Stem Cell Therapy Treatment – Melbourne Stem Cell Centre

Thank you for contacting Melbourne Stem Cell Centre. We appreciate you taking the time to enquire about our treatment options. On Monday 27th May MSCC notified the media with a press release detailing the great results of our randomised control trial treating knee Osteoarthritis. This release has created a high influx of calls and emails, we ask that you be patient with us getting back to you.

In the meantime, please feel free to browse over the below information to better acquaint yourself with our current therapies and general pricing.

Why Stem Cells?

Mesenchymal stromal Stem Cells are rudimentary cells with the potential to stimulate other cells within the body. Melbourne Stem Cell Centre doctors can harvest your adult stem cells in a small liposuction procedure. The stem cells are then isolated from the other cells extracted during the procedure, including fat cells. The stem cells are then specially prepared and expanded, in the laboratory of our partner Magellan stem cells, before being used for osteoarthritis treatment. Our recent clinical trial has showed both statistical and clinically significant pain and function improvement following stem cell therapy in 85 per cent of patients.

Why MSCC?

MSCCs treatment protocol has been ethically approved by Charles Sturt University. This uses a pure, high-dose stem cell population (as this has had success in recent scientific literature) and verification of the cell number, cell viability, and sterility is conducted off site, prior to injection. All patients are strictly followed up to assess outcome and to add to the growing scientific knowledge regarding stem cell therapies. Your response to treatment will be regularly followed up to maximise potential improvement.

What conditions to we treat?

Currently at Melbourne stem cell centre we treat osteoarthritis. There may be future treatments for other conditions and we regularly inform all our patients of any developments. To keep up to date with upcoming treatments and trials we recommend you visit the ANZCTR trial registry website http://www.anzctr.org.au .

Do I need a consultation first?

Prior to any treatment you will receive a thorough arthritis health care consultation with one of our musculoskeletal specialists. This includes a full biomechanical assessment, discussion of current pain management treatments and review of formal imaging. Your suitability for other biological therapeutic treatment options will be assessed. X-rays or MRI less than 6 months old is preferred for this appointment. The cost of the consultation is $240 on the day; if you bring a GP referral letter, you are eligible for a Medicare rebate of approximately. $70.

How much does it cost?

The cost for stem cell therapy depends on the individualised treatment plan formulated by your physician. Costs typically range from $7,100-$11,650AUD for the treatment of one joint. This includes the lipo-harvest procedure and two stem cell injections. Any additional treatment would be on top of this fee. Unfortunately, there are no Medicare or private health insurance rebates on our treatment.

I live interstate

MSCC offer the option of having the initial consultation and assessment conducted via phone. This would require you to send a CD of your X-rays and/or MRI in the post with a phone registration form. The cost of the phone consult is $150AUD (with no Medicare rebate). If you decide to have stem cell therapy, your treatment will involve at least 3-5 trips to Melbourne over the course of 12 months.

I live overseas

MSCC offer the option of having the initial consultation and assessment conducted via phone. This would require you to send a CD of your X-rays and/or MRI in the post with a phone registration form. The cost of the phone consult is $150AUD. Your stem cell therapy would require 3 separate trips to Melbourne for 2-3 weeks each. You may decide to combine the first two trips into an extended stay in Australia.

*The cost for stem cell therapy is 100% out of pocket. Medicare or private health funds do not subsidize any costs in the treatment of mesenchymal stem cell therapy.

If you would like a call to book an initial consultation with one of our specialists, please click the request a call button on our website and one of our team will give you a call.

With warmest regards,

Reception TeamMelbourne Stem Cell Centre

Originally posted here:
Stem Cell Therapy Treatment - Melbourne Stem Cell Centre

U.S. Stem Cell Training | Regenerative Medicine Training …

In 2011 I attended training and education on adult stem cell harvesting, isolation, and separation techniques led by Kristin Comella. She laid a solid foundation for us by educating us on how stem cells function, practical applications, and current research and results. When we went into the lab portion, Kristin was very thorough and meticulous when walking us through the steps. We were given a detailed, printed protocol to follow that made things very clear and easy to replicate. Kristin was eager to help out, answer questions, and show us the most efficient ways to perform each step of the procedure. Kristin is very knowledgeable and passionate about her research and adult stem cell therapies and has continued to be a valuable resource to us at SouthPointe Family Physicians. She always replies promptly to any questions or concerns we may have and keeps us up-to-date on the latest protocols and findings! Overall, working with Kristin has been a fantastic experience, and I'm excited to continue learning more from her in this field!

