Search Immortality Topics:

Page 463«..1020..462463464465..470480..»


Category Archives: Stem Cell Therapy

International Stem Cell Corporation Scientists to Present Pre-Clinical Research Results at American Society of Gene …

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB: ISCO.OB - News) (www.internationalstemcell.com) today announced that several of its leading scientists will present experimental results from three of ISCOs pre-clinical therapeutic programs.

Firstly, the application of A9 dopaminergic neurons derived from human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSC) for the treatment of Parkinsons disease. Demonstrating functional dopaminergic neurons in vivo represents an important milestone towards the goal of creating well characterized populations of cells that could be used to develop a treatment for Parkinsons.

Secondly, the differentiation of hpSC and embryonic stem cells into cornea-like constructs for use in transplantation therapy and the in vitro study of ocular drug absorption. There are approximately ten million people worldwide who are blind as a result of damage to their cornea. Generating human corneas from a pluripotent stem cell source should increase the likelihood that people will receive treatment in the future even in the absence of suitable tissue from eye banks.

Lastly, the in vivo and in vitro characterization of immature hepatocyte derived from hpSC. Such cells could be used to develop a treatment for individuals with a liver that has been damaged by disease or sufferers of genetic disorders that inhibit normal liver function. In both cases, implanting healthy hepatocyte cells could treat the underlying disease and prolong the life of the individual.

These results not only show the progress we have made in these important programs, but also demonstrate the broad application of human parthenogenetic stem cells in the development of treatments for incurable diseases, says Dr. Ruslan Semechkin, Vice President of Research and Development.

The presentations will take place at the 15th Annual Meeting of American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, in Philadelphia at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 17th.

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). hpSCs avoid ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com or follow us on Twitter @intlstemcell.

To receive ongoing corporate communications, please click on the following link: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0

See the article here:
International Stem Cell Corporation Scientists to Present Pre-Clinical Research Results at American Society of Gene ...

Posted in Stem Cell Therapy | Comments Off on International Stem Cell Corporation Scientists to Present Pre-Clinical Research Results at American Society of Gene …

Stem cell therapy to treat a chimp's torn ACL may prove beneficial for humans

Veterinarians hope a new medical procedure can treat a 25-year-old chimpanzee with a torn ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, at the "Save the Chimps" in Florida.

The procedure involves injecting the chimp with her own stem cells.

"With chimps we don't want to do a lot of surgical work, put hardware in their knee, they tend to pull out that sort of thing," said Veterinarian Linda Gregard, M.D.

Dr. Darrell Nazareth with the Florida Veterinary League has been using stem cells to treat dogs with arthritis for the past two years, but this is his first chimp.

"We're not using embryonic stem cells, we're not taking embryos and taking their stem cells from there. We're just using the patient's own tissue," said Dr. Nazareth.

The technology harnesses the bodies own ability to heal itself and doctors hope it could find wider use in humans.

After injecting two billion stem cells into Angie's knee, doctors will find out in the next two to three weeks if the stem cell therapy treatment was successful.

More here:
Stem cell therapy to treat a chimp's torn ACL may prove beneficial for humans

Posted in Stem Cell Therapy | Comments Off on Stem cell therapy to treat a chimp's torn ACL may prove beneficial for humans

Scientists Discover Marker to Identify, Attack Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Cell surface protein blows potent cells cover; targeted drug works in preclinical tests

Newswise HOUSTON Breast cancer stem cells wear a cell surface protein that is part nametag and part bulls eye, identifying them as potent tumor-generating cells and flagging their vulnerability to a drug, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report online in Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Weve discovered a single marker for breast cancer stem cells and also found that its targetable with a small molecule drug that inhibits an enzyme crucial to its synthesis, said co-senior author Michael Andreeff, M.D., Ph.D., professor in MD Andersons Departments of Leukemia and Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.

Andreeff and colleagues are refining the drug as a potential targeted therapy for breast cancer stem cells, which are thought to be crucial to therapy resistance, disease progression and spread to other organs.

Its been difficult to identify cancer stem cells in solid tumors, Andreeff said. And nobody has managed to target these cells very well.

The marker is the cell surface protein ganglioside GD2. The drug is triptolide, an experimental drug that Andreeff has used in preclinical leukemia research. The team found triptolide blocks expression of GD3 synthase, which is essential to GD2production.

