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The European Bank of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Five Years of Progress – Technology Networks

By Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Since Yamanakas demonstration in 2006 that adult cells can be reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state using a specific cocktail of transcription factors, interest in the development and use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) has flourished. The potential for these cells to be used as models for drug discovery and disease research, as well as therapeutics, has resulted in more and more researchers seeking access to iPSCs.

In a bid to meet this increasing demand for quality-controlled, disease-relevant, research-grade iPSC lines, a project began in 2014 to set up the first European Bank of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (EBiSC). Five years on and the project entered its second phase, with the aim of becoming a self-sustainable central iPSC hub by 2022.

Here,Technology Networks speaks to Rachel Steeg, Project Manager, Fraunhofer UK Research Ltd and a coordinator of EBiSC activities, to discuss phase two of the project and discover some of the benefits it is bringing to the scientific community.Anna MacDonald (AM): Can you give us an overview of EBiSC?Rachel Steeg (RS): EBiSC is a centralised, non-profit, iPSC repository with central facilities in Germany and the UK which safeguards iPSC lines derived both from within EBiSC and from external research centres. Once iPSC lines are shared with EBiSC, we perform expansion, banking and quality control at one of our central facilities according to user demand. Data are shared to users via the EBiSC catalogue (https://cells.ebisc.org/) with genomic datasets available through application to the EBiSC Data Access Committee (DAC). EBiSC lines can be ordered directly from the European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures (ECACC) and after completion of a single Access and Use Agreement and a Cell Line Information Pack for each line, ECACC can ship worldwide either on dry ice or using a dry shipper. Every iPSC line is securely stored at our Mirror Facility at the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT) in Germany where an ASKION database, cryo-workbench and hermetic storage tanks track vials using barcodes, ensuring an uninterrupted cold-chain. A second project phase, currently in progress, is streamlining and optimising these core processes as well as developing new iPSC products and services.

AM: What was the motivation behind the project, and how did it get started?RS: Its now widely recognised that iPSC lines hold great promise for changing the way we investigate disease pathologies and discover new therapeutics, but issues around poor traceability, limited access and poor quality, are seen as limiting factors in really progressing with this avenue of research. EBiSC was initially launched in 2014 through a public-private partnership with IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative) and EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) with a core goal of tackling these issues aiming to making high quality and disease relevant iPSC lines with associated datasets, adult cells can be reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state. Hence, the focus from the outset was to build an infrastructure that would allow EBiSC to accept iPSC lines from multiple sources and standardise them for downstream use. Sharing the data associated with these lines has been really key in this process, including sharing details of the consent, donor disease information and iPSC characterisation data in an anonymised way via hPSCreg and allowing access to sensitive datasets such as Whole Genome Sequencing through the EBiSC DAC. Finally, EBiSC eased the often lengthy process for completing transfer agreements by implementing a procedure which allows users to access lines from multiple sources under one single agreement.

AM: Why is there an increasing demand for iPSC lines?RS: As protocols detailing the maintenance and downstream use of iPSCs develop, their use in drug discovery, particularly using mature differentiated cell populations, has become easier and easier to implement. Critically, as high-quality iPSC lines are now available through repositories such as EBiSC, researchers can focus on their key research question at hand, rather than investing precious resources on accessing appropriate, fully consented patient biosamples and generating new iPSC lines from scratch. Theres also an increasing awareness that use of current animal and simplistic cell models such as transgenic primary lines is likely contributing to the high failure rates in developing novel, effective and safe therapies and a new approach is needed including incorporating iPSCs as a disease relevant human model during pre-clinical investigations.

AM: The second phase of the project was launched March 2019. What can we expect to see during this phase of development?RS: The current second project stage, again supported by IMI2, will ensure that EBiSC is legally, ethically and financially sustainable long-term by widening the products and services on offer. As well as continuing to collect and provide iPSC lines, EBiSC will also provide disease relevant differentiated cell populations such as cardiomyocytes and neurons, including sharing them in an assay ready-to-use format. As mentioned, EBiSC already has a robust infrastructure for generating, genetically modifying, banking, qualifying and distributing iPSC lines so we are now opening up this infrastructure for external use researchers can just get in touch with EBiSC and ask for help with any of these activities as a non-profit, fee-for-service activity, with revenue feeding back into the bank.

AM: What difference can having access to iPSCs from the bank make to scientists and their research?RS: For many of the disease associations represented by EBiSC, multiple lines are available from the same disease background, helping researchers achieve statistical significance in their research. By accessing iPSC lines from EBiSC, its also not just the iPSC lines themselves which can make the difference. In addition to the datasets mentioned previously and the provision of high-quality iPSC cohorts, iPSC banking, QC protocols and best practice training resources are available through the EBiSC website. EBiSC also ensures fully anonymised traceability of each line, meaning that any consent, third party or licencing restrictions which may apply, are clearly flagged to users prior to purchase.

AM: In addition to the cells, what support can EBiSC offer to researchers?RS: Protocols for how to thaw, expand and cryopreserve iPSC lines are available via the website, as are recommendations as to how users should monitor their cultures both visually and through performing routine QC. Training videos advise users on best practice and Certificates of Analysis give cell line specific recommendations for thawing and passaging. Critically, EBiSC2 now offers iPSC services, including cell line generation, gene-editing, expansion and banking (including generation of banks of >100 vials) and qualifying iPSC lines using the established EBiSC Quality Control regime.

AM: Is it possible to deposit cells in the collection? What are the main benefits of doing this?RS: Yes! Any researcher worldwide can deposit iPSC lines into EBiSC, they just need to reach out to EBiSC either through the website or by emailing us at EBiSC@eurtd.com. Theres a whole host of benefits to deposition, including always having a secure multi-site back-up of your cell line stocks, access to EBiSC generated Quality Control and characterisation data and not having to find capacity for banking and agreeing MTAs if someone wants to access your line(s). One of the main benefits highlighted by current depositors is that deposition ensures sustainability of resources after project completion, both for themselves and to satisfy funding requirements. Best of all, deposition just grants EBiSC a non-exclusive licence to share the line(s), so researchers are still free to use and share their iPSC lines as they prefer, retaining their ownership and intellectual property of the lines.

