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World’s 1st trial of drug developed from iPS cells to begin – Japan … – Japan Today

By Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Japanese researchers are set to begin the world's first clinical trial of a drug developed from iPS stem cells to treat a rare bone disease, Kyoto University said Tuesday.

A team led by Junya Toguchida, professor at the university, used so-called induced pluripotent stem cells to develop a potential drug for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, or FOP, a rare disorder in which muscle tissue is gradually replaced by bone, inhibiting body movement.

The researchers created iPS cells from FOP patients and replicated the symptom outside their bodies. After adding components to the cells with features of the disease, they found an immune-suppressive agent called Rapamycin is effective for preventing abnormal bone formation.

The drug's safety and effectiveness need to be tested in a clinical trial, which could begin as early as September, on 20 patients aged 6 or older. A review committee at Kyoto University Hospital has already approved the trial.

The team has confirmed the effectiveness of Rapamycin in experiments with mice. Researchers gave the agent to mice after transplanting FOP patients' iPS stem cells into them and found out that the drug inhibited abnormal born formation.

"Rapamycin is a drug already used (for treatment of other diseases) so I expect patients will welcome" its use in the clinical trial, Toguchida said at a press conference.

Shinya Yamanaka, professor at Kyoto University and a 2012 Nobel Prize winner in medicine for discovering iPS cells, said, "I hope the clinical trial will spur active research for drug development and eventually lead to the discoveries of new treatment for various rare diseases."

The disease is caused by a mutation of a gene called ACVR1. Bones are formed in muscles, tendons and ligaments, hindering the movements of joints. Patients may experience difficulty in breathing if their respiratory muscles are affected.

iPS cells can grow into any type of human body tissue. They are expected to be utilized for drug development as well as regenerative medicine.

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World's 1st trial of drug developed from iPS cells to begin - Japan ... - Japan Today

Honor for pioneering equine stem cell researcher – Horsetalk

By Stem Cell Medicine

An equine cartilage disk, of about 4mm in diameter, is being used in trials in Canada, thanks to stem cell researcher Dr Thomas Koch.

An equine stem cell researcher is among theinaugural recipients of new University of Guelph internal awards recognizing research excellence and innovation.

Dr Thomas Koch, from Ontario Veterinary Colleges Department of Biomedical Sciences, has received a Research Excellence Award.

The awards recognize both researchers who are embarking on stellar careers and those whose research successes already set them apart from their colleagues in their disciplines globally, said University of Guelphvice-president (research) Malcolm Campbell.

Koch, who was recently recognized with a 2016 Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, focuses his research on stem cell biology, tissue engineering-based therapies and regenerative medicine. In particular he is studying the potential of stem cells to repair damage to joints and cartilage. His work on equine stem cells for cartilage repair includes finding better ways to treat horses, as well as using the horse as a model for testing new therapies for humans. Koch is also a founding member and current vice-chair of the North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association.

In 2012, Koch isolated mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for potential cartilage repair using a simple, non-invasive procedure.

He was recognised along with DrShayan Sharif, a professor of poultry immunology at the OVCs Department of Pathobiology, who received a Research Leadership Chair.

Drs Sharif and Koch are among our best: they were nominated by their peers, not only because of their outstanding scholarly accomplishments, but also because they are exemplary citizens of the University of Guelph, said OVC Dean Jeff Wichtel.

The Chair and the Award are well-deserved acknowledgements of their continued commitment to research excellence in their respective disciplines, and highlight once again OVCs strengths in translational medicine, food animal production, food safety and security.

Created by the U of Gs Office of Research and the Office of the Provost, the awards will be made annually.

Research Excellence awards are a one-time, $5000 award. Early career faculty who are one to two years post-tenure are eligible. Research Leadership Chairs are for well-established faculty who have demonstrated research excellence. The $15,000 awards are for three years, with a possible extension to five years.

Award winners will present their work to U of G and the wider Guelph community through special research events. Each of U of Gs seven colleges will be eligible for one Research Excellence Award recipient and up to two Research Leadership Chairs. Recipients are nominated and selected by their respective colleges. Awards are based on scholarly output, research-related knowledge mobilization, research-derived innovation and training of highly qualified personnel.

