Medicine Using Cord Blood in the Treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia
Medistem Laboratories, Inc. (FRANKFURT: S2U) announced that it is collaborating with the Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine to perform pre-clinical research on Medistem's proprietary platform AngioStem™. The trials, if successful, will initially position the platform as a potential treatment for critical limb ischemia. The initiation of the pre-clinical phase of experimentation marks a major step for Medistem Laboratories as the company begins taking the necessary steps to commence FDA trials in the U.S.
"The AngioStem™ platform is, to our knowledge, the first technology with potential to allow widespread use of cord blood transplants for generation of new blood vessels in a wide patient population base. Currently used methods of cord blood transplants in the U.S. are primarily limited to cancer patients; however, our current work aims to allow many more patients to benefit from this widely available source of adult stem cells," said Neil Riordan, PhD, President and CEO of Medistem. "We are proud to have the School of Medicine's faculty members, Drs. Keith March and Michael Murphy, international experts in the area of cell therapy, as collaborators in our pre-clinical investigations. In addition to their unique understanding of the biological processes associated with vascular diseases, their patient experience will add significant value as we begin developing clinical protocols for FDA submissions."
The study seeks to demonstrate that the AngioStem™ platform can be used to modify cord blood so as to allow for generation of new blood vessels. If successful, we will establish the various safety and efficacy parameters of the AngioStem™ platform to position Medistem to file with the FDA for clinical trials.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Medistem on a technology that is not only interesting scientifically, but if successful, could open up the use of cord blood transplants to a wide variety of therapeutic indications," said Dr. Michael Murphy, Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "The mix of immunological, cellular therapy and angiogenesis expertise at Medistem makes this collaboration one that we are excited to begin."
About Critical Limb Ischemia
In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that between 8-12 million people suffer from limb ischemia. The disease is characterized by a narrowing and hardening of the arteries, typically affecting the legs and feet. With decreased blood flow, patients can suffer a host of symptoms, including nerve injury and tissue damage. In advanced stages, limb ischemia can lead to gangrene and severe tissue damage, often requiring amputation of the affected limb. Limb ischemia is associated with a high rate of mortality and the need for frequent hospitalization from surgical complications. With no real alternatives outside of surgery currently available, there is a definite need for techniques that re-form a patient's vascular supply, saving the patient's limb(s) without the use of invasive techniques.
About the Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine
The Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine (ICVBM) is committed to being a leader in basic as well as applied research in understanding mechanisms of vascular wellness and disease, and the development of leading-edge medical therapies to improve the care of patients with vascular problems. The ICVBM includes more than 30 investigators from a range of basic as well as clinical disciplines, and is thus well-positioned to approach vascular research and development from a highly cross-disciplinary perspective. The overall mission of the Center is the rapid development and extension to clinical application and commercialization of new knowledge in vascular biology. The ICVBM thus operates with the purpose of facilitating research while impacting delivery of novel and innovative medical treatment in order to achieve positive results within the health care community. A major focus of multiple ICVBM investigators is work with various adult stem and progenitor cells, particularly as related to a variety of vascular diseases. Drs. Murphy and March and their team have recently completed enrollment of 15 patients in the first U.S. FDA-approved trial testing stem cells (from autologous bone marrow) to address severe peripheral vascular disease.
About Medistem Laboratories, Inc.
Medistem Laboratories is an innovative biotechnology company committed to the creation and commercialization of advanced medical therapies based on non-controversial adult stem cells. Medistem's corporate mission is to transform these stem cells into valuable medical treatments. The Company's business strategy calls for the establishment of a series of clinics and laboratories around the world to deliver unprecedented, next-generation cell therapies to help millions of patients while seeking to commercialize products in the U.S. market. Clinic treatments use proprietary technology and cells sourced from umbilical cords, fat, bone marrow, and muscle for the treatment of cerebral palsy, stroke, cardiovascular disease and orthopedic diseases. Medistem believes it may hold a substantial competitive edge in the worldwide emerging market for stem cell-sourced medical solutions, positioning it to become a leading global provider of stem cell treatments on a fee-for-service basis, while accumulating intellectual property based on clinical and laboratory findings.
