ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Survival rates have increased significantly over the past decade among patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases who received blood stem cell transplants from donors outside of their families, according to new research1. Results of the recent study presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Atlanta showed that the one-year survival rate for all unrelated transplant patients improved 12 to 13 percent between 2000 and 2009, and a large percentage of patients maintained improvements through their three-year follow-up. The retrospective cohort study analyzed outcomes for more than 15,000 unrelated transplant patients and was led by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and its research arm, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). The significant improvements are correlated with reduced treatment-related mortality, and in certain populations, fewer disease relapses. Such a remarkable improvement in outcomes demonstrates that unrelated transplantation is a good option for the 70 percent of patients who need a transplant, but dont have a suitable matching donor within their family, said Navneet Majhail, M.D., lead author of the study and medical director at the NMDP. This is good news for these patients, and should reassure physicians about … Continue reading →

SUNRISE, FL--(Marketwire - Dec 10, 2012) - Bioheart Inc. ( OTCQB : BHRT ) previouslyannounced that it is working with NorthStar Biotech to help promote regenerative medicine.NorthStar has announced that it will subsidize physicians to participate in the Ageless Regenerative Institute stem cell training program.The fully accredited CME training program includes a didactic lecture series followed by hands-on clinical training for physicians to learn to isolate stem cells for immediate use in their patients.The Ageless Regenerative Institute has successfully trained over 200 physicians and these physicians are utilizing both adipose and bone marrow derived stem cells as well as platelet rich plasma for orthopedics, aesthetics and other degenerative diseases. With the new NorthStar/Bioheart program, this select group of physicians have the opportunity to receive full funding for the training and join a network of physicians who will offer in-clinic stem cell therapies.Once these physicians commence IRB-approved in-clinic services, Bioheart will receive royalties for the use of these fee-for-service procedures.Initial projections have not been announced by NorthStar. "Physicians have for years evaluated and considered stem cell treatments as a potential alternative for a subset of our patient population.This program helps educate doctors and allows us a viable opportunity to expand our … Continue reading →

ATLANTA, Dec. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Studies of stem cell biology and transplant approaches presented today at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) illustrate how the use of advanced modeling techniques is optimizing stem cells to treat patients with blood disorders, as well as the potential of enhanced treatment strategies to improve the success rate of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation for these patients. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is effectively used today as a form of "replacement" therapy for patients with hard-to-treat blood conditions, providing healthy HSCs to help patients whose bodies cannot properly fight infection or disease on their own. While transplants often lead to long-term remission for many patients, researchers are now challenging traditional assumptions in an effort to further improve success rates while minimizing the remaining risks associated with transplantation. "As we learn more about the biology and therapeutic use of hematopoietic stem cells to cure blood disorders, we are able to refine our traditional approaches to reduce complications and deliver better patient benefits," said Vanderson Rocha, MD, PhD, moderator of the press conference and Professor of Hematology of Oxford University, United Kingdom. "We are finding that hematopoietic stem cells can be … Continue reading →

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seattle Genetics, Inc. (SGEN) today announced results from a phase I clinical trial of ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed mature T-cell lymphoma (MTCL) patients, including patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL). The data were presented at the 54th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition being held December 8-11, 2012 in Atlanta, GA. ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30. ADCETRIS is not currently approved for use in the front-line treatment of MTCL. In the phase I trial, newly diagnosed patients received six cycles of ADCETRIS every three weeks in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (CHP). This regimen removes vincristine (Oncovin) from CHOP, the standard treatment in this setting. Patients who achieved at least a partial remission after completing six cycles of combination therapy were eligible to receive continued single-agent ADCETRIS for up to ten additional 3-week cycles. The primary endpoints of the trial included defining maximum tolerated dose of ADCETRIS in combination with CHP and evaluating safety. The secondary endpoints were investigator assessment of response, progression-free survival and overall survival. After completing combination therapy, 26 of 26 patients (100 percent) treated with … Continue reading →

NEW YORK & PETACH TIKVAH, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies for neurodegenerative diseases, announced that it is deferring its shareholders conference call scheduled for December 11, 2012, in anticipation of significant positive company developments likely to be released shortly. The company will announce the re-scheduled conference call date as soon as senior management is authorized to discuss these developments. About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of adult stem cell therapeutic products derived from autologous bone marrow cells and intended for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to develop and commercialize its NurOwn technology through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Ramot, the technology transfer company of Tel-Aviv University. For more information, visit the companys website at http://www.brainstorm-cell.com. Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Terms and phrases such as may, should, would, could, will, expect, likely, believe, plan, estimate, predict, potential, … Continue reading →

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Survival rates have increased significantly over the past decade among patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases who received blood stem cell transplants from donors outside of their families, according to new research1. Results of the recent study presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Atlanta showed that the one-year survival rate for all unrelated transplant patients improved 12 to 13 percent between 2000 and 2009, and a large percentage of patients maintained improvements through their three-year follow-up. The retrospective cohort study analyzed outcomes for more than 15,000 unrelated transplant patients and was led by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and its research arm, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). The significant improvements are correlated with reduced treatment-related mortality, and in certain populations, fewer disease relapses. Such a remarkable improvement in outcomes demonstrates that unrelated transplantation is a good option for the 70 percent of patients who need a transplant, but dont have a suitable matching donor within their family, said Navneet Majhail, M.D., lead author of the study and medical director at the NMDP. This is good news for these patients, and should reassure physicians about … Continue reading →

ATLANTA, Dec. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Studies of stem cell biology and transplant approaches presented today at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) illustrate how the use of advanced modeling techniques is optimizing stem cells to treat patients with blood disorders, as well as the potential of enhanced treatment strategies to improve the success rate of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation for these patients. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is effectively used today as a form of "replacement" therapy for patients with hard-to-treat blood conditions, providing healthy HSCs to help patients whose bodies cannot properly fight infection or disease on their own. While transplants often lead to long-term remission for many patients, researchers are now challenging traditional assumptions in an effort to further improve success rates while minimizing the remaining risks associated with transplantation. "As we learn more about the biology and therapeutic use of hematopoietic stem cells to cure blood disorders, we are able to refine our traditional approaches to reduce complications and deliver better patient benefits," said Vanderson Rocha, MD, PhD, moderator of the press conference and Professor of Hematology of Oxford University, United Kingdom. "We are finding that hematopoietic stem cells can be … Continue reading →