical Intervertebral Discs
Scientists evaluated the regenerative and immunogenic properties of mildly and severely degenerated cervical nucleus pulposus cells with regard to cell isolation, proliferation and differentiation, as well as to cell surface markers and co-cultures with autologous or allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells including changes in their immunogenic properties after three-dimensional culture. [PLoS One] Full Article

Effects of In Vitro Osteogenic Induction on In Vivo Tissue Regeneration by Dental Pulp and Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells
Researchers determined the effects of in vitro odontogenic/cementogenic differentiation on the in vivo tissue regeneration of dental pulp stem cells and periodontal ligament stem cells. [J Endod] Abstract

Spinal Muscular Atrophy—Recent Therapeutic Advances for an Old Challenge
The authors provide an overview of established data and novel insights into spinal muscular atrophy pathogenesis, including discussion of the crucial function of the survival of motor neuron protein. Preclinical evidence and recent advances from ongoing clinical trials are thoroughly reviewed. [Nat Rev Neurol] Abstract

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

Cellular Biomedicine Group Announces Positive Phase I Results from CAR-T CD30 Immuno-Oncology Clinical Development Program
Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. announced encouraging clinical data from its Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR-T) CD30-positive Hodgkin’s lymphoma immuno-oncology clinical development program. [Press release from Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. discussing research presented at the 10^th Annual World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress, London] Press Release

Argos Therapeutics to Present at the World Stem Cells Regenerative Medicine Congress 2015
Argos Therapeutics Inc., an immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of fully personalized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on the Arcelis^® technology platform, announced that the company will present. [Press release from Argos Therapeutics Inc. discussing research presented at the 10^th Annual World Stem Cells Regenerative Medicine Congress, London] Press Release

Steve Campana, Canadian Biologist, ‘Disgusted’ with Government Muzzling
A recently retired Fisheries and Oceans Canada biologist says the muzzling of federal government scientists is worse than anyone can imagine. The Halifax-based scientist, who only agreed to talk to CBC after he retired from the department, says federal scientists have been working in a climate of fear. [Canadian Broadcast Corporation] Article

Open-Access Publisher Sacks 31 Editors Amid Fierce Row over Independence
A booming open-access publishing company has dismissed virtually the entire leadership of two medical journals amid a heated conflict over editorial independence. Frontiers, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, removed 31 editors of Frontiers in Medicine and Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine after the editors complained that company staff were interfering with editorial decisions and violating core principles of medical publishing. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

From our sponsor: Induce neural progenitor cells faster and more effectively. Watch the technical video.

Advaxis and Sorrento Form Collaboration to Evaluate Combinations of Advaxis’s Lm-LLO Immunotherapy Technology and Sorrento’s Immunomodulatory Antibodies
Advaxis, Inc. has entered into a non-exclusive research and clinical trial collaboration agreement with Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. to evaluate combinations of Advaxis’s Lm-LLO cancer immunotherapy technology platform, including ADXS-HPV, ADXS-PSA and ADXS-HER2, with Sorrento’s fully human antibodies targeting immune checkpoints, including GITR, OX40, LAG-3 and TIM-3. [Advaxis, Inc.] Press Release

Sorrento Establishes TNK Therapeutics Subsidiary with Focus on Cellular Immunotherapies
Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, TNK Therapeutics, Inc. This subsidiary will focus on developing CAR.TNKs (chimeric antigen receptor tumor-attacking neukoplasts^®) as well as other complementary cellular and immunotherapies targeting both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. [Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Texas A&M Researchers Looking to Microbiota to Advance Personalized Medicine
The host-microbiota connection serves as the driving force for a multi-institutional team of researchers led by Robert Alaniz, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. Their work, which recently received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, focuses on understanding how the microbiota regulate T-cells. [Texas A&M College of Medicine] Press Release

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Awards 41 New Grants
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas awarded 28 grants through its academic research program, 11 grants through its prevention program and two grants through its product development research program. [Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas] Press Release

Researcher Awarded $4.9 Million Grant from California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Shaomei Wang, MD, PhD, a research scientist in the Eye Program at the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, received a $4.9 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to advance her work in retinitis pigmentosa, a type of degenerative retinal disease. [Cedars-Sinai] Press Release

Genocea Announces Positive Top-Line Phase II Data for Genital Herpes Immunotherapy GEN-003
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. announced positive top-line data from a Phase II dose optimization trial evaluating GEN-003 for the treatment of genital herpes. [Genocea Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Alnylam Receives Orphan Drug Designation from the United States Food & Drug Administration for Revusiran, an Investigational RNAi Therapeutic for the Treatment of Transthyretin (TTR)-Mediated Amyloidosis (ATTR Amyloidosis)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the United States Food & Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug Designation to revusiran, an investigational RNAi therapeutic, for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis. [Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing (FR Doc. No: 2015-12124)

Determination of Regulatory Review Period for Purposes of Patent Extension; FLUCELVAX (FR Doc. No: 2015-12397)

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Guidance for Industry on Formal Meetings With Sponsors and Applicants for Prescription Drug User Fee Act Products (FR Doc. No: 2015-12170)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

New Treatment Option Recommended for Patients with Advanced Melanoma

New Treatment Option for Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune Reconstitution in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (Stanford University)

Scientist – Reprogramming and Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Head of Cellular Therapies Laboratory (NHS Blood and Transplant)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune Tolerance (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – iPSC Research and Banking (University of Magna Graecia)

In Vivo Biologist – Novel Cell and Gene Therapies (GlaxoSmithKline)

Process Facilitator (Opexa Therapeutics)

Research Assistant – Exosome-Based Gene Therapy for Huntington’s Disease (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Tissue Engineering (Nanyang Technological University)

Professor – Gene Therapy (University of Massachusetts)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.