LifeNet Health is Presenting at the 7th Annual Stem Cell Summit in New York on February 21, 2012
By NEVAGiles23
To: HEALTH AND NATIONAL EDITORS
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Feb. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Rony Thomas, President and CEO of LifeNet Health, is presenting at the 7th Annual Stem Cell Summit in New York City on February 21, 2012. Mr. Thomas will be presenting on LifeNet Health's broad offerings of current and future regenerative biologic-based products. Mr. Thomas will also focus on the multiple new capabilities and technology platforms of the LifeNet Health Institute of Regenerative Medicine.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120220/DC55479)
“The use of a variety of forms of donated tissues has worked for decades to save lives and restore health in many surgical disciplines. Now we are on the cusp of developing cellular therapies, tissue engineering and new medical applications for allografts to treat disease and assist in the development of lifesaving drugs. The opening of the LifeNet Health Institute of Regenerative Medicine this year will signal our commitment to future development in the cellular therapies arena,” stated Mr. Thomas. Thomas will further focus on two new areas of development; Human Basement Membranes in zeno-free culture of consented Human mRNA Reprogrammed Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSc) derived using non-integrating mRNA reprogramming technology from fully consented queryable human donor banked system.
Mr. Thomas was also recently invited to and attended a White House Summit to discuss ways in which technology and innovation can drive employment opportunities for Virginia, where LifeNet Health and the Institute are located. The meeting of key CEOs with the Obama Administration was to gain insight and input on the job market and technology as a driver to local, state, and national economies. Thomas stated, “Our foray into regenerative medicine should not only impact our state and local economy, but provide medical benefits to patients and drug companies across the globe.”
The annual Stem Cell Summit brings key leaders in the medical, scientific and business innovators in this growing space of technology and regenerative medicine. LifeNet Health is pleased to be joining the Summit for the first time in 2012 as they look for key partnerships and collaboration in the discovery of cell-based therapies for a broad spectrum of medical applications in orthopedics, trauma, dental, craniomaxillofacial (CMF), plastics, and cardiovascular surgery.
LifeNet Health helps to save lives and restore health for thousands of patients each year. We are the world's most trusted provider of transplant solutions, from organ procurement to new innovations in bio-implant technologies and cellular therapies–a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, while always honoring the donors and healthcare professionals that allow the healing process.
The LifeNet Health Institute of Regenerative Medicine is a division of LifeNet Health located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Institute's labs will be expanding as new facilities are under construction and planned to be completed in the fall of 2012. Once completed and fully functional, the Institute will house over 50 medical, scientific, and research staff members. The focus will be on the science of developing regenerative medicine products for patients all over the world, and will serve as a global center of excellence for research and development focused on cellular therapies, tissue engineering, and new medical applications for allografts to maximize the gift of donation.
SOURCE LifeNet Health
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LifeNet Health is Presenting at the 7th Annual Stem Cell Summit in New York on February 21, 2012
BioTime CEO Michael D. West to Present at New York Stem Cell Summit
By LizaAVILA
ALAMEDA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
BioTime, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTX), a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of regenerative medicine, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Michael D. West, Ph.D. will present at the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit at Bridgewaters New York City on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 8:48 a.m. ET. Dr. West will provide an update and new information on the Company's manufacturing technologies and cell-based therapeutics in development. The presentation will be available online at www.biotimeinc.com.
The annual New York Stem Cell Summit provides investors, industry, practitioners, and analysts with the latest developments and investment opportunities in the stem cell marketplace.
About BioTime, Inc.
BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is developed through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of applications. BioTime develops and markets research products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary ACTCellerate™ cell lines, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime's wholly owned subsidiary ES Cell International Pte. Ltd. has produced clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell lines that were derived following principles of Good Manufacturing Practice and currently offers them for use in research. BioTime's therapeutic product development strategy is pursued through subsidiaries that focus on specific organ systems and related diseases for which there is a high unmet medical need. BioTime's majority owned subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences, Ltd. is developing therapeutic products derived from stem cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative diseases. Cell Cure's minority shareholder Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has an option to clinically develop and commercialize Cell Cure's OpRegen™ retinal cell product for use in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. BioTime's subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is developing therapeutic applications of stem cells to treat orthopedic diseases and injuries. Another subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of stem cell technology in cancer, including the diagnostic product PanC-DxTM currently being developed for the detection of cancer in blood samples, therapeutic strategies using vascular progenitor cells engineered to destroy malignant tumors. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. is developing applications of BioTime's proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology to reverse the developmental aging of human cells to treat cardiovascular and blood cell diseases. BioTime's newest subsidiary, LifeMap Sciences, Inc., is developing an online database of the complex cell lineages arising from stem cells to guide basic research and to market BioTime's research products. In addition to its stem cell products, BioTime develops blood plasma volume expanders, blood replacement solutions for hypothermic (low-temperature) surgery, and technology for use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment and other applications. BioTime's lead product, Hextend®, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corp. under exclusive licensing agreements. Additional information about BioTime, ReCyte Therapeutics, Cell Cure, OrthoCyte, OncoCyte, BioTime Asia, LifeMap Sciences, and ESI can be found on the web at www.biotimeinc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for BioTime and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates”) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of BioTime and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in BioTime's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. BioTime disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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BioTime CEO Michael D. West to Present at New York Stem Cell Summit
Histogenics to Present at 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit
By NEVAGiles23
WALTHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Histogenics Corporation, a privately held regenerative medicine company, today announced that the Company will present at the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit on February 21st at Bridgewaters New York City. Kirk Andriano, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development for Histogenics, will speak about current and future cell therapies being developed by the Company as it works toward commercialization. Lead candidates include NeoCart®, an autologous bioengineered neocartilage grown outside the body using the patient’s own cells for the regeneration of cartilage lesions, and VeriCart™, a three-dimensional cartilage matrix designed to stimulate cartilage repair in a simple, one-step procedure. NeoCart recently entered a Phase 3 clinical trial after reporting positive Phase 2 data, in which all primary endpoints were met and a favorable safety profile was demonstrated.