Rachel Steeg was speaking to Anna MacDonald, Science Writer, Technology Networks.

Acknowledgements:

EBiSC2 is supported as a multinational public-private Innovative Medicines Initiative in its second phase (IMI2, 2014-2020, http://www.imi.europa.eu) under grant agreement No 821362. The IMI2 Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA.

The content presented in the present publication reflect only the author's view and the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

Originally posted here:
The European Bank of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Five Years of Progress - Technology Networks

Arctic Medical Center: Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell …

By Stem Cell Medical Center

About Arctic Medical Center

Arctic Medical Center offers advanced services to adult patients from in and around Anchorage, Alaska. As a premier medical center, the team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and other health care providers, which includes a chiropractor, provides customized health care. They combine advanced medical treatments, state-of-the-art regenerative medicine, chiropractic care, and other integrative medicine therapies like massage therapy to help patients lead healthy, pain-free, active lives.

Arctic Medical Center treats a wide range of ailments, including neck, back, hip, and joint pain, as well as sexual health. Their goal is to offer highly personalized care not only to relieve painful symptoms but also to heal the underlying condition causing them.

Research shows that regenerative medicine techniques, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and mesenchymal stem cells, may stimulate and support the natural healing response of the human body. Arctic Medical Center explores every treatment option available with patients to find the most-effective solution.

The team of expertly trained physicians and wellness providers are committed to serving their patients and the community. New patients are welcome at Arctic Medical Center, and appointments are available by calling the practice or booking online.

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Arctic Medical Center: Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell ...

New study identifies trigger that turns dormant cancer stem cells into active ones – Benzinga

By Stem Cell Medical Center

A new study released today in STEM CELLS identifies, for the first time, two morphologically and functionally different types of cancer stem cells found in cervical cancer.

DURHAM, N.C. (PRWEB) February 26, 2020

A new study released today in STEM CELLS identifies, for the first time, two morphologically and functionally different types of cancer stem cells found in cervical cancer. Of the two types, one exhibits an overexpression of cPLA2, a key enzyme that triggers the transformation of dormant cancer stem cells into active ones, resulting in cervical cancer metastasis and recurrence. The information in this study could lead to new targets for treatments to halt tumor recurrence and metastatic spread. Also, it might accelerate the development of combination therapies.

The current standard of treatments for cervical cancer the second leading cause of cancer death in young women worldwide is radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the cancer's resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, combined with a tendency to metastasis in the lymph nodes or recur in the pelvis, leaves doctors searching for more effective treatments.

Cervical cancer stem cells (CCSCs) are considered the major culprit behind the cancer's ability to overcome these treatments. At the same time, a majority of cancer stem-like cells or tumor-initiating cells remain dormant. It takes a change in their microenvironment to spur them to metastasize.

"The mechanisms responsible for this must be identified to design more suitable therapies for the different subpopulations of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in various tissue-specific cancers," said Hua Guo, Ph.D., who headed up the investigation along with Yuchao He, Ph.D. The two are colleagues at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. Researchers at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and at the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Peking University First Hospital, also participated in the study.

Although several cell surface antigens have been identified in CCSCs, these markers vary among tumors because of CSC heterogeneity. However, whether these markers specifically distinguish CCSCs with different functions is unclear. The study published in STEM CELLS sought to resolve this question. And in fact, its findings demonstrate that CCSCs exist in two biologically distinct phenotypes, characterized by different levels of cPLA2 expression.

"Our study showed for the first time that overexpression of cPLA2 results in a phenotype associated with mesenchymal traits, including increased invasive and migration abilities. On the other hand, CCSCs with cPLA2 downregulation show dormant epithelial characteristics," said Dr. Guo. "In addition, cPLA2 regulates the reversible transition between mesenchymal and epithelial CCSC states through PKC, an atypical protein that governs cancer cell state changes."

Dr. He added, "Now that we know cPLA2 triggers this transformation, we believe that cPLA2 might be an attractive therapeutic target for eradicating different states of CCSCs to eliminate tumors more effectively."

"The novel study by Dr. Guo and team is of very high importance in understanding the transition between dormant cancer stem cells, which evade chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and actively dividing cells which can be better targeted, said Dr. Jan Nolta, Editor-in-Chief of STEM CELLS. "I applaud the group for this important discovery which will help researchers develop better treatments for cervical cancer."

###

The full article, "cPLA2 reversibly regulate different subsets of cancer stem cells transformation in cervical cancer," can be accessed at https://stemcellsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/stem.3157.

Figure Caption: This study revealed that there are two morphologically and functionally distinct cancer stem cell populations regulated by cPLA2 in cervical cancer. cPLA2 might be a unique marker to identify different cancer stem cell populations and trigger quiescent epithelial cancer stem cells transform to invasive mesenchymal states. Overexpression of cPLA2 resulted in a CD44+CD24- phenotype with mesenchymal traits, whereas cervical cancer stem cells (CCSCs) with cPLA2 downregulation expressed CD133 and showed epithelial characteristics. cPLA2, as a key role to reversely regulate CCSCs states and EMT, might provide innovative therapeutic strategies intended to halt tumor recurrence and metastasis.

About the Journal: STEM CELLS, a peer reviewed journal published monthly, provides a forum for prompt publication of original investigative papers and concise reviews. The journal covers all aspects of stem cells: embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem cells; tissue-specific stem cells; cancer stem cells; the stem cell niche; stem cell epigenetics, genomics and proteomics; and translational and clinical research. STEM CELLS is co-published by AlphaMed Press and Wiley.