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Honor for pioneering equine stem cell researcher - Horsetalk

Skin graft gene therapy could treat obesity and diabetes – ResearchGate (blog)

By Somatic Stem Cells

In a new study, researchers at the University of Chicago have provided proof of concept for a new form of gene therapy that is administered via a skin transplant. In the study, they treated type-2 diabetes and obesity in mice by inserting the gene for a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) that stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin. The extra insulin can prevent diabetes complications by removing excessive glucose from the bloodstream. It can also delay gastric emptying and reduce appetite.

We spoke to one of the studys authors, Xiaoyang Wu, about the work.

ResearchGate: What motivated this study?

Xiaoyang Wu: We have been working on skin somatic stem cells for a long time. As one of the most studied adult stem cell systems, skin stem cells have several unique advantages as the novel vehicle for somatic gene therapy. For one, the system is well established. Human skin transplantation using a CEA device developed from skin stem cells has been used clinically for decades for burn wound treatment, and is proven to be safe and effective.

RG: Can you tell us what you achieved?

Xiaoyang Wu: We established a novel mouse to mouse skin transplantation system to test skin gene therapy. In the proof-of-concept study, we showed that we can achieve the systematic release of GLP1 at therapeutic concentration by engineered skin grafts.

RG: How does this work to treat obesity and diabetes?

Xiaoyang Wu: When engineered to express therapeutic hormones, such as GLP1, the skin grafts can be used to suppress body weight gain, and development of type 2 diabetes.

RG: What were some of the challenges in development? How did you overcome them?

Xiaoyang Wu: The mouse skin transplantation system has not been well established before. We circumvented the technical issues by building a novel skin organoid culture system in vitro.

RG: Are there alternate methods to delivery this type of therapy, and if so why is skin better?

Xiaoyang Wu: The GLP1 receptor agonist can be applied with an injection, but the half-life will be short. Skin based gene delivery provides a long term and safe way for drug delivery in vivo.

RG: Do think this would have a similar effect in humans?

Xiaoyang Wu: Our proof-of-concept work demonstrated its possible to use engineered skin grafts to treat many non-skin diseases. Clinical translation of our findings will be relatively easy, as skin transplantation in human patients has been well established and clinically used for treatment of burn wounds for many years.

RG: Whats next for your research?

Xiaoyang Wu: Before clinical translation, we will further characterize our mouse model of skin therapy, looking at potential immune reaction, stability of skin grafts, and duration of the therapeutic effects. We are also interested in using our mouse model to test other potential applications of skin gene therapy, such as human genetic diseases, including hemophilia and urea cycle disorders.

Featured image courtesy ofMehmet Pinarci.

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Skin graft gene therapy could treat obesity and diabetes - ResearchGate (blog)

Kite Seeks EU Approval for CAR T-Cell Therapy in 3 Lymphoma Subtypes – Lymphoma News Today

By Uncategorized

Kite Pharma submitted a marketing authorization application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) requesting the approval of its CAR T-cell therapy, axicabtagene ciloleucel, as treatment for patients with certain lymphomas.

The include relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), transformed follicular lymphoma (TFL), and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), who cannot receive autologous stem cell transplants.

This is the first application for a CAR T-cell therapy ever submitted to the EMA.

The MAA submission of axicabtagene ciloleucel marks an important global milestone in the development of engineered T-cell therapy, Arie Belldegrun, MD, president and CEO of Kite, said in a press release.

He said the company is excited to be working with the EMAs Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) to help bring this potentially transformative therapy to patients in the EU.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel, formerlyknown as KTE-C19, is a CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell therapy. The treatment consist of collecting the patients own T-cells and modifying them to express aCAR protein that recognizes the surface protein CD19, a molecule that is widelyexpressed by B-cell lymphomas and leukemias.