Dr. Andriano earned his BS in chemistry and biology from Utah State University and his MS and Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Utah. Prior to his work at Histogenics, he was the Chief Technology Officer for ProChon Biotech, Ltd. which was acquired by Histogenics in May 2011.
About Histogenics
Histogenics is a leading regenerative medicine company that combines cell therapy and tissue engineering technologies to develop highly innovative products for tissue repair and regeneration. In May of 2011, Histogenics acquired Israeli cell-therapy company ProChon BioTech. Histogenics’ flagship products focus on the treatment of active patients suffering from articular cartilage derived pain and immobility. The Company takes an interdisciplinary approach to engineering neocartilage that looks, acts and lasts like hyaline cartilage. It is developing new treatments for sports injuries and other orthopaedic conditions, where demand is growing for long-term alternatives to joint replacement. Histogenics has successfully completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of its NeoCart autologous tissue implant and is currently in a Phase 3 IND clinical study. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company is privately held. For more information, visit www.histogenics.com.
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Histogenics to Present at 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit
World Stem Cells, LLC. Stem Cell Treatments In Cancun at Advanced Cellular Medicine Clinic
By Sykes24Tracey
World Stem Cells, LLC Stem Cell Therapy at a state of the art clinic in beautiful Cancun. The clinic is staffed by top specialist in the field of stem cell implants and a new laboratory to support the stem cell treatments given.
(PRWEB) February 16, 2012
World Stem Cells, LLC. contract laboratory Advanced Cellular Engineering Lab (Ingenieria Celular Advanzada S.A. de C.V.) a new adult stem cell laboratory being built in Cancun, Mexico to support Stem Cell research, stem cell clinical trials and stem cell treatments. This was accomplished by private funding in conjunction with World Stem Cells, LLC worldstemcells.com a US patient management company, Medicina Biocelular Avanzada , S.E. de C.V. a Mexican patient management company and Advanced Cellular Medicine Clinic of Cancun, a Stem Cell treatment Clinic owned and operated by Dr. Sylvia M. Abblitt a well known board certified hematologist and oncologist, in Cancun.
Uniquely, Dr. Abblitt is one of a limited number of physicians licensed to perform autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants. Dr. Abblitt has been utilizing stem cell therapies with successes for many years.
She is the president and lab director of Advanced Cellular Engineering Lab (Ingenieria Celular Advanzada S.A. de C.V.). Her extensive background includes having been the laboratory director and head of hematology for Hospital Fernando Quiroz for 11 years. As a pioneer in the stem cell transplant field, she brings a vast array of knowledge to the lab. Her memberships include the american association of blood banks (aabb), Mexican society of transfusional medicine, interamerica society of transfusional medicine, Mexican association) for studies of hematologyandicms and ICMS (international cellular medical society and all patients are monitored by ICMS an independent agency for a period of between 2-20 years on a quarterly basis. Dr. abblitt has had a 26-year clinical practice history.
The laboratory construction is complete and operations were transferred to our new facility. This facility provides Cancun, and patient around the world, a state of the art GLP laboratory to support their stem cell treatments in a beautiful, and positive environment. The lab was designed and constructed to provide one ISO7 lab, one wet lab along with a treatment area. This will allow stem cell retrieval, testing, culturing, selection, counting, analyses and sorting along with cryopreservation, without removal from the lab. This all in house capability reduces the possibility of contamination and errors. Dr. M. Abblitt will operate the Lab under cGMP/cGLP guidelines and use the state of the art facility to provide quality care to her stem cell transplant patients.
Working under the guidelines set forth by ICMS world stem cells, LLC ( http://worldstemcells.com/ ) provides stem cell treatment for ankylosing spondylitis, autism, cerebral palsy, charcot-marie-tooth disease (cmt), crohn’s diseases, copd, fuch’s disease, guillain-barre’ syndrome, hashimoto’s thryroiditis, itp, kidney diseases, macular degeneration, lupus (sle), multiple sclerosis, pad, parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, stroke, ulcerative colitis
The laboratory will be engaged in private clinical trials, IRB’s and joint studies with US companies, Mexican Educational Institutes, US universities and doctors to better understand the benefits and precaution to be taken in the stem cell treatment process.
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Charles Newcomer
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World Stem Cells, LLC. Stem Cell Treatments In Cancun at Advanced Cellular Medicine Clinic
Verastem to Present at Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference Symposium “Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Oncology”
By Sykes24Tracey
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Verastem, Inc., (NASDAQ: VSTM – News) a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat breast and other cancers by targeting cancer stem cells, announced that the company will present at the 2012 Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference Symposium “Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Oncology.” The presentation is on February 19, 2012 at 2:00pm PT at the InterContinental San Francisco Hotel.
About Verastem, Inc.
Verastem, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSTM – News) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat breast and other cancers by targeting cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Verastem is translating discoveries in cancer stem cell research into new medicines for the treatment of major cancers such as breast cancer.
Forward-looking statements:
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.