About AlphaMed Press: Established in 1983, AlphaMed Press with offices in Durham, NC, San Francisco, CA, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, publishes three internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals with globally recognized editorial boards dedicated to advancing knowledge and education in their focused disciplines. STEM CELLS (http://www.StemCells.com) is the world's first journal devoted to this fast paced field of research. THE ONCOLOGIST (http://www.TheOncologist.com) is devoted to community and hospital-based oncologists and physicians entrusted with cancer patient care. STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE (http://www.StemCellsTM.com) is dedicated to significantly advancing the clinical utilization of stem cell molecular and cellular biology. By bridging stem cell research and clinical trials, SCTM will help move applications of these critical investigations closer to accepted best practices.

About Wiley: Wiley, a global company, helps people and organizations develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Our online scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journals, combined with our digital learning, assessment and certification solutions, help universities, learned societies, businesses, governments and individuals increase the academic and professional impact of their work. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to our stakeholders. The company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: https://www.prweb.com/releases/new_study_identifies_trigger_that_turns_dormant_cancer_stem_cells_into_active_ones/prweb16937974.htm

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New study identifies trigger that turns dormant cancer stem cells into active ones - Benzinga

UCLA raises $5.49 billion in one of most ambitious campaigns ever by a public university – UCLA Newsroom

By Stem Cell Medical Center

The Centennial Campaign for UCLA, one of the most ambitious fundraising campaigns ever by a public university, has raised $5.49 billion. As UCLA enters its second century, the funds are already supporting a broad array of priorities, including student scholarships and fellowships, faculty research, and programs that enrich communities in Los Angeles and beyond.

The campaign launched publicly in May 2014 and closed in December 2019, in the midst of UCLAs 100th year. During the initiative, nearly 220,000 donors from all 50 U.S. states and 98 additional countries gave more than 574,000 gifts to advance causes across campus and in communities in Southern California and around the world.

Approximately 95% of those gifts were less than $10,000, and 81% were less than $1,000, indicating the broad-based support for UCLAs mission.

UCLA also received transformative philanthropic commitments of more than $100 million, including Marion Andersons giving for students, faculty and facilities at the UCLA Anderson School of Management; David Geffens gifts for medical student scholarships and the Geffen Academy at UCLA; Meyer and Renee Luskins giving to name the school of public affairs and build a campus conference center; and Henry and Susan Samuelis gifts to expand engineering education and research.

As we celebrate UCLAs first hundred years, the Centennial Campaign for UCLA has exceeded its goals and engaged students, faculty, friends and leaders in setting up the university for an even more remarkable second century, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said. We are so grateful to each and every person who has participated in this extraordinary effort.

Campaign gifts cross campus, causes and communities

Funds raised through the campaign already are making a difference across the campus, including supporting students in a diverse range of fields. Such support includes humanities fellowships established by Jordan and Christine Kaplan and Ken Panzer; scholarships created by the cast and crew of hit television show The Big Bang Theory for students in science, technology, engineering and math fields; scholarships for dentistry students created by Bob and Marion Wilson; and scholarships for public health students established by Jonathan and Karin Fielding.

Steve Tisch and Shirley and Walter Wang both established scholarships for students from middle-income families; faculty member Ellen Carol DuBois donated to support transfer students; and the family of the late Bill Steinmetz, a UCLA alumnus and World War II veteran, gave to support student veterans.

Campaign giving for scholarships leveraged funds through matching challenges, such as those initiated by Miguel Garca-Garibay, dean of the UCLA College division of physical sciences, and Block, who designated student support as a campaign and continuing priority. Every new scholarship will help make a high-quality education affordable for high-achieving students of all backgrounds. UCLA already ranks No. 1 among the nations top-tier universities for enrolling low- to middle-income students, and more of its graduates move up two or more income levels, according to The Equality of Opportunity Project. During the Centennial Campaign, UCLA raised $665 million for student support.

Many other campaign gifts created endowed chairs to recruit and retain stellar faculty: Iris Cantor established the universitys 500th chair with a gift to the Iris CantorUCLA Womens Health Center, and the Ralph and Shirley Shapiro family established several faculty chairs during the campaign in dentistry, disability studies, law, nursing, pediatrics and other areas bringing the total number of chairs they have established at UCLA to more than 20.

Other donors enhanced the campus with lead gifts for state-of-the-art facilities. With the Eugene & Maxine Rosenfeld Hall for medical education, the Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center, the Mo Ostin Basketball Center and the Wasserman Football Center, construction has transformed UCLA during the course of the campaign. In Westwood and beyond, the arts have benefited from Marcy Carseys and Stewart and Lynda Resnicks gifts to renovate the Hammer Museum at UCLA and Margo Leavins gift to refurbish graduate art studios in Culver City.

Throughout the campaign, philanthropists supported UCLA initiatives in a wide array of fields with real-world relevance:

Alumni and friends invest in UCLA

The Centennial Campaign, which was co-chaired by Tony Pritzker and UCLA alumnus Garen Staglin, counted the contributions of nearly 220,000 donors, including nearly 127,000 first-time donors and more than 108,000 alumni donors.

I truly believe in UCLA as a unique public research institution that benefits students from every walk of life, the city of Los Angeles and the world at large, said Pritzker, who is not a UCLA alumnus but serves as a tireless benefactor and champion of the campus. Ensuring a successful start to its second century is an investment not only in the university and its students but in everyones future.

Staglin and his wife, Shari, launched the organization One Mind, which bridges gaps in mental health research and patient support, and they have been strong advocates for the UCLA Depression Grand Challenge. UCLA is leading the way in so many areas, and it has been a privilege to see alumni and friends come together to support causes close to their hearts while advancing education, research and service that change lives, he said.