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Injectables Are the Future of K-Beauty Trends in America – Yahoo Lifestyle

Before meeting up with me for dinner to celebrate my first time in Korea, my Seoul-based friend Jessica got off the plane after a business trip in Los Angeles and drove straight to her dermatologist or "dermie," as she affectionately calls him for Botox on her nose and jawline. After our stomachs were filled with dak galbi and soju, I scooted closer to Jessica in our booth and asked her about her latest dermie appointment. She began to list the dozen-plus cosmetic procedures she's tried since moving to Seoul from New York City eight years ago. Botox was her gateway injectable, starting with her jawline for a narrower, V-shaped silhouette. Since then, Jessica's gotten fillers in her forehead, chin, nose, and lips.

She also mentioned the "Chanel" injection, a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that is supposed to tighten and brighten skin (she didn't notice a difference, though). I listened to all of this slightly slack-jawed. On the other side of Jessica was our friend who grew up in South Korea he was utterly unfazed. There, the idea of a 33-year-old signing up for regular cosmetic injections is par for the course. An estimated one in three South Korean women between the ages of 19 and 29 has undergone a cosmetic procedure, according to a 2015 Gallup poll.

Earlier in the week, I skipped Seoul's stunning palaces and animal-cafe tourist traps to go straight to Gangnam. The neighborhood's streets are lined with high-rises filled with full-service, multilevel plastic surgery and dermatology clinics, many complete with in-house pharmacies, stem cell laboratories, and hotel rooms for out-of-towners. Hundreds of people cycle in and out daily for touch-ups and treatments, with the nonchalance of stopping by a salon for a blowout. Inside these buildings, the future of injectables is being determined by a discerning audience of South Koreans who prize flawless skin, small faces, and round, youthful features. To maximize efficacy and move patients along, the spaces are divided by treatment (like the "filler room" in one clinic I visited, where chairs are lined up for patients to receive their injections, one next to the other). And unlike in the U.S., where privacy surrounding cosmetic work is prized, waiting rooms are sprinkled with patients wearing a full face of numbing cream as they stand by for their cosmetic procedures.

I met with Korean doctors who spoke very casually of thread-lifting vaginas or injecting Botox into the calves, applications I had never heard of (or even imagined).

In the U.S., we have 32 FDA-approved dermal fillers. It can take many years of testing (and bureaucracy) for a new one to see the light of a doctor's office. In South Korea, however, regulation is less stringent, and a person looking for injectables in Seoul has many more options to choose from. Formulas that the FDA has not approved because of a lack of studies on efficacy and safety or potentially serious side effects, like injectable skin-brighteners spiked with glutathione (an antioxidant that can deactivate the body's melanin-producing enzymes), are used regularly in Korea. And while American doctors certainly use neurotoxins and hyaluronic acid fillers off-label (injecting Botox to lift lips, for example), I met with Korean doctors who spoke very casually of thread-lifting vaginas or injecting Botox into the calves, applications I had never heard of (or even imagined).

"It's common for Koreans to go to the dermatologist weekly, sometimes even daily, for maintenance treatments."

When it comes to the latest trends and technology in injectables, Seoul is ahead of the curve. "A lot of Korean [patients] are first-time adopters," says Yongjoon Noh, a plastic surgeon at Banobagi Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Clinic in Seoul. "New fillers, new materials, new plastic surgery techniques they want to try them all." A big upside to all this: With so many options available, cosmetic injections are vastly cheaper in Korea than they are in the U.S. Alternatives to Botox, like Medytox and Botulax, can be priced as low as $30 for a treatment (compared to about $400 in the U.S.). "It's common for Koreans to go to the dermatologist weekly, sometimes even daily, for maintenance treatments," says Y. Claire Chang, a New York City-based dermatologist who frequently travels to Seoul to learn about the latest advancements in cosmetic dermatology.

