Semma Therapeutics has closed an oversubscribed $114 million Series B round to help fund the development of its encapsulated stem cell-derived islet therapy for Type I diabetes. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company reported that it plans to use the newly-acquired funds to bring its cell therapy through clinical proof-of-concept studies, as well as explore other regenerative […]
Stem Cells
Researchers reverse diabetes in mice by infusing them with blood stem cells
Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital successfully reversed Type I diabetes in a mouse model using blood stem cells, according to a study published this week in Science Translational Medicine. The researchers used cells that were pre-treated to make more of a protein, PD-L1, which is deficient in mice and people with Type I diabetes. “There’s really […]
BrainStorm enrolls first ALS patient in late-stage NurOwn trial
Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics (NSDQ:BCLI) said today that the first patients have been enrolled in its Phase III trial evaluating NurOwn as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, at Massachusetts General Hospital and UC Irvine Medical Center. The trial, which is slated to enroll 200 patients, is designed to include the pre-specified patient subgroups who […]
FDA intervenes after stem cell center offers unproven treatment to cancer patients
The FDA is cracking down on stem cell clinics that administer unproven and potentially dangerous treatments to patients, citing a California-based clinic that the regulatory watchdog said was treating cancer patients with the smallpox vaccine. Last week, the U.S. Marshals Service seized five vials of a vaccine that is reserved only for people at high […]
Gamida Cell launches severe aplastic anemia trial
Gamida Cell said today that the first patient has been transplanted in a study of its CordIn product for patients with severe aplastic anemia or hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome. The product is designed for patients with rare genetic diseases who have no fully-matched donors for a bone marrow transplantation. Gamida Cell said it is also evaluating […]
Anika Therapeutics touts Hyalofast scaffold, stem cell combo
Anika Therapeutics (NSDQ:ANIK) touted data today from a study evaluating the use of its Hyalofast biodegradable, hyaluronic acid-based scaffold in combination with autologous adult mesenchymal stem cells as a treatment for cartilage lesions in the knee. The study, which was published in Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy, showed that the treatment was equally effective among patients, regardless […]
Researchers develop stem cell therapy to fight inflammatory lung conditions
Researchers from the UNC School of Medicine and North Carolina State University showed that they could harvest and multiply lung stem cells in volumes sufficient for human therapy. In a second study, the team used their cell therapy to treat a model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The scientists reported that they are in talks with […]
ViaCyte launches cell replacement trial for Type I diabetes
Regenerative medicine company ViaCyte said today that the first patients have been implanted in a trial of its islet cell replacement therapy, PEC-Direct. San Diego-based ViaCyte is developing the cell therapy as a functional cure for patients with Type I diabetes who are at risk of suffering acute life-threatening complications. The company’s open-label clinical trial […]
BioCardia treats 10-patient cohort in late-stage heart failure trial
BioCardia (NSDQ:BCDA) said today that it finished treating a 10-patient cohort in its pivotal Phase III CardiAmp heart failure trial. The company reported that it expects a review of the 30-day outcomes for this cohort in the third quarter of this year. The CardiAmp pivotal trial, which launched in December, is slated to enroll up to […]
Nanotech derived from amniotic stem cells could help treat brain cancer
Creative Medical Technology Holdings (OTC:CELZ) touted its exosome technology today, reporting that it demonstrated an ability to regenerate healthy brain cells while selectively halting the growth of glioma brain cancer cells in a preclinical model. The company’s exosomes are vesicles harvested from amniotic stem cell technology, which it licensed from the University of California San […]