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Verastem to Present at Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference Symposium “Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Oncology”
Stem Cell Stocks Skyrocket in 2012 — Cytori Therapeutics and Cord Blood America on the Upswing
By raymumme
NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire -02/15/12)- Stem cell stocks have performed well of late, outperforming the S&P 500 by a large margin over the last three months. Since mid-November, TickerSpy's Stem Cell Stocks index (RXSTM) has returned more than 20 percent, as favorable news from some of stem cell industry heavyweights has boosted investor optimism in the sector. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTX – News) and Cord Blood America, Inc. (OTC.BB: CBAI.OB – News). Access to the full company reports can be found at:
www.paragonreport.com/CYTX
www.paragonreport.com/CBAI
Shares of Cytori Therapeutics have skyrocketed nearly 70 percent year-to-date. The company develops, manufactures, and sells medical products and devices to enable the practice of regenerative medicine. The Company's technology is the Celuion family of products, which processes patients' adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) at the point of care.
In late January, Cytori received an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval from the U.S. FDA to begin the “ATHENA” trial. ATHENA will investigate the use of the Celution System to treat a form of coronary heart disease, chronic myocardial ischemia (CMI).
The Paragon Report provides investors with an excellent first step in their due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more investment research on the biotechnology industry register with us free at www.paragonreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.
Cord Blood America, Inc. is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of collecting, testing, processing and preserving umbilical cord blood, thereby allowing families to preserve cord blood at the birth of a child for potential use in stem cell therapy.
USA Today recently reported that umbilical cord blood stem cells have been successfully used to treat individuals with type 1 diabetes, highlighting the importance of storing stem cells at birth. The USA Today article says that stem cells from cord blood have been used to “reeducate” the immune system T cells of people with type 1 diabetes so their pancreas started producing insulin again – thereby reducing the amount of insulin they needed to inject.
The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer
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Stem Cell Stocks Skyrocket in 2012 — Cytori Therapeutics and Cord Blood America on the Upswing
Bone Repair Stem Cell Breakthrough Shows Promise
By LizaAVILA
Editor's Choice
Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 15 Feb 2012 – 8:00 PST
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According to a study published in the February issue of the STEM CELL Translational Medicine Journal , a world-first technique for generating adult stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs]) has been developed by researchers at the University of Queensland. This new method can be used to repair bone and possibly other organs, and will considerably affect individuals suffering from a variety of serious diseases.
Professor Nicholas Fisk, who leads the collaborative study between the UQ Clinical Research Center (UQCCR) and the UQ's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), explained:
“We used a small molecule to induce embryonic stem cells over a 10 day period, which is much faster than other studies reported in the literature.
The technique also worked on their less contentious counterparts, induced pluripotent stem cells.
To make the pluripotent mature stem cells useful in the clinic, they have to be told what type of cell they need to become (pre-differentiated), before being administered to an injured organ, or otherwise they could form tumors.
Because only small numbers of MSCs exist in the bone marrow, and harvesting bone marrow from a healthy donor is an invasive procedure, the ability to make our own MSCs in large number in the laboratory is an exciting step in the future widespread clinical use of MSCs.
We were able to show these new forms of stem cells exhibited all the characteristics of bone marrow stem cells and we are currently examining their bone repair capability.”
Ernst Wolvetang, co-researcher on the study and AIBN Associate Professor, explained that the technique had overcome a considerable obstacle in the translation of stem cell-based therapy.
Wolvetang said: “We are very excited by this research, which has brought together stem cell researchers from two of the major UQ research hubs UQCCR and AIBN.”
Written by: Grace Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Visit our stem cell research section for the latest news on this subject. UniQuest, The University of Queensland's main commercialization company, invites parties interested in licensing the intellectual property relating to this discovery to contact UniQuest on 3365 4037 or lifesciences@uniquest.com.au.
Source: University of Queensland
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Bone Repair Stem Cell Breakthrough Shows Promise
Favorable News From Advanced Cell Technology and StemCells Inc Boosts Optimism in Regenerative Medicine Industry
By daniellenierenberg
NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire -02/15/12)- Stem cell stocks have performed well of late, outperforming the S&P 500 by a large margin over the last three months. Since mid-November, TickerSpy's Stem Cell Stocks index (RXSTM) has returned more than 20 percent, as favorable news from some of stem cell industry heavyweights has boosted investor optimism in the sector. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTC.BB: ACTC.OB – News) and StemCells Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM – News). Access to the full company reports can be found at:
www.paragonreport.com/ACTC
www.paragonreport.com/STEM
Shares of StemCells Inc. have skyrocketed nearly 20 percent year-to-date. StemCells Inc. is focused on cellular medicine, or the use of stem and progenitor cells as the basis for therapeutics and therapies, and enabling technologies for stem cell research, or the use of cells and related technologies to enable stem cell-based research and drug discovery and development.
Earlier this month the company released a statement saying that it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization to start a clinical trial of the company's potential treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over 55 years old and about 30 million people worldwide are affected by the disease, the company said
The Paragon Report provides investors with an excellent first step in their due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more investment research on the biotechnology industry register with us free at www.paragonreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.
Shares of Advanced Cell Technology are up more than 30 percent this year – although they are down more than 20 percent over the last month. Advanced Cell Technology has acquired, developed and maintained a portfolio of patents and patent applications that forms the base for its research and development efforts in the area of embryonic and adult stem cell research.
Earlier this week Advanced Cell Technology announced that a third patient has been treated for Stargardt's macular dystrophy in its US. Phase I/II clinical trial. The therapy uses retinal pigment epithelial cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. Stargardt's disease or Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy is a genetic disease that causes progressive vision loss, usually starting in children between 10 to 20 years of age.
The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer
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Favorable News From Advanced Cell Technology and StemCells Inc Boosts Optimism in Regenerative Medicine Industry
Advanced Cell Technology Announces Approval of Wills Eye Institute as Additional Site for Stem Cell Clinical Trial for …
By NEVAGiles23
MARLBOROUGH, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia has received institutional review board (IRB) approval as a site for the company’s Phase I/II clinical trial for Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD), a form of juvenile macular degeneration, using human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Earlier this year, the Company also announced that the IRB at Wills Eye Institute had approved the participation of the institution as a site for ACT’s clinical trial for dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD).