Many of the most popular injectable techniques are specific to Korean beauty standards: plump apples of the cheeks and rounded foreheads, as well as the aforementioned V-shaped jawlines. But other techniques, like using Botox to create the impression of poreless skin, or a thin hyaluronic acid filler to softly upturn the corners of the mouth, are likely to start creeping into practices in the U.S. in fact, they've already arrived in some. Want to know what's on the horizon? During my week in Korea, these were the procedures I heard about over and over again.

"Glass skin" is the Korean ideal of a poreless, translucent complexion (like a pane of glass). And the key to getting it is meso-Botox (or colloquially, "skin Botox"). For years, Korean celebrities have sworn by these shallow injections, especially before major events, says Shin Hye Won, a dermatologist at Oracle Clinic in Seoul. Just a few miles east, at Thema Dermatologic Clinic, they have 30 to 40 patients a day who undergo the procedure, says dermatologist Lim Ee Seok. The cost? About $300. (In the U.S., Chang offers it for $950 to $1,200.) Rather than being injected into the muscles to prevent and smooth wrinkles, botulinum toxin is placed just below the skin's surface, at about 40 to 50 sites along the jawline, forehead, and undereye areas. As a result, pores tighten, which makes skin appear smoother and brighter, and excessive acne-causing sebum stops forming. The effects last between three and four months.

The fruity nickname is a reference to the lip shape this filler technique creates. In the past, Angelina Jolie's lips were the most requested look in Seoul (just as they were in the U.S.), says Kang Jong Bum, a dermatologist at JY Plastic Surgery & Dermatology in Seoul. But as of 2019, Koreans prefer the more targeted plumping that many K-pop stars are known for. Instead of giving lips an allover fullness, dermatologists administer a hyaluronic acid filler (like Juvederm or Restylane, or domestic options Yvoire or Neuramis) to the middle areas of the upper and lower lip, enhancing the Cupid's bow. Imagine two double-stemmed cherries on their sides, the stems forming the outline of the edges of your smile. The results last for at least six months and cost about $150 to $250 in Korea.

After the center of the lips are plumped, the same hyaluronic acid filler is often administered just above the outer corners of the mouth a technique called lift edge filler. As the name suggests, the treatment raises the edges of the lips into a soft smile. As we age, the area around our mouth loses volume, and the outer corners start falling into an unintentional frown. Lift edge filler counters the droop and balances out all that fruity volume in the center of the lips, explains Kang.

"It's really popular here for people with resting bitch face. It helps them look softer."

My best friend, CJ, who lives in Gangnam and works in the K-pop industry, knows people who get the procedure for other reasons. "It's really popular here for people with resting bitch face," she says. "It helps them look softer." Like other lip injections, lift edge filler lasts about six months to a year; swelling and small bumps can result, usually for two to three days after the injection, before dissolving. Banobagi offers a cherry lip filler and lifts edge filler combination. A permanent smile is also trending in South Korea. One of the coordinators at JY Plastic Surgery & Dermatology mentioned increased requests for surgical smile lifts, where surgeons create incisions in the same areas targeted by lift edge filler, so your face rests naturally with the corners turned up.

My Korean is limited, but I do know the word for thread lift (also, not to brag, egg and grandpa). And that was a good thing because the term came up often in my reporting. At one point, Kang asked if I wanted to try a thread lift myself. I'm 27, with skin that is more plump than saggy, so I was extremely confused by the offer. Thread lifts in Korea, Kang clarified, are not the "facelift lites" that we consider them here.

"We use thread lifting to make it look like a patient has had a nose job without actually doing a nose job,"

Sure, the mechanics of thread lifts in Korea are the same as they are in the U.S.: Dissolvable, fine-barbed threads are passed underneath the skin with a large needle. Then, as the needle is pulled out, the barbs grab onto skin and pull it upward, stimulating collagen and tightening and lifting the skin. Korean-style thread lifts, though, are less invasive because finer threads are used; they alter the shape of the face, slimming the jawline or changing the contours of the nose.

"We use thread lifting to make it look like a patient has had a nose job without actually doing a nose job," says Choi Jun Young, the lead plastic surgeon at JY Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, of his most requested thread lift procedure. The thread is injected between the nostrils, and in about 15 minutes patients can walk out with the bridge and tip of their nose angled higher. The results last around a year or two and run about $250 to $420.