UCLA makes its mark in higher education fundraising

At the time of its launch, the Centennial Campaigns $4.2 billion goal was the most ambitious fundraising goal ever announced by a U.S. public university, and UCLA surpassed that target 18 months ahead of schedule. Since then, the higher education sector has continued to see an upturn in fundraising and campaigns. According to the Voluntary Support of Education survey, giving to colleges and universities grew 6.1% in 201819.

The same survey ranked UCLA the No. 1 public university in philanthropic funds raised for 201718, and the campus was included in the Chronicle of Philanthropys special report on multiyear campaigns in April 2019. The feature highlighted the proliferation of such fundraising drives across the country, including at several other high-profile institutions across Los Angeles.

In a philanthropic landscape overflowing with opportunities to give, the success of the Centennial Campaign for UCLA speaks to donors generosity and their belief in UCLAs mission, said Rhea Turteltaub, UCLAs vice chancellor for external affairs. We take the responsibility to steward their trust very seriously, and we will continue working to ensure students access to education, secure resources for research and deliver on our commitment to public service every day.

To view campaign results, read stories about gifts and beneficiaries or learn more about giving to UCLA, visit the Centennial Campaign for UCLA site and UCLA Newsroom.

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UCLA raises $5.49 billion in one of most ambitious campaigns ever by a public university - UCLA Newsroom

Doctors harness the body’s healing powers to fight pain – KETV Omaha

By Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

Some local athletes are finding pain relief with a medical treatment that uses the bodys natural healing powers. Orthopedic surgeons and pain medicine doctors are using it in some cases where surgery isnt an option.Its called Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP. And while it isnt new, it's relatively new in the Midwest, compared to coastal areas. Typically, we found it very effective for our athletes at the University of Toledo and we used it for their acute tendon injuries and ligament injuries there werent surgical, said Dr. Jeffery Ebel, sports medicine specialist with Ortho Nebraska. Ebel did his fellowship training in regenerative medicine in Ohio where he treated college football players with PRP.To do the procedure, a nurse does a simple blood draw from a vein in the patients arm. Then the blood is spun in a centrifuge and it separates into different layers. Doctors use a syringe to pull out just the platelet rich plasma layer. Then its injected into the patients joint or inflamed area. So the magic behind it, the thought process behind it is if we put these cells into an area that doesnt heal well on its own, will it bring that healing cascade to try to help a person heal an injury, said Ebel.Last fall, Ebel treated Bellevue University softball pitcher Cory Carillo with PRP.Her team trainer sent her to Ebel after she joined the team and brought along a nagging knee injury. Carillo has been a pitcher since age 6. My knee started hurting about two years ago. I kind of thought, Im going to get over it, said Carillo. But the inflammation was getting in the way of playing her best. She said her pitching style is a little awkward and her left knee locks when she releases the ball, causing the pain. Four months after the injection, Carillo is back to pitching and feeling great.Its actually really good. No pain. Im squatting. I couldnt squat before. Now Im full pitching which is awesome, said the 19-year-old. Ebel said the PRP treatments are most effective in treating young athletes and people with osteoarthritis. He notes the success rate is about 65-percent. He said the challenging part is that its a newer science and, We still dont understand quite how it works or who its going to work in, Ebel said. Ebel said golfer Tiger Woods credits PRP for relieving his pain and getting him back in the game again. He was one of the success stories, said Ebel. Several orthopedic specialists and pain medicine specialists offer the treatment in the Omaha and Lincoln area, including Ebel with Ortho Nebraska, Dr Thomas Brooks, with Innovative Pain and Spine Specialists in Omaha and Dr Kelly Zach at the Lincoln location. Some providers at Nebraska Medicine also offer PRP. Treatments start at $675 and up. And its a cash-only treatment. Insurance does not cover PRP. Some patients require two injections, months apart, to find relief.

Some local athletes are finding pain relief with a medical treatment that uses the bodys natural healing powers. Orthopedic surgeons and pain medicine doctors are using it in some cases where surgery isnt an option.

Its called Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP. And while it isnt new, it's relatively new in the Midwest, compared to coastal areas.

Typically, we found it very effective for our athletes at the University of Toledo and we used it for their acute tendon injuries and ligament injuries there werent surgical, said Dr. Jeffery Ebel, sports medicine specialist with Ortho Nebraska.

Dr Jeffrey Ebel uses PRP for certain patients to help with pain relief.

Ebel did his fellowship training in regenerative medicine in Ohio where he treated college football players with PRP.

To do the procedure, a nurse does a simple blood draw from a vein in the patients arm. Then the blood is spun in a centrifuge and it separates into different layers. Doctors use a syringe to pull out just the platelet rich plasma layer. Then its injected into the patients joint or inflamed area.

So the magic behind it, the thought process behind it is if we put these cells into an area that doesnt heal well on its own, will it bring that healing cascade to try to help a person heal an injury, said Ebel.

Last fall, Ebel treated Bellevue University softball pitcher Cory Carillo with PRP.

Her team trainer sent her to Ebel after she joined the team and brought along a nagging knee injury. Carillo has been a pitcher since age 6.

My knee started hurting about two years ago. I kind of thought, Im going to get over it, said Carillo.

Cory is back to pitching full time and she says she is pain-free.

But the inflammation was getting in the way of playing her best. She said her pitching style is a little awkward and her left knee locks when she releases the ball, causing the pain. Four months after the injection, Carillo is back to pitching and feeling great.

Its actually really good. No pain. Im squatting. I couldnt squat before. Now Im full pitching which is awesome, said the 19-year-old.

Ebel said the PRP treatments are most effective in treating young athletes and people with osteoarthritis. He notes the success rate is about 65-percent. He said the challenging part is that its a newer science and, We still dont understand quite how it works or who its going to work in, Ebel said.

Ebel said golfer Tiger Woods credits PRP for relieving his pain and getting him back in the game again.

He was one of the success stories, said Ebel.

Several orthopedic specialists and pain medicine specialists offer the treatment in the Omaha and Lincoln area, including Ebel with Ortho Nebraska, Dr Thomas Brooks, with Innovative Pain and Spine Specialists in Omaha and Dr Kelly Zach at the Lincoln location.