“We thank Wills Eye Institute once more for providing their IRB and their invaluable contribution to our macular degeneration studies,” said Gary Rabin, ACT’s chairman and CEO. “We are very happy that we can now report that Wills Eye Institute has been approved as a clinical trial site for both our SMD and dry AMD clinical trials. Ranked as one of the best ophthalmology hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, the Wills Eye Institute is a truly world-class institution. Our team is eagerly anticipating working with Dr. Carl Regillo, a renowned retinal surgeon and director of clinical retina research at Wills Eye Institute, as well as a professor of ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University, along with the rest of his team as we move forward with these ground-breaking trials.”
The Phase I/II trial for SMD is a prospective, open-label study designed to determine the safety and tolerability of the hESC-derived RPE cells following sub-retinal transplantation into patients with SMD. The trial will ultimately enroll 12 patients, with cohorts of three patients each in an ascending dosage format. Preliminary results relating to both early safety and biological function for the first two patients in the U.S., one SMD patient and one dry AMD patient, were recently reported in The Lancet.
Specific patient enrollment for both trials at the Wills Eye Institute will be determined in the near future. Further information about patient eligibility for the SMD study and the concurrent study on dry AMD is also available on www.clinicaltrials.gov; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01345006 and NCT01344993.
About Stargardt's Disease
Stargardt’s disease or Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy is a genetic disease that causes progressive vision loss, usually starting in children between 10 to 20 years of age. Eventually, blindness results from photoreceptor loss associated with degeneration in the pigmented layer of the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium.
About hESC-derived RPE Cells
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a highly specialized tissue located between the choroids and the neural retina. RPE cells support, protect and provide nutrition for the light-sensitive photoreceptors. Human embryonic stem cells differentiate into any cell type, including RPE cells, and have a similar expression of RPE-specific genes compared to human RPE cells and demonstrate the full transition from the hESC state.
About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit www.advancedcell.com.
About Wills Eye Institute
Wills Eye Institute is a global leader in ophthalmology, established in 1832 as the nation’s first hospital specializing in eye care. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked Wills Eye as one of America’s top three ophthalmology centers since the survey began in 1990. Wills Eye is a premier training site for all levels of medical education. Its resident and post-graduate training programs are among the most competitive in the country. One of the core strengths of Wills is the close connection between innovative research and advanced patient care. Wills provides the full range of primary and subspecialty eye care for improving and preserving sight, including cataract, cornea, retina, emergency care, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology, oculoplastics, pathology, pediatric ophthalmology and ocular genetics, refractive surgery and retina. Ocular Services include the Wills Laser Correction Center, Low Vision Service, and Diagnostic Center. Its 24/7 Emergency Service is the only one of its kind in the region. Wills Eye also has a network of nine multi-specialty, ambulatory surgery centers throughout the tri-state area. To learn more, please visit www.willseye.org.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of our technology, opportunities for the company and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the company’s periodic reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company’s management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company’s management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that the Company’s clinical trials will be successful.
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Advanced Cell Technology Announces Approval of Wills Eye Institute as Additional Site for Stem Cell Clinical Trial for …
Stem cells – ISWA project – Video
By LizaAVILA
14-02-2012 08:13 STEM CELLS The dance of life Recent developments in regenerative medicine and modern biology are going to have an enormous impact on our lives. Also the way itself we face the problem of sickness, aging and death changes as the hope (or the illusion?) grows that we always can fight and delay them. Stem cell research is in fact changing our knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms of life and feeding the idea that we can increasingly contrast the cruel natural selection rules which make us fall ill, grow old and die. A new frontier opens and unpredictable changes in our culture are taking place. People’s hopes and fears grow at the same time. The general properties of the stem cells is presented, namely the ability to proliferate and, under certain conditions, to differentiate in other types of cells. In this way they can generate a new tissue replacing a damaged one, and also a new organ (like blood, thrachea, liver, heart, skin, cornea and very recently retina). A stamp is shown, which was emitted by the Japanese government to celebrate the discovery of a university team, which was able to regenerate a cornea and giving the opportunity to a patient to see again. Then the innovative results is presented in applications of the stem cells to orthopedy, muscular dystrophy, cardiology and dentistry. Finally the etherogeneus perspectives is presented offered by stem cell research to treat degenerative disorders, like Alzheimer, Parkinson diseases and Multiple Sclerosis. www …
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Stem cells – ISWA project – Video
Bioheart Acquires Exclusive Rights to Ageless Regenerative Institute's Adipose Cell Technology
By LizaAVILA
SUNRISE, Fla., Feb. 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bioheart, Inc. (BHRT.OB) announced today that it has acquired the worldwide exclusive rights to Ageless Regenerative Institute's adipose (fat) derived therapeutic cell technology for use in the cardiac field.
“The Ageless adipose stem cell technology will allow us to broaden our portfolio of product candidates for cardiac patients,” said Mike Tomas, President and CEO of Bioheart. “We have successfully treated patients in Mexico and now we are ready to expand into the US.”
Adipose tissue is readily available and has been shown to be rich in microvascular, myogenic and angiogenic cells. Bioheart has recently applied to the FDA to begin trials using adipose derived stem cells or LipiCell(TM) in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy. Transplantation of LipiCell(TM) will be accomplished through endocardial implantations with the MyoStar(TM) Injection Catheter under the guidance of the NOGA(R) cardiac navigation system by Biosense Webster, Inc. — A Johnson & Johnson Company.
Under the terms of the agreement, Bioheart will have a worldwide exclusive license to all of Ageless technology for use in the heart attack and heart failure markets. The agreement provides for upfront and milestone equity payments to Ageless.