"These days, it's not about fixing a problem but preventing it," says Lim. He believes the future of cosmetic dermatology in Korea is the "booster shot," an injection designed to rev up skin's natural powers of regeneration and moisturize and brighten skin not to change the contours of your face.

The most sought-after booster shot at JY is Jalupro, a solution of amino acids and sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid) manufactured in Switzerland. Kang says it builds up collagen (to best effect when done as a series of injections over several weeks), so the skin becomes plumper and acne scars start to fade away. Jalupro can be injected all over your face, but Kang likes to target wrinkle-prone areas like the forehead, around the mouth, and around the eyes. It can also supplement laser treatments for stretch marks. My friend Jessica loved the results so much that she got it once a week for three months.

Rejuran which contains PDRN, short for polydeoxyribonucleotide is the booster shot that many doctors in Korea believe holds the most promise. PDRN is extracted from a segment of salmon DNA that is a 95 percent match to that of humans. This small DNA chain is known for its anti-inflammatory and tissue-repairing properties. When injected into the skin, Rejuran is said to shrink pores, diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, even skin tone, and balance oil production. Unlike skin Botox, which focuses on instantly smoothing the surface, PDRN could heal sun damage or acne overtime at the cellular level, based on early in vitro research. Typically, patients get three monthly injections ($100 to $340 each), for results that last up to a year.

Read more about injectables:

Now, watch a dermatologists entire skin-care routine:

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Originally Appeared on Allure

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Injectables Are the Future of K-Beauty Trends in America - Yahoo Lifestyle

ASH 2019 Roundup: The Latest on CAR T, New Treatments for CLL, and Using Genes to Predict a Common Side Effect – On Cancer – Memorial Sloan Kettering

The annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) brings together leaders from around the world who treat people with blood cancers and other blood disorders. Doctors and researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering presented their research at the meeting,held this year in Orlando. Below are some highlights from the past few days.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies have been in the spotlight at the ASH meeting. Many scientists in the field are excited by the prospect of using the genome-editing tool CRISPR to engineer more-potent CAR T cells.

At MSK, researchers Michel Sadelain, Renier Brentjens, and Isabelle Rivire and their colleagues are at the forefront of CAR T science. Just last year, the team published results from the longest-running clinical trial of CAR therapy, showing which patients benefitted most. This year at ASH, another member of that team, MSK medical oncologist Jae Park, presented the results of a retrospective study that provides clues into who may benefit most from a stem cell transplant following CAR therapy.

A stem cell transplantreplaces a persons blood-forming stem cells with those from a donor. It can be a cure for some people with cancer, yet it comes with serious potential risks, such as life-threatening infections and graft-versus-host disease. Previous research from Dr. Park and his colleagues had suggested that there was no clear survival advantage to a stem cell transplant in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were treated with CAR T cells. But the scientists were curious to find out if a group of patients would benefit from the procedure.

Of 53 adults with ALL who received CAR T cells at MSK, 16 of those who had a complete response to the CAR therapy went on to have a stem cell transplant. Dr. Park and his colleagues looked for correlations between how well these patients did and several variables: age, a prior stem cell transplant, the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome, the amount of disease measurable at the time of the CAR therapy, the severity of cytokine release syndrome, and neurotoxicity.

The only variables that seemed to make a difference were age and neurotoxicity. Specifically, being younger and having no severe neurotoxicity during CAR therapy were associated with improved overall survival following a stem cell transplant. Dr. Park cautioned that the small size of the study limits drawing firm conclusions. Nevertheless, the results point to a group of people for whom the potential benefits of a stem cell transplant may outweigh the risks. Further research is needed.

MSK hematologist-oncologist Anthony Mato presented the results of several studies aimed at improving care for people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). One study dealt with identifying the best treatment options for people with CLL who have had to stop taking the targeted drug venetoclax (Venclexta). Dr. Mato and colleagues conducted a retrospective study of 326 people with CLL from around the world who received venetoclax and then switched to another drug.

They looked at how well these people did on various treatments specifically BTK inhibitors, PI3K inhibitors, CAR T therapy, and stem cell transplantation. Of these, they found that BTK inhibitors were an effective post-venetoclax treatment, provided the patients had not yet received BTK inhibitors or had not developed resistance to these drugs. They also found that a stem cell transplant was a good option that provided lasting benefits.

Together, these studies show the progress we at MSK are making in developing much-needed therapies for people with CLL.