Some providers at Nebraska Medicine also offer PRP. Treatments start at $675 and up. And its a cash-only treatment. Insurance does not cover PRP. Some patients require two injections, months apart, to find relief.

More here:
Doctors harness the body's healing powers to fight pain - KETV Omaha

New study identifies trigger that turns dormant cancer stem cells into active ones – Yahoo Finance

By Stem Cell Medicine

A new study released today in STEM CELLS identifies, for the first time, two morphologically and functionally different types of cancer stem cells found in cervical cancer.

DURHAM, N.C., Feb. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --A new study released today in STEM CELLS identifies, for the first time, two morphologically and functionally different types of cancer stem cells found in cervical cancer. Of the two types, one exhibits an overexpression of cPLA2, a key enzyme that triggers the transformation of dormant cancer stem cells into active ones, resulting in cervical cancer metastasis and recurrence. The information in this study could lead to new targets for treatments to halt tumor recurrence and metastatic spread. Also, it might accelerate the development of combination therapies.

The current standard of treatments for cervical cancer the second leading cause of cancer death in young women worldwide is radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the cancer's resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, combined with a tendency to metastasis in the lymph nodes or recur in the pelvis, leaves doctors searching for more effective treatments.

Cervical cancer stem cells (CCSCs) are considered the major culprit behind the cancer's ability to overcome these treatments. At the same time, a majority of cancer stem-like cells or tumor-initiating cells remain dormant. It takes a change in their microenvironment to spur them to metastasize.

"The mechanisms responsible for this must be identified to design more suitable therapies for the different subpopulations of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in various tissue-specific cancers," said Hua Guo, Ph.D., who headed up the investigation along with Yuchao He, Ph.D. The two are colleagues at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. Researchers at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and at the Center for Translational Cancer Research, Peking University First Hospital, also participated in the study.

Although several cell surface antigens have been identified in CCSCs, these markers vary among tumors because of CSC heterogeneity. However, whether these markers specifically distinguish CCSCs with different functions is unclear. The study published in STEM CELLS sought to resolve this question. And in fact, its findings demonstrate that CCSCs exist in two biologically distinct phenotypes, characterized by different levels of cPLA2 expression.

"Our study showed for the first time that overexpression of cPLA2 results in a phenotype associated with mesenchymal traits, including increased invasive and migration abilities. On the other hand, CCSCs with cPLA2 downregulation show dormant epithelial characteristics," said Dr. Guo. "In addition, cPLA2 regulates the reversible transition between mesenchymal and epithelial CCSC states through PKC, an atypical protein that governs cancer cell state changes."

Dr. He added, "Now that we know cPLA2 triggers this transformation, we believe that cPLA2 might be an attractive therapeutic target for eradicating different states of CCSCs to eliminate tumors more effectively."

"The novel study by Dr. Guo and team is of very high importance in understanding the transition between dormant cancer stem cells, which evade chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and actively dividing cells which can be better targeted, said Dr. Jan Nolta, Editor-in-Chief of STEM CELLS. "I applaud the group for this important discovery which will help researchers develop better treatments for cervical cancer."

###

The full article, "cPLA2 reversibly regulate different subsets of cancer stem cells transformation in cervical cancer," can be accessed at https://stemcellsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/stem.3157.

Figure Caption: This study revealed that there are two morphologically and functionally distinct cancer stem cell populations regulated by cPLA2 in cervical cancer. cPLA2 might be a unique marker to identify different cancer stem cell populations and trigger quiescent epithelial cancer stem cells transform to invasive mesenchymal states. Overexpression of cPLA2 resulted in a CD44+CD24- phenotype with mesenchymal traits, whereas cervical cancer stem cells (CCSCs) with cPLA2 downregulation expressed CD133 and showed epithelial characteristics. cPLA2, as a key role to reversely regulate CCSCs states and EMT, might provide innovative therapeutic strategies intended to halt tumor recurrence and metastasis.

Story continues

About the Journal: STEM CELLS, a peer reviewed journal published monthly, provides a forum for prompt publication of original investigative papers and concise reviews. The journal covers all aspects of stem cells: embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem cells; tissue-specific stem cells; cancer stem cells; the stem cell niche; stem cell epigenetics, genomics and proteomics; and translational and clinical research. STEM CELLS is co-published by AlphaMed Press and Wiley.

About AlphaMed Press: Established in 1983, AlphaMed Press with offices in Durham, NC, San Francisco, CA, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, publishes three internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals with globally recognized editorial boards dedicated to advancing knowledge and education in their focused disciplines. STEM CELLS (http://www.StemCells.com) is the world's first journal devoted to this fast paced field of research. THE ONCOLOGIST (http://www.TheOncologist.com) is devoted to community and hospital-based oncologists and physicians entrusted with cancer patient care. STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE (http://www.StemCellsTM.com) is dedicated to significantly advancing the clinical utilization of stem cell molecular and cellular biology. By bridging stem cell research and clinical trials, SCTM will help move applications of these critical investigations closer to accepted best practices.

About Wiley: Wiley, a global company, helps people and organizations develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Our online scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journals, combined with our digital learning, assessment and certification solutions, help universities, learned societies, businesses, governments and individuals increase the academic and professional impact of their work. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to our stakeholders. The company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com.

SOURCE AlphaMed Press

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New study identifies trigger that turns dormant cancer stem cells into active ones - Yahoo Finance

Editas Medicine Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results and Update – Yahoo Finance

By Stem Cell Medicine

Announcement of first patient dosing with EDIT-101 (AGN-151587) expected in 1Q20

Plan to file IND for EDIT-301 for sickle cell disease by end of 2020

Research collaboration with Sandhill Therapeutics accelerates IND-enabling studies for allogeneic healthy donor NK program to treat solid tumors in mid-2020

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Editas Medicine, Inc. (EDIT), a leading genome editing company, today reported business highlights and financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2019.