Ageless' President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sharon McQuillan, MD added, “We are excited about this collaboration with Bioheart, a leader in developing cell therapies for cardiovascular disease. Together with Bioheart, we can help to revolutionize cardiovascular medicine and improve the current standard of care for these patients.”
About Bioheart, Inc.
Bioheart is committed to maintaining its leading position within the cardiovascular sector of the cell technology industry delivering cell therapies and biologics that help address congestive heart failure, lower limb ischemia, chronic heart ischemia, acute myocardial infarctions and other issues. Bioheart's goals are to cause damaged tissue to be regenerated, when possible, and to improve a patient's quality of life and reduce health care costs and hospitalizations.
Specific to biotechnology, Bioheart is focused on the discovery, development and, subject to regulatory approval, commercialization of autologous cell therapies for the treatment of chronic and acute heart damage and peripheral vascular disease. Its leading product, MyoCell, is a clinical muscle-derived cell therapy designed to populate regions of scar tissue within a patient's heart with new living cells for the purpose of improving cardiac function in chronic heart failure patients.
For more information on Bioheart, visit www.bioheartinc.com.
About Ageless Regenerative Institute, LLC
The Ageless Regenerative Institute (ARI) is an organization dedicated to the standardization of cell regenerative medicine. The Institute promotes the development of evidence-based standards of excellence in the therapeutic use of adipose-derived stem cells through education, advocacy, and research. ARI has a highly experienced management team with experience in setting up full scale cGMP stem cell manufacturing facilities, stem cell product development & enhancement, developing point-of-care cell production systems, developing culture expanded stem cell production systems, FDA compliance, directing clinical & preclinical studies with multiple cell types for multiple indications, and more. ARI has successfully treated hundreds of patients utilizing these cellular therapies demonstrating both safety and efficacy. For more information about regenerative medicine please visit www.agelessregen.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical matters contained herein, statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as “may,” “will,” “to,” “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “estimate,” or “continue” or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
The Company is subject to the risks and uncertainties described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.
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Bioheart Acquires Exclusive Rights to Ageless Regenerative Institute's Adipose Cell Technology
Dr. Ramaswamy on Dormant Tumor Cells and Resistance – Video
By daniellenierenberg
13-02-2012 12:31 Sridhar Ramaswamy, MD, Tucker Gosnell Investigator and Associate Professor of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, discusses ongoing research into drug tolerance and resistance, specifically the roll of dormant cancer cells. If a tumor goes into remission as a result of a cancer drug and then recurs it is likely that the tumor will still respond to the initial treatment. In the dormant state the cells are resistance, in the original they are sensitive. The exact mechanism behind this has yet to be discovered. In some cases giving a course, stopping, and then continuing later on can create an additive effect, an idea that Ramaswamy calls a drug holiday. A comparison is underway between drug and non-drug induced dormant cells in order to find the mechanism that causes resistance. The ultimate goal of the research is to be able to predict and stop drug resistance.
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Dr. Ramaswamy on Dormant Tumor Cells and Resistance – Video
Third patient dosed in Phase 1/2 SMD trial using RPE cells derived from hESCs
By NEVAGiles23
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today the dosing of third patient in its Phase 1/2 trial for Stargardt's macular dystrophy (SMD) using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The patient was treated on Monday (Feb. 6) by Steven Schwartz, M.D., Ahmanson Professor of Ophthalmology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and retina division chief at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute. The outpatient transplantation surgery was performed successfully and the patient is recovering uneventfully.
“With the treatment of this third Stargardt's patient at Jules Stein Eye Institute, we have now completed the treatment of the first cohort of patients under our clinical protocol for phase I/II of our U.S. SMD trial”
“With the treatment of this third Stargardt's patient at Jules Stein Eye Institute, we have now completed the treatment of the first cohort of patients under our clinical protocol for phase I/II of our U.S. SMD trial,” said Gary Rabin, chairman and chief executive officer of ACT. “We will continue to regularly monitor the three SMD patients in this trial, and by early spring anticipate review of their progress and safety-related data by the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). With approval of the DSMB, we would then advance to the next cohort of patients and administer a higher dosage of RPE cells. In the context of all three trials we have running, this patient is the fifth person worldwide to be treated with our hESC-derived RPE cells. To date, there have been no complications or side effects due to the RPE cells, and we remain cautiously optimistic that our ongoing clinical programs will demonstrate the safety and tolerability of ACT's stem cell-derived RPE cells.”
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Third patient dosed in Phase 1/2 SMD trial using RPE cells derived from hESCs
ACT Announces Third Patient with Stargardt’s Disease Treated in U.S. Clinical Trial with RPE Cells Derived from …
By NEVAGiles23
MARLBOROUGH, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today the dosing of third patient in its Phase 1/2 trial for Stargardt’s macular dystrophy (SMD) using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The patient was treated on Monday (Feb. 6) by Steven Schwartz, M.D., Ahmanson Professor of Ophthalmology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and retina division chief at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute. The outpatient transplantation surgery was performed successfully and the patient is recovering uneventfully.
“With the treatment of this third Stargardt’s patient at Jules Stein Eye Institute, we have now completed the treatment of the first cohort of patients under our clinical protocol for phase I/II of our U.S. SMD trial,” said Gary Rabin, chairman and chief executive officer of ACT. “We will continue to regularly monitor the three SMD patients in this trial, and by early spring anticipate review of their progress and safety-related data by the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). With approval of the DSMB, we would then advance to the next cohort of patients and administer a higher dosage of RPE cells. In the context of all three trials we have running, this patient is the fifth person worldwide to be treated with our hESC-derived RPE cells. To date, there have been no complications or side effects due to the RPE cells, and we remain cautiously optimistic that our ongoing clinical programs will demonstrate the safety and tolerability of ACT’s stem cell-derived RPE cells.”