In a second presentation, Dr. Mato discussed the results of a first-in-human trial of a BTK inhibitor called LOXO-305. This targeted drug works differently than existing BTK inhibitors. The trial, which enrolled 13 people, showed that LOXO-305 was safe. It also provided proof of concept that this approach may be effective at helping people with CLL and other B cell cancers, including those who have developed resistance to existing BTK inhibitors.

Finally, Dr. Mato discussed results from a study that tested a combination of targeted drugs given at lower dosages to people with CLL. Combination approaches have the potential to preempt the emergence of drug resistance but are often too toxic when each drug is given at full strength.

The phase I study tested a lower-dose combination of the BTK inhibitor everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress) and pomalidomide (Pomalyst). It included 33 people with CLL and lymphoma who lacked an approved treatment option. Dr. Mato and his colleagues found that this combination, named DTRM-555, was generally safe and showed signs of effectiveness in several people. A phase II study of the combination is underway.

Together, these studies show the progress we at MSK are making in developing much-needed therapies for people with CLL, Dr. Mato says.

Blood clots are a life-threatening side effect in people being treated for cancer. Known risk factors for blood clots include cancer type and stage, obesity, blood cell counts, and treatment with chemotherapy. However, it is still difficult for doctors to predict the risk of blood clots in individual people.

To find out if a tumors molecular profile could predict the risk of blood clots, MSK hematologist Simon Mantha and colleagues conducted a study in which they analyzed tumor DNA sequences for 341 genes in 11,695 people with cancer.

As Dr. Mantha presented at the ASH meeting, the scientists found that mutations in several genes STK11, MET, KEAP1, CTNNB1, and KRAS increase the risk of blood clots in people with cancer.

Dr. Mantha hopes these findings will ultimately translate into better methods to predict who is most at risk for this dangerous complication.

Read about other MSK science at ASH hereand here.

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ASH 2019 Roundup: The Latest on CAR T, New Treatments for CLL, and Using Genes to Predict a Common Side Effect - On Cancer - Memorial Sloan Kettering

Orgenesis and Theracell to Launch Point of Care Cell and Gene Therapy Centers within HYGEIA Group’s Hospital Network in Greece – GlobeNewswire

GERMANTOWN, Md., Dec. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orgenesis Inc. (NASDAQ: ORGS)(Orgenesis or the Company), a leading cell and gene therapy enabling company providing centralized CDMO manufacturing and development services through its subsidiary Masthercell Global, Inc., as well as localized point-of-care(POCare) development and processing centers for therapeutic treatments, today announced a strategic partnership agreement (Partnership) between the HYGEIA Group and the TheracellOrgenesis joint venture (JV). Under the Agreement, the JV will implement Orgenesis POCare cell therapy platform for clinical development and commercialization of cell and gene therapies within HYGEIA Groups network of three hospitals in Greece. As previously announced, Orgenesis and TheraCell Advanced Biotechnology formed a JV to advance Orgenesis POCare platform in Greece, Cyprus, the Balkan region and selected Middle Eastern countries.

The POCare platform is designed to collect, process and supply cells within the patient care setting for various therapeutic treatments. The goal of the platform is to reduce the cost and complexity of supplying cell and gene therapies, as well as elevate quality standards by integrating automated processing units and proprietary technologies.

HYGEIA is the first hospital network in this region to implement Orgenesis POCare cell therapy platform. The Partnership is intended to provide HYGEIA Group with resources to advance clinical development and deliver personalized, advanced therapies across its network for a wide range of diseases in oncology, hematology, orthopedics, nephrology, dermatology and diabetes.

This partnership with the HYGEIA Group further validates the significant value proposition of our POCare platform, as it enables the development and delivery of cell and gene therapies onsite at hospitals. We believe this platform has the potential to transform the cell and gene therapy market, by bringing life-saving therapies to market in a much more time and cost-effective manner, said Vered Caplan, CEO of Orgenesis. Theracell has proven to be an ideal partner with extensive experience and capabilities in autologous cell therapy and regenerative medicine, with operations in Greece and strong relationships throughout the region. We are in active discussions to establish PoCare locations and partnerships with hospitals and healthcare networks in other countries and regions across the world.