We are entering 2020 with strong momentum and a strategic focus on driving our pipeline of in vivo CRISPR and engineered cell medicines forward with the ultimate vision of developing differentiated, transformational medicines for people living with serious diseases, said Cynthia Collins, Chief Executive Officer of Editas Medicine. Our team is making history with the first ever clinical trial of an in vivo CRISPR medicine, advancing our broader pipeline of in vivo CRISPR medicines, and progressing our engineered cell medicines for hemoglobinopathies and cancers. With our recent achievements, I expect our clinical pipeline to yield a robust and sustainable portfolio of differentiated, transformative medicines and ensure the Companys long-term growth.

Recent Achievements and Outlook

In VivoCRISPR Medicines

Engineered Cell Medicines

Corporate

Upcoming Events

Editas Medicine will participate in the following investor events:

Editas Medicine will participate in the following scientific and medical conferences:

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities at December 31, 2019, were $457.1 million, compared to $332.6 million at September 30, 2019, and $369.0 million at December 31, 2018.

For the three months ended December 31, 2019, net loss was $37.8 million, or $0.74 per share, compared to $25.1 million, or $0.52 per share, for the same period in 2018.

For the full year 2019, net loss was $133.7 million, or $2.68 per share, compared to $110.0 million, or $2.33 per share, for the same period in 2018.

Conference Call

The Editas Medicine management team will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. ET to provide and discuss a corporate update and financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2019. To access the call, please dial 844-348-3801 (domestic) or 213-358-0955 (international) and provide the passcode 1609775. A live webcast of the call will be available on the Investors & Media section of the Editas Medicine website at http://www.editasmedicine.com and a replay will be available approximately two hours after its completion.

About Editas MedicineAs a leading genome editing company, Editas Medicine is focused on translating the power and potential of the CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas12a (also known as Cpf1) genome editing systems into a robust pipeline of treatments for people living with serious diseases around the world. Editas Medicine aims to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize transformative, durable, precision genomic medicines for a broad class of diseases. For the latest information and scientific presentations, please visit http://www.editasmedicine.com.

About the Editas Medicine-Allergan AllianceIn March 2017, Editas Medicine and Allergan Pharmaceuticals International Limited (Allergan) entered a strategic alliance and option agreement under which Allergan received exclusive access and the option to license up to five of Editas Medicines genome editing programs for ocular diseases, including EDIT-101 (AGN-151587). Under the terms of the agreement, Allergan is responsible for development and commercialization of optioned products, subject to Editas Medicines option to co-develop and share equally in the profits and losses of two optioned products in the United States. In August 2018, Allergan exercised its option to develop and commercialize EDIT-101 globally for the treatment of LCA10. Additionally, Editas Medicine exercised its option to co-develop and share equally in the profits and losses from EDIT-101 in the United States. Editas Medicine is also eligible to receive development and commercial milestones, as well as royalty payments on a per-program basis. The agreement covers a range of first-in-class ocular programs targeting serious, vision-threatening diseases based on Editas Medicines unparalleled CRISPR genome editing platform, including CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas12a (also known as Cpf1).

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Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, project, target, should, would, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the Companys plans with respect to the Brilliance Phase 1/2 clinical trial for EDIT-101 (AGN-151587), including expecting an announcement of dosing in Q1 2020, filing an IND for EDIT-301 by the end of the year and initiating IND-enabling studies for an experimental medicine to treat solid tumors in mid-2020. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including: uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and clinical development of the Companys product candidates; availability and timing of results from pre-clinical studies and clinical trials; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial or the results of future trials; expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products and availability of funding sufficient for the Companys foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption Risk Factors included in the Companys most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release representCompanysviews only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Except as required by law,the Companyexplicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Investor ContactMark Mullikin(617) 401-9083mark.mullikin@editasmed.com

Media ContactCristi Barnett(617) 401-0113cristi.barnett@editasmed.com

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Editas Medicine Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results and Update - Yahoo Finance

On the Road to 3-D Printed Organs – The Scientist

By Stem Cell Medicine

For years, scientists have predicted that 3-D printingwhich has been used it to make toys, homes, scientific tools and even a plastic bunny that contained a DNA code for its own replicationcould one day be harnessed to print live, human body parts to mitigate a shortage of donor organs. So far, researchers also used 3-D printing in medicine and dentistry to create dental implants, prosthetics, and models for surgeons to practice on before they make cuts on a patient. But many researchers have moved beyond printing with plastics and metalsprinting with cells that then form living human tissues.

No one has printed fully functional, transplantable human organs just yet, but scientists are getting closer, making pieces of tissue that can be used to test drugs and designing methods to overcome the challenges of recreating the bodys complex biology.

A confocal microscopy image showing 3-Dprinted stem cells differentiating into bone cells

The first 3-D printer was developed in the late 1980s. It could print small objects designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software. A design would be virtually sliced into layers only three-thousandths of a millimeter thick. Then, the printer would piece that design into the complete product.

There were two main strategies a printer might use to lay down the pattern: it could extrude a paste through a very fine tip, printing the design starting with the bottom layer and working upward with each layer being supported by the previous layers. Alternatively, it could start with a container filled with resin and use a pointed laser to solidify portions of that resin to create a solid object from the top down, which would be lifted and removed from the surrounding resin.

When it comes to printing cells and biomaterials to make replicas of body parts and organs, these same two strategies apply, but the ability to work with biological materials in this way has required input from cell biologists, engineers, developmental biologists, materials scientists, and others.

So far, scientists have printed mini organoids and microfluidics models of tissues, also known as organs on chips. Both have yielded practical and theoretical insights into the function of the human body. Some of these models are used by pharmaceutical companies to test drugs before moving on to animal studies and eventually clinical trials. One group, for example, printed cardiac cells on a chip and connected it to a bioreactor before using it to test the cardiac toxicity of a well-known cancer drug, doxorubicin. The team showed that the cells beating rate decreased dramatically after exposure to the drug.