Each of the three clinical trials being undertaken by the company in the U.S. and Europe will enroll 12 patients, with cohorts of three patients each in an ascending dosage format. These trials are prospective, open-label studies, designed to determine the safety and tolerability of hESC-derived RPE cells following sub-retinal transplantation into patients with SMD or dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) at 12 months, the study’s primary endpoint. Preliminary results relating to both early safety and biological function for the first two patients in the United States, one SMD patient and one dry AMD patient, were recently reported in The Lancet. On January 20, 2012, the first SMD patient to be enrolled in the Company’s U.K. clinical trial was treated at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.
Further information about patient eligibility for the SMD study and the concurrent study on dry AMD is also available on www.clinicaltrials.gov; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01345006 and NCT01344993.
About Stargardt's Disease
Stargardt’s disease or Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy is a genetic disease that causes progressive vision loss, usually starting in children between 10 to 20 years of age. Eventually, blindness results from photoreceptor loss associated with degeneration in the pigmented layer of the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium, which is the site of damage that the company believes the hESC-derived RPE may be able to target for repair after administration.
About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit www.advancedcell.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of our technology, opportunities for the company and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the company’s periodic reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company’s management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company’s management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that the Company’s clinical trials will be successful.
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ACT Announces Third Patient with Stargardt’s Disease Treated in U.S. Clinical Trial with RPE Cells Derived from …
Meet the Founders of Cord Blood Registry – Video
By daniellenierenberg
01-02-2012 13:37 Meet founders of Cord Blood Registry, Tom and Wendy. Hear why they started CBR — a family business dedicated to helping people live healthier lives through cord blood stem cell medicine. Today, CBR has grown, but the attention to healthy families is the same. For more than 15 years, Cord Blood Registry has led the umbilical cord banking industry in technical innovations and provided families with peace of mind and hope. CBR’s experience and dedication to quality has enabled CBR to help more clients use their cord blood stem cells in treatments than any other family bank. Our research and development efforts are focused on helping leading clinical researchers advance stem cell regenerative medicine that may help families in the future. Ultimate use of cord blood stem cells will be determined by the treating physician who will consider if they are applicable for the condition and should come from the patient or a suitable donor (like an HLA matched sibling). There is no guarantee that treatments being studied in the laboratory or in clinical trials will be available in the future. CBR is the preferred choice of OB/Gyns. © 2011 Cord Blood Registry. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.
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Meet the Founders of Cord Blood Registry – Video
IntelliCell Demonstrates at the American Sports Medicine Institute Held in Conjunction with and at the Andrews Sports …
By daniellenierenberg
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB: SVFC.PK) (PINKSHEETS: SVFC.PK); (“IntelliCell”) or the (“Company”), was invited to demonstrate its stromal vascular fraction technology at the recent Baseball Injuries Symposium at the Andrews Sports Medicine Institute in Alabama held and sponsored by USA Baseball. The course Chairman is Dr. James Andrews, and moderated by PT Kevin Wilk, and Dr. Jeff Dugas. One of the courses presented during the three day event was on stem cell technology presented by Dr. Joshua Hackel. Dr. Hackel presented the state of regenerative medicine technology in the role of treating sports injuries. The link is http://www.mediafire.com/?u7bfa662e3r1sdp.
Dr. Hackel compared the IntelliCell SVF technology to several other methods of regenerative medicine being considered to be used by the leading orthopedic sports medicine doctors. Dr. Steven Victor, CEO of IntelliCell stated, “We are extremely excited that IntelliCell’s technology compares very favorably to all the other technologies, for procedures common to all major sports industries. We are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to present to over 200 leading doctors and trainers looking to treat major league, collegiate and amateur baseball players with regenerative medicine. IntelliCell Biosciences believes that its technology will be utilized by such experts this year.”
About IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc.
IntelliCell is a pioneering regenerative medicine company focused on the expanding regenerative medical markets using stromal vascular fraction derived from adult adipose tissue. IntelliCell intends to initially focus on selling laboratory suites and licensing its technology to doctors for use in their offices for their patients. The company is also setting up Centers of Excellence where doctors can treat their patients. In addition, IntelliCell BioSciences is exploring storing the stromal vascular fraction in cryo-storage for future uses. The company is also starting FDA IND clinical trials at major medical centers for clinical indication approval. IntelliCell intends to pursue expansion to secondary markets and beyond the U.S. through a combination of company-owned and licensed clinical facilities.
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IntelliCell Demonstrates at the American Sports Medicine Institute Held in Conjunction with and at the Andrews Sports …
Chimerix Antiviral Compound, CMX001, Meets CMV Phase 2 Primary Endpoint in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell …
By LizaAVILA
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel antiviral therapeutics, today announced positive results from CMX001 Study 201, a Phase 2 study evaluating CMX001 for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients. CMX001 is a broad spectrum Lipid-Antiviral-Conjugate completing Phase 2 clinical development for the prevention of CMV in HCT recipients. In CMX001 Study 201, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial which enrolled 230 HCT recipients, CMX001 had a statistically significant benefit versus placebo in preventing CMV viremia and/or CMV disease 13 weeks post-transplant.
Francisco Marty, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital's Division of Infectious Disease, and a lead investigator in Chimerix's CMX001 Phase 2 CMV study, presented the data during the “Best Abstracts Plenary Session” at the 2012 BMT Tandem Meetings on February 3, 2012 in San Diego, California. “This study provides positive data supporting the antiviral activity of CMX001 at different dose levels, and a better understanding of CMX001's safety and tolerability as a prophylactic agent against CMV infection, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in bone marrow transplant recipients,” said Dr. Marty. “There is a substantial unmet medical need for safer and effective therapies against CMV. If approved, many patients have the potential to benefit from the future availability of CMX001.”