Andreas Kartapanis, CEO, HYGEIA Group, commented, HYGEIA Group is honored to work with Theracell and Orgenesis to become the first hospital network in Greece to provide advanced cell and gene therapies for both clinical research and patient treatment utilizing the POCare platform. We believe this Partnership will provide us a strong competitive advantage in this rapidly developing field. More importantly, this Partnership will benefit patients that will now have greater access to these important therapies.

About HYGEIA Group

HYGEIA Group operates three hospitals in Greece, with a total capacity of 1,261 beds, 52 operating rooms, 19 delivery rooms and 10 intensive care units. More than 3,100 employees and approximately 3,900 associate physicians offer their services to the HYGEIA Group, which was founded in 1970 by medical doctors, most of which were professors at the University of Athens and have since been active in providing primary and secondary care services. The following hospitals are also part of the HYGEIA Group: MITERA General, Obstetrics - Gynecology & Pediatrics Hospital and LITO Obstetrics, Gynecology & Surgical Center, licensed for 459 and 100 hospital beds, respectively.

About Theracell

TheraCell is a regenerative biotechnology company with operations in Greece, where its laboratories and primary facilities are located. The Company focuses in the areas of autologous cell therapy and regenerative medicine. TheraCell has extensive experience in the isolation, processing and application of adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs), as well as somatic cells and has developed a patented platform for tissue engineering and cell therapies in the areas of Dermatology, Chondral Defects and Chronic Kidney Injury.

About Orgenesis

Orgenesis is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing and processing of technologies and services in the cell and gene therapy industry. The Company operates through two platforms: (i) a point-of-care (POCare) cell therapy platform (PT) and (ii) a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) platform conducted through its subsidiary, Masthercell Global. Through its PT business, the Companys aim is to further the development of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) through collaborations and in-licensing with other pre-clinical and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies and research and healthcare institutes to bring such ATMPs to patients. The Company out-licenses these ATMPs through regional partners to whom it also provides regulatory, pre-clinical and training services to support their activity in order to reach patients in a point-of-care hospital setting. Through the Companys CDMO platform, it is focused on providing contract manufacturing and development services for biopharmaceutical companies. Additional information is available at: http://www.orgenesis.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve substantial uncertainties and risks and are based upon our current expectations, estimates and projections and reflect our beliefs and assumptions based upon information available to us at the date of this release. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the success of our reorganized CDMO operations, the success of our partnership with Great Point Partners, our ability to achieve and maintain overall profitability, the sufficiency of working capital to realize our business plans, the development of our transdifferentiation technology as therapeutic treatment for diabetes which could, if successful, be a cure for Type 1 Diabetes; our technology not functioning as expected; our ability to retain key employees; our ability to satisfy the rigorous regulatory requirements for new procedures; our competitors developing better or cheaper alternatives to our products and the risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "RISK FACTORS" in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2018, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason.

Investor contact for Orgenesis:David WaldmanCrescendo Communications, LLCTel: 212-671-1021Orgs@crescendo-ir.com

Media contact for Orgenesis:Image Box CommunicationsNeil Hunter / Michelle BoxallTel +44 20 8943 4685neil@imageboxpr.co.uk/michelle@imageboxpr.co.uk

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Orgenesis and Theracell to Launch Point of Care Cell and Gene Therapy Centers within HYGEIA Group's Hospital Network in Greece - GlobeNewswire

2019: The year gene therapy came of age – Jamaica Observer

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WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) In the summer, a mother in Nashville with a seemingly incurable genetic disorder finally found an end to her suffering by editing her genome.

Victoria Gray's recovery from sickle cell disease, which had caused her painful seizures, came in a year of breakthroughs in one of the hottest areas of medical research gene therapy.

I have hoped for a cure since I was about 11, the 34-year-old told AFP in an e-mail.

Since I received the new cells, I have been able to enjoy more time with my family without worrying about pain or an out-of-the-blue emergency.

Over several weeks, Gray's blood was drawn so doctors could get to the cause of her illness stem cells from her bone marrow that were making deformed red blood cells.

The stem cells were sent to a Scottish laboratory, where their DNA was modified using Crispr/Cas9 pronounced Crisper a new tool informally known as molecular scissors.

The genetically edited cells were transfused back into Gray's veins and bone marrow. A month later, she was producing normal blood cells.