However, scientists have yet to construct organs that truly replicate the myriad structural characteristics and functions of human tissues. There are a number of companies who are attempting to do things like 3-D print ears, and researchers have already reported transplanting 3-D printed ears onto children who had birth defects that left their ears underdeveloped, notes Robby Bowles, a bioengineer at the University of Utah. The ear transplants are, he says, kind of the first proof of concept of 3-D printing for medicine.

THE SCIENTIST STAFF

Bowles adds that researchers are still a ways away from printing more-complex tissues and organs that can be transplanted into living organisms. But, for many scientists, thats precisely the goal. As of February 2020, more than 112,000 people in the US are waiting for an organ transplant, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. About 20 of them die each day.

For many years, biological engineers have tried to build 3-D scaffolds that they could seed with stem cells that would eventually differentiate and grow into the shapes of organs, but to a large extent those techniques dont allow you to introduce kind of the organization of gradients and the patterning that is in the tissue, says Bowles. There is no control over where the cells go in that tissue. By contrast, 3-D printing enables researchers with to very precisely direct the placement of cellsa feat that could lead to better control over organ development.

Ideally, 3-D printed organs would be built from cells that a patients immune system could recognize as its own, to avoid immune rejection and the need for patients to take immunosuppressive drugs. Such organs could potentially be built from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells, but one challenge is getting the cells to differentiate into the subtype of mature cell thats needed to build a particular organ. The difficulty is kind of coming together and producing complex patternings of cells and biomaterials together to produce different functions of the different tissues and organs, says Bowles.

To imitate the patterns seen in vivo, scientists print cells into hydrogels or other environments with molecular signals and gradients designed to coax the cells into organizing themselves into lifelike organs. Scientists can use 3-D printing to build these hydrogels as well. With other techniques, the patterns achieved have typically been two-dimensional, Eben Alsberg, a bioengineer at the University of Illinois, tells The Scientist in an email. Three-dimensional bioprinting permits much more control over signal presentation in 3D.

So far, researchers have created patches of tissue that mimic portions of certain organs but havent managed to replicate the complexity or cell density of a full organ. But its possible that in some patients, even a patch would be an effective treatment. At the end of 2016, a company called Organovo announced the start of a program to develop 3-D printed liver tissue for human transplants after a study showed that transplanted patches of 3-D printed liver cells successfully engrafted in a mouse model of a genetic liver disease and boosted several biomarkers that suggested an improvement in liver function.

Only in the past few years have researchers started to make headway with one of the biggest challenges in printing 3-D organs: creating vasculature. After the patches were engrafted into the mouses liver in the Organovo study, blood was delivered to it by the surrounding liver tissue, but an entire organ would need to come prepared for blood flow.

For any cells to stay alive, [the organ] needs that blood supply, so it cant just be this huge chunk of tissue, says Courtney Gegg, a senior director of tissue engineering at Prellis Biologics, which makes and sells scaffolds to support 3-D printed tissue. Thats been recognized as one of the key issues.

Mark Skylar-Scott, a bioengineer at the Wyss Institute, says that the problem has held back tissue engineering for decades. But in 2018, Sbastian Uzel, Skylar-Scott, and a team at the Wyss Institute managed to 3-D print a tiny, beating heart ventricle complete with blood vessels. A few days after printing the tissue, Uzel says he came into the lab to find a piece of twitching tissue, which was both very terrifying and exciting.

For any cells to stay alive, [the organ] needs that blood supply, so it cant just be this huge chunk of tissue.

Courtney Gegg, Prellis Biologics

Instead of printing the veins in layers, the team used embedded printinga technique in which, instead of building from the bottom of a slide upwards, material is extruded directly into a bath, or matrix. This strategy, which allows the researchers to print free form in 3-D, says Skylar-Scott, rather having to print each layer one on top of the other to support the structure, is a more efficient way to print a vascular tree. The matrix in this case was the cellular material that made up the heart ventricle. A gelatin-like ink pushed these cells gently out of the way to create a network of channels. Once printing was finished, the combination was warmed up. This heat caused the cellular matrix to solidify, but the gelatin to liquify so it could then be rinsed out, leaving space for blood to flow through.

But that doesnt mean the problem is completely solved. The Wyss Institute teams ventricle had blood vessels, but not nearly as many as a full-sized heart. Gegg points out that to truly imitate human biology, an individual cell will have to be within 200 microns of your nearest blood supply. . . . Everything has to be very, very close. Thats far more intricate than what researchers have printed so far.

Due to hurdles with adding vasculature and many other challenges that still face 3-Dprinted tissues, laboratory-built organs wont be available for transplant anytime soon. In the meantime, 3-D printing portions of tissue is helping accelerate both basic and clinical research about the human body.

Emma Yasinski is a Florida-based freelance reporter. Follow her on Twitter@EmmaYas24.

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On the Road to 3-D Printed Organs - The Scientist

Researchers have found a probable cure for diabetes and we need to thank diabetic lab mice for it – International Business Times, Singapore Edition

By Stem Cell Medicine

10 Surprising Truths About Tapeworms

More than 415 million people are estimated to be suffering from diabetes across the globe. Until today, the most common treatment for the disease has been to either manage the disease with a carefully controlled diet and regular insulin shots, if required.

However, in a huge breakthrough for medical science, a team of researchers might have finally discovered the cure to the disease with some help from some diabetic lab mice.

A team of researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis successfully managed to convert human stem cells into ones capable of producing insulin, which helps to control the blood sugar level in the human body.

The researchers then used the insulin-producing cells to control blood sugar levels in diabetic mice and the results were more than impressive. Jeffrey R Millman, assistant professor at Washington University, who led the team, said their four-legged subjects suffered from severe diabetes with blood sugar levels of more than 500 mg per decilitre of blood, levels that could easily kill a human.