“These results exceeded our high expectations, and we are thrilled to share such positive CMX001 data with the transplant community,” said Wendy P. Painter, MD, MPH, Chimerix's Chief Medical Officer. “We look forward to initiating the Phase 3 CMV program later this year. This study reinforces our belief that CMX001's broad spectrum application against multiple viral infections, its safety profile and convenient oral dosing will enable it to become a new standard of care for transplant recipients.”
CMX001 Study 201 Results Presented at BMT Tandem Meetings
Results from subjects receiving CMX001 100 mg twice weekly met the primary endpoint, a statistically significant reduction in CMV viremia (CMV > 200 copies/mL) or disease at the end of treatment in CMX001-treated subjects versus those who received placebo (p=0.001). Moreover, CMX001 Study 201 showed that three different doses of CMX001 demonstrated statistically significant reductions in the proportion of subjects with CMV viremia ? 1000 copies/mL at any time during treatment when compared to placebo (p=0.002, <0.001, <0.001, respectively; see Table 1 below). In subjects who were CMV viremia negative prior to treatment, four different CMX001 dose regimens demonstrated statistically significant reduction versus placebo (see Table 2 below).
Table 1
Subjects with Clinically Relevant CMV Viremia
(> 1,000 copies/mL at any time during treatment)
Dose
Enrolled (N)
CMV Viremia (N)
%
P
40 mg QW(1)
25
10
40%
0.43
100 mg QW
27
6
22%
0.06
200 mg QW
39
7
18%
0.002
200 mg BIW(2)
30
2
7%
< 0.001
100 mg BIW
50
4
8%
< 0.001
Pooled Placebo
59
25
42%
–
(1)QW: Once weekly. (2)BIW: Twice weekly.
Table 2
Subjects with Clinically Relevant CMV Viremia – CMV Negative Strata
(> 1,000 copies/mL at any time during treatment)
Dose
Enrolled (N)
CMV Viremia (N)
%
P
40 mg QW
18
4
22%
0.55
100 mg QW
23
2
9%
0.04
200 mg QW
29
2
7%
0.02
200 mg BIW
22
0
0
0.002
100 mg BIW
41
0
0
< 0.001
Pooled Placebo
48
15
31%
–
There was no difference versus placebo across CMX001 treatment groups in measurements of renal function and hematologic parameters. Diarrhea was the most common adverse event seen in the CMX001 treatment groups and was dose-limiting at the highest dose of CMX001 (200 mg twice weekly).
CMX001 Study 201 Design
CMX001-201 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation, multi-center trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and ability of CMX001 to prevent or control CMV disease in 230 evaluable CMV seropositive allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. Following engraftment (Days 14-30 post-transplant), subjects were stratified based on the presence or absence of acute GVHD requiring systemic therapy and the presence or absence of CMV DNA in plasma and randomized (3:1, CMX001 versus placebo) into five sequential, dose-escalating cohorts. Subjects were treated once weekly or twice weekly for 9 to 11 weeks through post-transplant Week 13, after which subjects were followed for an additional 4 to 8 weeks. Placebo patient results were pooled for endpoint analysis.
About CMX001
CMX001 is a Lipid-Antiviral-Conjugate that delivers high intracellular levels of the active antiviral agent cidofovir-diphosphate and has broad spectrum in vitro activity against double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses. CMX001 is completing Phase 2 clinical development for the prophylaxis of CMV and is in Phase 2 development for the preemption and treatment of adenovirus infection in HCT recipients. Antiviral activity results from completed and ongoing studies, coupled with the lack of myelotoxicity and nephrotoxicity seen in currently available therapies, indicate that CMX001 has the potential to improve outcome for immunosuppressed patients.
To date, more than 700 patients have been dosed with CMX001 in placebo-controlled clinical trials and open-label treatment protocols. As part of Chimerix's open-label treatment protocols, data were recently presented at ICAAC 2011[1] in an oral presentation entitled “CMX001 is not nephrotoxic or myelosuppressive in 183 patients with life threatening dsDNA infections including refractory Cytomegalovirus, Adenovirus, and BK Virus”.
About Cytomegalovirus
CMV is a member of the herpesvirus group of dsDNA viruses. Like other herpesviruses, CMV has the ability to remain dormant in the body for long periods of time. In immunocompromised individuals, including transplant recipients, cancer patients and children born with primary CMV infection, CMV can lead to serious disease or death. At least 65% of transplant recipients are at moderate-to-high risk of CMV due to reactivation of latent virus from donor or recipient tissues. In these patients, CMV disease can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening conditions such as nephritis, pneumonitis or hepatitis, or complications such as acute or chronic rejection of a transplanted organ. While currently available systemic anti-CMV agents can be effective against the virus, their use is limited by significant toxicities, including myelotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.
About Chimerix
Chimerix is developing novel antiviral therapeutics with the potential to transform patient care in multiple settings, including transplant, oncology, acute care and global health. Utilizing proprietary lipid conjugate technology, the company's two clinical stage compounds have demonstrated the potential for enhanced activity, bioavailability and safety compared to currently approved drugs.
In addition to the company's development of its lead candidate, CMX001, for transplant recipients, CMX001 is also being developed as a medical countermeasure in the event of a smallpox release, with the potential to provide an important therapeutic option for the 80 million people in the U.S. currently estimated to be immunocompromised, or a household contact of a contraindicated individual, and thus not candidates to receive a smallpox vaccine (for additional information, please see http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/contraindications-clinic.asp). Chimerix has received federal funding for the development of CMX001 as a medical countermeasure against smallpox from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under Grant No. U01-A1057233 and from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHSO100201100013C.