Medics warn that caution is necessary but, theoretically, she has been cured.

This is one patient. This is early results. We need to see how it works out in other patients, said her doctor, Haydar Frangoul, at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville.

But these results are really exciting.

In Germany, a 19-year-old woman was treated with a similar method for a different blood disease, beta thalassemia. She had previously needed 16 blood transfusions per year.

Nine months later, she is completely free of that burden.

For decades, the DNA of living organisms such as corn and salmon has been modified.

But Crispr, invented in 2012, made gene editing more widely accessible. It is much simpler than preceding technology, cheaper and easy to use in small labs.

The technique has given new impetus to the perennial debate over the wisdom of humanity manipulating life itself.

It's all developing very quickly, said French geneticist Emmanuelle Charpentier, one of Crispr's inventors and the co-founder of Crispr Therapeutics, the biotech company conducting the clinical trials involving Gray and the German patient.

Cures

Crispr is the latest breakthrough in a year of great strides in gene therapy, a medical adventure started three decades ago, when the first TV telethons were raising money for children with muscular dystrophy.

Scientists practising the technique insert a normal gene into cells containing a defective gene.

It does the work the original could not such as making normal red blood cells, in Victoria's case, or making tumour-killing super white blood cells for a cancer patient.

Crispr goes even further; instead of adding a gene, the tool edits the genome itself.

After decades of research and clinical trials on a genetic fix to genetic disorders, 2019 saw a historic milestone: approval to bring to market the first gene therapies for a neuromuscular disease in the US and a blood disease in the European Union.

They join several other gene therapies bringing the total to eight approved in recent years to treat certain cancers and an inherited blindness.

Serge Braun, the scientific director of the French Muscular Dystrophy Association, sees 2019 as a turning point that will lead to a medical revolution.

Twenty-five, 30 years, that's the time it had to take, he told AFP from Paris.

It took a generation for gene therapy to become a reality. Now, it's only going to go faster.

Just outside Washington, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers are also celebrating a breakthrough period.

We have hit an inflection point, said Carrie Wolinetz, NIH's associate director for science policy.

These therapies are exorbitantly expensive, however, costing up to US$2 million meaning patients face gruelling negotiations with their insurance companies.

They also involve a complex regimen of procedures that are only available in wealthy countries.

Gray spent months in hospital getting blood drawn, undergoing chemotherapy, having edited stem cells reintroduced via transfusion and fighting a general infection.

You cannot do this in a community hospital close to home, said her doctor.

However, the number of approved gene therapies will increase to about 40 by 2022, according to MIT researchers.

They will mostly target cancers and diseases that affect muscles, the eyes and the nervous system.

Bioterrorism

Another problem with Crispr is that its relative simplicity has triggered the imaginations of rogue practitioners who don't necessarily share the medical ethics of Western medicine.

Last year in China, scientist He Jiankui triggered an international scandal and his excommunication from the scientific community when he used Crispr to create what he called the first gene-edited humans.

The biophysicist said he had altered the DNA of human embryos that became twin girls Lulu and Nana.

His goal was to create a mutation that would prevent the girls from contracting HIV, even though there was no specific reason to put them through the process.

That technology is not safe, said Kiran Musunuru, a genetics professor at the University of Pennsylvania, explaining that the Crispr scissors often cut next to the targeted gene, causing unexpected mutations.

It's very easy to do if you don't care about the consequences, Musunuru added.

Despite the ethical pitfalls, restraint seems mainly to have prevailed so far.

The community is keeping a close eye on Russia, where biologist Denis Rebrikov has said he wants to use Crispr to help deaf parents have children without the disability.

There is also the temptation to genetically edit entire animal species malaria-causing mosquitoes in Burkina Faso or mice hosting ticks that carry Lyme disease in the US.

The researchers in charge of those projects are advancing carefully, however, fully aware of the unpredictability of chain reactions on the ecosystem.

Charpentier doesn't believe in the more dystopian scenarios predicted for gene therapy, including American biohackers injecting themselves with Crispr technology bought online.

Not everyone is a biologist or scientist, she said.

And the possibility of military hijacking to create soldier-killing viruses or bacteria that would ravage enemies' crops?

Charpentier thinks that technology generally tends to be used for the better.