After giving the mice the insulin-producing stem cells, it didn't take longer than two weeks for their blood glucose levels to return to normal and "functionally cured" the mice of the disease for up to nine months.

The new study builds on previous research, in which researchers successfully figured out a way to create these insulin-secreting cells using human stem cells. However, their effectiveness was not proven until now. One issue that cropped up was when converting the stem cells into another type of cell, there are always mistakes and random cells (off-target cells as researchers call it) are added to the mix along with insulin-producing ones. While these cells are harmless, they don't really help the cause either.

"The more off-target cells you get, the less therapeutically relevant cells you have," Millman said. "You need about a billion beta cells to cure a person of diabetes. But if a quarter of the cells you make are actually liver cells or other pancreas cells, instead of needing a billion cells, you'll need 1.25 billion cells."

That said, the new research is more on-target and not only improves the effectiveness of the treatment but also maximizes the number of insulin-producing cells. While the experiment has been successful in lab mice, it will be a long time before it can be tested on human subjects.

The team plans to continue testing the cells on larger animals, and over longer time periods, with their sights set on human clinical trials in the future as researchers aim to eventually find an automated way to produce enough cells that allow humans to control their diabetes on their own one day.

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Researchers have found a probable cure for diabetes and we need to thank diabetic lab mice for it - International Business Times, Singapore Edition

Kiadis Pharma announces FDA clearance of clinical study by The Ohio State University in R/R AML with off-the-shelf NK cells from universal donors -…

By Stem Cell Medicine

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, February 26, 2020 Kiadis Pharma N.V. (Kiadis or the Company) (Euronext Amsterdam and Brussels: KDS), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, and The Ohio State University - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSU or OSUCCC-James), today announced the launch of a first-in-human clinical trial in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) with off-the-shelf Natural Killer (NK) cells manufactured using Kiadis FC21 mbIL21 feeder cells and proprietary universal donor platform. The trial is expected to provide further clinical proof-of-concept of Kiadis K-NK003 product.

The investigator-sponsored trial will be conducted at OSUCCC James, a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center and freestanding cancer hospital located in Columbus, Ohio, in the United States. The OSUCCC James team received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for an investigational new drug application to begin this trial and expects to begin enrolling patients in March 2020. Kiadis will support the study through a collaborative research agreement with OSUCCC-James. Additionally, OSU and Kiadis plan to work together to initiate a company sponsored trial with off-the-shelf K-NK003 cells expanded with Kiadis particle production platform (PM21) in the same patient population later this year.

The study entitled A Phase I Clinical Trial Testing the Safety of IL-21-Expanded, Off-the-shelf, Third-party Natural Killer Cells for the Induction of Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome will evaluate the NK cell product in up to 56 patients, ages 18 80 who have primary refractory AML, relapsed AML, or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The goal of this study is to establish safety of the NK cell therapy for the induction of remission in patients with Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) AML or MDS and to determine the optimal dosing and overall response rate. Patients enrolled in the study will receive six doses of NK cells of 1 x 107 cells/kg to 1 x 108 cells/kg after receiving reinduction chemotherapy.

NK cells given outside the setting of transplantation have shown to induce remissions. Relapsed/refractory AML and MDS patients have a high chance of progression while waiting for manufacturing of expanded directed-donor NK cells, so having an easily accessible product, and one that does not require administration of cytokines, may be an attractive approach for these patients, stated Sumithira Vasu, MBBS, a hematologist scientist and Medical Director of the Cell Therapy Lab at OSUCCC - James who will serve as principal investigator of the clinical trial. Vasu is also an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. This trial uses a novel off-the-shelf, readily available product to treat what is traditionally a very sick and difficult-to-treat group of patients. I look forward to the collaboration with Kiadis to help accelerate development of this cell therapy.

We are very pleased to be working with OSU and Dr. Vasu on the first clinical evaluation of our off-the-shelf universal donor K-NK-cell therapy in R/R AML as part of our K-NK003 cell therapy product program, says Andrew Sandler, MD, chief medical officer of Kiadis. While this study will use our FC21 technology, we plan to leverage this study to initiate a company sponsored study at OSU and other sites with our particle production platform (PM21) in the same patient population later this year. Our proprietary PM21 platform is the only technology that produces NK-cell therapy without the use of feeder cell lines, which carry the risk of tumor cells and DNA in the final product.

The NK cell product will be manufactured in the OSU Cell Therapy Lab under the direction of Lynn ODonnell, PhD, Director of Cell Therapy Engineering at OSUCCC - James Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology.

ODonnell notes this off-the-shelf NK cell therapy is unique in several ways:

Vasu and ODonnell have no potential financial conflicts of interest related to Kiadis or this study to disclose.

About Kiadis

Founded in 1997, Kiadis Pharma is building a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative therapies for patients with life-threatening diseases. With headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and offices and activities across the United States, Kiadis Pharma is reimagining medicine by leveraging the natural strengths of humanity and our collective immune system to source the best cells for life.

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Kiadis Pharma is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Brussels since July 2, 2015, under the symbol KDS. Learn more at kiadis.com.

Kiadis Contacts:

Maryann Cimino, Manager, Corporate AffairsTel: +1 (617) 710-7305m.cimino@kiadis.com

Forward Looking Statements Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect Kiadis Pharmas or, as appropriate, Kiadis Pharmas officers current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results, performance, achievements or events to differ materially from those expressed, anticipated or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, regulation, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance, achievements or results to differ significantly from any anticipated or implied development. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, Kiadis Pharma expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or projections, or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither Kiadis Pharma nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such persons officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the anticipated or implied developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

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Kiadis Pharma announces FDA clearance of clinical study by The Ohio State University in R/R AML with off-the-shelf NK cells from universal donors -...

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