Chimerix's second clinical-stage antiviral compound, CMX157, is a Lipid-Antiviral-Conjugate that delivers high intracellular levels of the active antiviral agent tenofovir-diphosphate. CMX157 is in development as a potent nucleoside analogue against HIV and HBV infections, and has the potential to directly address several limitations of current therapies. CMX157 has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers, providing pharmacokinetic data which support the compound's enhanced characteristics.
Led by an experienced antiviral drug development team, Chimerix is also leveraging its lipid conjugate technology and extensive chemical library to pursue new treatments for hepatitis C virus, influenza, and other areas of high unmet medical need. For additional information on Chimerix, please visit http://www.chimerix.com.
[1] Genovefa Papanicolau, MD, Associate Member of Infectious Diseases Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, at the 51st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) Annual Meeting, 2011.
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Chimerix Antiviral Compound, CMX001, Meets CMV Phase 2 Primary Endpoint in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell …
$30m Gift to Fast Forward Stem Cell Therapies and One-Stop Patient Care
By Sykes24Tracey
Boris family gift propels stem cell therapies and one-stop patient care
Newswise — HAMILTON, ON (Feb. 6, 2012) – A Hamilton family is giving McMaster University $30 million to accelerate the university’s innovations in health research, education and care.
“McMaster University has proven its ability to fast forward discoveries from the lab bench to the patients’ bedside, it made perfect sense to make this investment in this world class university,” said Les Boris, on behalf of his parents’ Marta and Owen Boris Foundation. His sister Jackie Work added: “The Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine is ranked among the top 20 medical schools in the world. This is the best place to commit to the future.”
The funding was announced in a ceremony at the University today.
Of the total, $24 million is designated to establish The Boris Family Centre in Human Stem Cell Therapies, which will speed the commercial development of discoveries at the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute. The six-year-old institute has had several major breakthroughs, including the ability to turn human skin into blood.
The funds will establish two senior research chairs, one in blood stem cells and the other in neuro stem cells; set up several fellowships and technician positions;
build the facility and provide a fund for emerging opportunities.
An additional $6 million is for a unique clinic which will allow patients with complex health problems to see several specialists and have related tests during one visit. Established in partnership with Hamilton Health Sciences, this patient-oriented clinic will be built in the McMaster University Medical Centre in Hamilton and led by a senior research chair.
The Marta and Owen Boris Foundation was established by Marta and Owen Boris who created the Hamilton cable company Mountain Cablevision and developed it over 50 years before selling it to Shaw Communications in 2009.
Owen Boris died in April, 2011.
“McMaster has been renewing its commitment to our community, and to have community members make such a significant contribution to the University is truly outstanding,” said Patrick Deane, president of McMaster. “Great research, great discoveries, and better patient care. The Boris family gift will accelerate nour ability to make great things happen.”
Dr. John Kelton, dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences, added: “This is an innovative and action oriented family. They understand the great potential McMaster has to make medical breakthroughs, and their willingness to place their bets on McMaster is a tremendous vote of confidence in us.”
Mick Bhatia is scientific director of the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute. He said: “In a short time we’ve become world renowned for our human stem cell discoveries. Now is the time to move these discoveries to the patient.”
About the clinic for day patients, Dr. Akbar Panju, professor and deputy chair clinical of the Department of Medicine, said the new format is unique in Canada and will put patients first.
“Too often patients go from office to office to receive essential medical care from several specialists. This clinic will ensure they will get everything they need in one place,” he said, noting that the clinic will also be a centre of learning for
health sciences students and residents from many disciplines.
McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 23,000, and more than 150,000 alumni in 128 countries.
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$30m Gift to Fast Forward Stem Cell Therapies and One-Stop Patient Care
Stem Cells to Treat Acne Scarring | Los Angeles | Hollywood | Beverly Hills – Video
By daniellenierenberg
02-09-2011 03:47 metromd.net Stem Cells to Treat Acne Scarring | An overview by Alex Martin, MD of how he combines stem cell therapy and the CO2 fractional laser to effectively treat facial scars caused by acne. Offices near Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and Orange County. Questions? Please call the MetroMD Institute of Regenerative Medicine at (323) 285-5300 or email us at info@MetroMD.net.
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Stem Cells to Treat Acne Scarring | Los Angeles | Hollywood | Beverly Hills – Video
NOC Interview 2: Big Pharma – Video
By daniellenierenberg
01-02-2012 21:36 Notes from the interview: Nicholas Anderson – Author, NOC: British Secret Operations Big Pharma… must be careful in discussing reason for writing books is in part because of something along these lines medical doctor helped to exfiltrate from soviet union end of 1991 doctor wanted to meet… nicholas anderson flew to meet in moscow… bottom line: he claimed to have number of effective treatments and cures… MIND YOU… he’s not trying to get your hopes up, but you should look into alternate treatments natural remedies. stem cell, energetic medicine is more detail in the book? when the book was written, it was non-fiction. but it didn’t last to be a non-fiction novel. former secret operations must be cleared. large majority that was redacted or cleared from the fiction novel was about big pharma. certain things -are- in the book. also know that nicholas anderson was skeptical about these items first. even so, he wondered why aren’t these alternative cures more widely known? the doctor appeared on a primetime show and the media prevented him from saying what he wanted to say… in a couple examples, they removed things he had said. they said the -opposite- of what he actually said. it was then that he realized he was on to something and he saw that happening. did this doctor have access to this medicine in the soviet union or was it secretive? in the beginning of communism, they did come up with things in medicine that the west never did come up with. this doctor had …
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NOC Interview 2: Big Pharma – Video



February 20th, 2012