I'm a bacteriologist we've been talking about bioterrorism for years, she said. Nothing has ever happened.

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2019: The year gene therapy came of age - Jamaica Observer

Ethan’s Army gets a boost – Brockville Recorder and Times

The Tucker family, from back left, Kadyn 11, mom Shawntel, Jorja 13, and dad Chris, Westyn 3, and Ethan, who will be 15 on Christmas Day, pose in their home. (CATHERINE ORTH/Special to The Recorder and Times)jpg, BT

Ethan Tucker cant swallow. He cant eat. He cant talk. He cant walk. His life as he knew it was taken away from him two years ago this coming January, shortly after his Christmas Day 13th birthday.

And now, a local developers generosity is helping to make his living conditions more bearable.

Ethan did not feel well. It took a couple of trips to the local hospital to find out that Ethan had an aggressive form of brain cancer. He underwent a 30-hour operation to remove only 10 per cent of the tumour, and later, a 17-hour operation that removed 90 per cent of the tumour.

But then, things went very sideways as Ethans body started to react after the fourth chemo treatment. It is believed that the chemo triggered an autoimmune reaction that attacked his brains stem cell. It took a lot to sort this out, but finally a procedure that cleansed Ethans blood fourteen times stopped the attack.

But the effects, by the time it was suppressed, were simply devastating to his body.

Still, Ethan is there, locked in his body, with an intelligent functioning mind that can spell out his thoughts on a word board.

If Ethan had one wish, it would be that he could sit at the table and eat regular food with his family. But he cannot.

This makes him very sad and sometimes he cries.

Ethan, is his familys treasure, their Christmas miracle, said dad, Chris, and mom Shawntel Tucker. They are his champions, his advocates. He is their hero.

They fought sometimes toe-to-toe with doctors who shook their heads and wanted to give up on Ethan. But Ethan did not want to give up. Nor did his parents.

Giving up is unthinkable, said Chris.

And so the family, with love and strength that comes almost mysteriously in these times of misfortune, took each day and adjusted to a new life.

Chris had to leave work and become a single dad to their other three children: Jorja 12, Kadyn, 11 and Westyn, 3. Shawntel moved into Ethans room at the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Westyn took his first steps in Ethans hospital room, which he called Ethans house.

Ethan is currently cancer-free and scheduled to go to inpatient rehab in Toronto in January.

Its not been easy. But no words of complaint or self pity are expressed by the Tuckers; love for their son and their young family has seen them through.

And generosity from the community.

We found it hard to ask for help, but it came to a point where we had no choice. Thats one thing I would say to any family going through a dramatic change of circumstances: Dont be afraid to ask for help; its there, said Shawntel.

Among the people who have been there for the Tuckers from the get-go is Michelle Robinson. Anyone who knows her will tell you she is a person of energy and ideas. She motivates and helps young parents to get their kids out doors through her Walk-A-Baby program.

The Facebook page Ethans Army and a GoFundMe account were put in place.

Ethan, after a thirteen-month stay at CHEO, was coming home. The Tuckers realized that they could not live in their home as it was. It had to be renovated. But even renovations, it was realized, would not address Ethans needs.

The decision was made to move. And again things fell into place. The Tuckers found a house on the outskirts of town that suited the family, who had always wanted to live in the country. The house, now purchased, required some renovations.

The Tuckers were pretty certain that if they got a team together they could work around schedules and get the renovations done.

Michelle put the call out on the Ethans Army page. It was answered, but not in the way they ever imagined.

Local developer Mapleview Homes, along with EXIT Realty Brockville, came forward to help in what Chris calls above and beyond and beyond. They took on the complete job and absorbed all costs, both materials and labour.

In the next few days, Ethan will have his own room, with all his needs: Laminated flooring for easy moving of his wheelchair, bed and lift in place; and barn doors that slide close for privacy or open to a view of the countryside.

The room was slightly modified and painted. Poignantly, Ethan had just been given his own room, in their former home, six months before he became ill. He will once again have his own room.

The Tuckers dont look back. They are moving forward as a family.

Chris has been able to return to work and has a part, as does daughter Jorja, in the local production of Broadway in Love, in February, presented by the Brockville Operatic Society.

Shawntel, now home, is actively again able to be mom to all her kids.

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Ethan's Army gets a boost - Brockville Recorder and Times