Triptolide stymied cancer growth in cell line experiments and resulted in smaller tumors and prolonged survival in mouse experiments. Drug development for human trials probably will take several years.

Cancer stem cells are similar to normal stem cells

Research in several types of cancer has shown cancer stem cells are a small subpopulation of cancer cells that are capable of long-term self-renewal and generation of new tumors. More recent research shows they resist treatment and promote metastasis.

Cancer stem cells are similar to normal stem cells that renew specialized tissues. The breast cancer findings grew out of Andreeffs long-term research in mesenchymal stem cells, which can divide into one copy of themselves and one differentiated copy of a bone, muscle, fat or cartilage cell.

Link:
Scientists Discover Marker to Identify, Attack Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Posted in Stem Cell Therapy | Comments Off on Scientists Discover Marker to Identify, Attack Breast Cancer Stem Cells

StemCells, Inc., Hoping for as Much as $40 Million from California Stem Cell Agency


StemCells, Inc., said today it has
applied for as much as $40 million in funding from the California
stem cell agency for two projects dealing with Alzheimer's disease
and cervical spinal cord injury.
The announcement came in a news release
dealing with the publicly traded firm's quarterly earnings. The applications are part of a $240 million round expected to be acted on in late July by the board
of the $3 billion California stem cell agency. Funding for
businesses in the disease team round is expected to come through a
loan.
StemCells, Inc., of Newark, Ca., said,

"In January 2012, we submitted two
applications to the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine
(CIRM) for 'Disease Team Therapy Development Research Awards,' one
for Alzheimer's disease and one for cervical spinal cord injury. A
research award may be up to $20 million, payable over four years, to
fund preclinical and IND-enabling activities with the aim of starting
human clinical trials within a four-year window."

Applications in the round were reviewed
behind closed doors in April. CIRM also has a policy of not releasing the
names of applicants until its board acts and then only if an
applicant is approved. CIRM says it does not want to embarrass firms
that do not win approval. That includes individual researcher names
as well as the names of such institutions as the University of
California.
During discussion of grant applications by the CIRM board, directors are not told the names of the applicants,
just the number of the application. If board members have conflicts
of interest on specific applications, they are barred from voting on
and discussing the application. The names of applicants have
occassionally slipped out. Sometimes their identities can also be
discerned by information contained in the summaries of the reviews of
the applications, which become available on the CIRM web site shortly before the directors act. The summaries normally carry scientific scores and recommendations for funding.
Most companies seeking funding from
CIRM do not identify themselves in advance, although they do if they
appeal a negative decision by reviewers. The board has ultimate
authority for approval of grants but has almost never rejected a
recommendation for funding by reviewers.
StemCells Inc. was founded by Irv Weissman of Stanford, who sits on its board of directors. Weissman is also on its scientific advisory board along with Fred Gage
of Salk and David Anderson of Caltech. Weissman and Gage have won
substantial grants from CIRM. 
StemCells Inc.'s stock price closed at
92 cents yesterday. Its 52-week high was $8.20, and its 52 week low
was 70 cents.
Here is a link to an analyst's report
on the company.

(Editor's note: An earlier version of this item incorrectly stated that the disease team round will be acted on later this month.)

Source:
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Posted in Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells | Comments Off on StemCells, Inc., Hoping for as Much as $40 Million from California Stem Cell Agency

