Durham, NC (PRWEB) September 09, 2013 As stem cell clinical trials for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients become more common, it is crucial for researchers to understand the biologic changes and therapeutic effects of older donor stem cells. A new study appearing in the latest issue of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine is the first to demonstrate that, in fact, adipose-derived stem cells donated by older people are less effective than cells from their younger counterparts. MS is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by inflammation and scar-like lesions throughout the central nervous system (CNS). There is no cure and no treatment eases the severe forms of MS. But previous studies on animals have shown that transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) holds promise as a therapy for all forms of MS. The MSCs migrate to areas of damage, release trophic (cell growth) factors and exert neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects to inhibit T cell proliferation. MS-related clinical trials have all confirmed the safety of autologous MSC therapy. However what is unclear is whether MSCs derived from older donors have the same therapeutic potential as those from younger ones. "Aging is known to have a negative impact on the regenerative capacity of most tissues, and … Continue reading →

JERUSALEM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gamida Cell announced today that the first patient has been successfully transplanted in the companys second Phase I/II study of NiCord, as an alternative, experimental treatment for blood cancers. The transplant took place at Duke University Medical Center. Of great significance: This is the first study researching the outcome of a whole umbilical cord blood unit (UCBU) expanded in culture and transplanted in myeloablated patients without the support of un-manipulated stem cells derived from a second UCBU. The approach using NiCord, as a single stem cell graft, has the potential to broaden accessibility, reduce toxicity and improve the clinical and economic outcomes of cord blood transplantation. NiCord is an expanded cell graft derived from an entire CBU and enriched with stem cells. NiCord was developed based on Gamida Cells proprietary NAM technology. Until NiCord, even though expanded stem cells have been demonstrated to decrease the time to neutrophil engraftment, they disappeared shortly thereafter and the long-term engraftment was always provided by the second un-manipulated unit. Thus, the clinical benefit could be achieved only when two UCBUs were transplanted: one unit expanded in culture to shorten time to neutrophil engraftment and the second un-manipulated unit to provide the long … Continue reading →

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sep 9, 2013) - Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SSS)(SCTPF), a biopharmaceutical company developing cancer stem cell- related therapeutics, today announced that it has advanced its CD47 antagonist program into an Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling phase. In collaboration with a contract manufacturing organization, Stem Cell Therapeutics (SCT) will begin the manufacturing process to generate drug for formal toxicology studies and a subsequent phase I clinical study, which is anticipated to begin in H2/2015. SCT's program targets the activity of CD47, a molecule upregulated on many leukemias and solid tumors. CD47 delivers a "do not eat" signal that suppresses macrophage phagocytosis, allowing cancer cells, including cancer stem cells, to escape immune-mediated destruction. SCT has chosen to block the CD47 protein using a modified version of its natural ligand, SIRP, fused to an immunoglobulin Fc region. The SIRPaFc fusion protein has shown excellent anti-leukemic activity both in vitro and in human xenograft models, and exhibits a unique binding profile compared to other CD47 blocking agents. These results, as well as encouraging safety data emerging from a recently completed non-human primate study, will be reported at a future scientific conference. "We believe that SIRPaFc, through its ability to activate … Continue reading →

CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 9, 2013) - International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB: ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com), a California-based biotechnology company developing novel stem cell-based therapies, announced today further progress in its Parkinson's disease program with a recently held key opinion leader meeting facilitated by the study's principal investigator, Dr. Mark Stacy of Duke Medicine. The meeting was a significant step towards clinical studies to evaluate the use of stem cell-derived neuronal cells to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). By bringing together leading experts from throughout North America in the field of cell therapy and movement disorders, ISCO gains critical feedback and guidance that can be included in the final pre-clinical primate studies and the design of the first-in-man study, which is expected to begin in 2014. "This is an interesting new approach for the treatment of PD," said Stacy, Vice Dean for Clinical Research, Neurology at Duke University School of Medicine. "This meeting increases the chances of a successful clinical outcome by allowing us to not only build on previous studies, but also gain in-depth insight from some of the principal clinicians and neurosurgeons working in this field." The participants, consisting of a number of pre-eminent clinicians, some of whom have conducted cell … Continue reading →

Sept. 10, 2013, 10:30 a.m. Redland Hospital Doctor Michael Cameron will use the drug for eligible stroke victims. Photo by Chris McCormack Redland Hospital Doctor Michael Cameron will use the drug for eligible stroke victims. Photo by Chris McCormack Redland Hospital Doctor Michael Cameron will use the drug for eligible stroke victims. Photo by Chris McCormack A clot-busting drug to combat effects of stroke will start being used at Redland Hospital this week, which is National Stroke Week. The drug, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, known by its acronym tPA, is given to patients in the early stages of having an ischaemic stroke, but cannot be administered after 4.5 hours. Redland Hospital senior staff specialist in emergency medicine, Dr Mike Cameron, said to stop a stroke, blood clots must be dissolved within 4.5 hours of the start of symptoms, but if the drug was administered after that, it could do more harm than good. Dr Cameron said the drug would be used at the hospital in conjunction with its stroke unit, which opened in October. He said the hospital had developed resources and protocols for the use of the controversial drug, which could have adverse side effects or even result in death. … Continue reading →

Ricky Te Whare in his Dunedin home. Photo by Gerard O'Brien. Wife Sheryl made him see a doctor, even though she could not pinpoint anything wrong with him. About 10 years ago, Mr Te Whare (51) was working as a supervisor at the Dunedin Hospital laundry and, lacking energy, went home early. Although he did not ''feel right'', he decided against seeing a doctor and wanted to sleep. Mrs Te Whare (51) convinced him to go to the after-hours clinic. At the clinic, his blood pressure test read 266:199, he said. ''If I'd gone to bed, I wouldn't have woken up ... I should have been dead.'' When they called him an ambulance, he assured medical staff he could walk across the road. ''I thought, 'What's all the hoo-ha about?''' But in the emergency department, he soon realised he needed help when his legs started cramping. Read more: Stroke victim's visit to doctor a life-saver … Continue reading →

9 September 2013 Stroke Awareness Week Runs This Week - Every minute counts Stroke Awareness Week runs from 9 15 Sept learn to recognise the symptoms of a stroke you never know when the skills youve learnt will come in useful to help family, friends or someone in the community. A little bit of knowledge can go a long way as West Coast grandmother Gwen Murphy found out just before Christmas last year. Years ago, when my daughter was 15, her friends mother suffered a stroke in front of her, Gwen says. As a result of that, this girl got all her friends together and showed them what to look out for. So when suddenly I started to stutter during a normal conversation, my daughter knew straight away what was wrong. Even though it was years later, she remembered what she had learnt as a teenager. Gwen had suffered a stroke and needed urgent medical attention. The ambulance was called and she was taken to the Emergency Department. After the clinical assessment and CT scan of her brain confirmed the diagnosis of a stroke, Gwen immediately began receiving lifesaving treatment known as thrombolysis. Head of Department General Medicine, Dr Barbara … Continue reading →