Biotech Biz Alert: California Stem Cell Agency Altering Loan Policies


The California stem cell agency is in
the midst of making significant changes in its lending regulations,
but says it is not part of an effort to transfer a $25 million loan
to Geron to another company.
That does not mean, however, that the agency is not going to
transfer the loan at some point. CIRM says it already has the
authority to do so.
Talk has surfaced from time to time at
CIRM meetings about the likelihood of helping to continue with the
hESC clinical trial that Geron abruptly abandoned last fall. The
surprise termination of Geron's hESC program came only a few months
after CIRM and Geron signed a $25 million loan agreement in August.
Geron is trying to sell off its hESC business, although Geron's hESC
team has already left the company, according to industry reports.
Modification of the CIRM loan
regulations has been underway for some time. Tomorrow the CIRM
directors' Intellectual Property and Industry Subcommittee will consider the latest proposals.
Some of the changes deal with
relinquishment and transfer of loans. The modifications explicitly
give CIRM President Alan Trounson the ability to transfer a loan
without having to go through additional reviews or seek board
approval. Other changes are also designed to clarify and remove
ambiguities in the transfer arrangement, which may well be necessary
in order to make a transfer acceptable to a buyer of the Geron
assets.
Geron paid off the loan last fall but
it is not clear whether that action would preclude a transfer. At one
point earlier this year, Trounson said he was involved in helping to find a buyer, but it is not clear whether any CIRM official is
currently involved. Geron has hired  Stifel
Nicolaus & Co. to help peddle
the hESC business.
CIRM's loan changes are complex. The
agency has not yet put together in one place a straightforward
rationale and explanation of all the modifications. Nonetheless,
biotech and stem cell firms should pay close attention to the
proposals. They could mean the difference between the infusion or
loss of millions for a company's research.
The proposals are expected to go before
the full CIRM board later this month. Then they will be subject to
the state's administrative law process, including a period for public
comment.
Tomorrow's meeting has public
teleconference locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, La Jolla and
two in Irvine. Specific addresses can be found on the agenda.

Source:
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Posted in Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells | Comments Off on Biotech Biz Alert: California Stem Cell Agency Altering Loan Policies

Advisor to CIRM Nominated to Board of CIRM Grant Recipient Expecting $5 Million from Agency


A "special
advisor" to the $3 billion California stem cell agency has been nominated to the board of directors of Sangamo BioSciences, Inc., a
firm that is sharing in a $14.5 million grant from the state research
enterprise.
She is Saira Ramasastry, managing partner of Life Sciences Advisory, LLC, of
Emerald Lake Hills, Ca., and who also has worked as a consultant to
Sangamo. Ramasastry's ties to CIRM go back to at least May of 2010,
when she served as a consultant for the panel that CIRM hired to
review its operations. The panel strongly recommended that CIRM
engage industry more warmly. Since then Ramasastry's contracts with
CIRM have totalled $65,000. Her current $25,000 contract describes
her work for CIRM as "industry analysis and consultation."
Ramasastry's
website says she serves as "a special advisor to CIRM in
industry engagement initiatives and strategic projects." Her
firm also offers expertise to life sciences firms in "strategic
alternatives advisory, strategic options analysis, tailored business
development solutions and innovative financing strategies."
In a news release April 30 announcing her nomination, Sangamo said Ramasastry has worked as a consultant to the Richmond, Ca., company. William Ringo, chairman of Sangamo's board of
directors, said,

 "Saira's
extensive experience in global healthcare investment banking and
strategic advisory consulting will bring valuable financial,
commercial assessment and business development skills to our board."

Compensation for Sangamo directors in 2011 ranged from $75,000 to $35,000 for those who served a full year plus stock options. 

Sangamo is sharing
in a $14.5 million, four-year grant from CIRM with the City of Hope
in Los Angeles dealing with an AIDS- related lymphoma therapy. The
grant was approved in 2009. Sangamo expects to receive $5.2 million from the grant if it runs for the full four years. As of the end of 2011, the firm has received $2.4 million, according to its financial documents. In March, Ellen Feigal, CIRM senior vice
president for research and development, said the effort is due for an
evaluation late this year.  Earlier this year, CIRM terminated one $19 million grant in the same round after it failed to meet milestones.

Sangamo's board is
scheduled to vote on Ramasastry's nomination on June 21. 
The California
Stem Cell Report has asked Ramasastry if she has any comment for
publication. We are also querying CIRM and Sangamo. Their comments
will be carried verbatim when we receive them.
Our take?
Ramasastry's consulting work with both CIRM and Sangamo demonstrates
again the tiny size of the world of stem cell science. It also raises
questions about conflicts of interest involving CIRM and industry. Can
a consultant in such a position serve two masters and serve them both
equally well? CIRM's interests are not necessarily the same as
Sangamo's, which is a publicly traded firm working diligently to
generate profit and financial returns for its shareholders. To do
that, it needs capital from its financial "backers,"
including CIRM. The stem cell agency, however, is in the business of
getting the results that it wants from Sangamo. If not, the grant
can be cancelled. Working for both the stem cell agency, whose
paramount obligation is to the people of California, and a recipient
of the agency's millions is incompatible.

Source:
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Posted in Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells | Comments Off on Advisor to CIRM Nominated to Board of CIRM Grant Recipient Expecting $5 Million from Agency