Kites application includes primary data from the ZUMA-1 trial (NCT02348216), a Phase 1/2 trial testing axicabtagene ciloleucel in treatment-resistant or relapsed aggressive non-Hodgkins lymphomapatients. The trial included 101 patients withDLBCL, PMBCL, or TFL, most with advanced-stage disease.

Data presented late June at the 22nd Congress of theEuropean Hematology Association(EHA),showed that 82 percent of patients responded to treatment after a single infusion of axicabtagene ciloleucel. This positive response was sustained in 44 percent of patients after amedian follow-up time of 8.7 months. At that time, 39 percent of patients exhibiteda complete response.

The most common severe treatment-related adverse eventsreported inZUMA-1 included cytokine release syndrome and neurologic events, which were generally reversible aftersuitable management.

Axicabtagene ciloleucelhas been designated a breakthrough therapy by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of DLBCL, TFL, and PMBCL, and received priority medicines (PRIME) regulatory support in the European Union. These designationsare meant to support a drugsdevelopment and accelerate its regulatory review.

The FDA is reviewingKites biologics license application (BLA) submitted for axicabtagene ciloleucel for the treatment of refractory aggressive non-Hodgkins lymphoma. A final decision is expected by Nov. 29.

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Kite Seeks EU Approval for CAR T-Cell Therapy in 3 Lymphoma Subtypes - Lymphoma News Today

Scottish firm gets EU funding for ‘off the shelf’ cancer cell therapy – pharmaphorum

By Uncategorized

Scottish biotech TC BioPharm (TCB) has won European Union funding to develop a new off-the-shelf cell therapy for several types of solid tumour cancers.

The 4 million euro (3.6 million) grant represents the largest EU award to any UK company for development of a healthcare therapy.

TCBs technology is based around it gamma-delta T-cell (GDT) therapy, an autologous cell therapy formulated to treat patients with various tumours including malignant melanoma, kidney, and lung cancer.

Autologous cell therapies use the patients own cells to treat their tumour which is a costly and logistically complex approach.

But the grant from the EU Horizon 2020 initiative will allow TCB to develop a next-generation allogeneic approach, meaning treatments can be manufactured using existing cells from donors, stored in a bio-bank.

The technique is more scientifically complex because therapeutic cells will have been derived from a single donor to treat many people.

Allogeneic off-the-shelf approaches have significant advantages over existing autologous treatments, as a larger target population of cancer sufferers can be treated with a more reproducible product which has been campaign-manufactured in bulk to keep costs much lower.

With the EU funding, TCB will manufacture allogeneic cell banks during 2017/18 with a view to treating first cancer patients with the novel approach early in 2019.

The biotech with use its chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to instruct the cells to attack specific tumour types.

This week, Kite Pharma filed its CAR T-cell cancer therapy with EU regulators in a rare form of blood cancer but this relies on harvesting a patients own cells.

Existing CAR-T therapies can only be used for blood cancers, so TCBs therapy could be a game-changer if its scientists can get it to work in solid tumours.

TCB is working with clinical centres of excellence to treat cancer patients in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford, Southampton, London, Leeds, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield and Belfast.

It has already raised over 25 million euros (22.4 million) in funding since commencing operations in February 2014. It has premises in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London, employing over 50 members of staff.

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Scottish firm gets EU funding for 'off the shelf' cancer cell therapy - pharmaphorum

Sancilio Completes Enrollment in Clinical Trial of Altemia as Treatment for Children with Sickle Cell Conditions – Sickle Cell Anemia News

By Uncategorized

Sancilio Pharmaceuticalshas completed enrolling patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating Altemia (docosahexaenoic acid)as a treatment forchildren with sickle cell anemia (SCA) and sickle cell disease (SCD).

The SCOT trial (NCT02973360) is aimed at finding an optimal dose of the therapy as well as evaluating its safety and effectiveness. Children aged 5 to 17 will berandomized to receive either Altemia or a placebo.

One of the four groups will receive 20 mg of Altemia per kg of body weight. A second group will receive 36 mg, a third 60 mg, and a fourth soybean oil as a placebo. The oral therapy is designed to be taken once a day.

The primary objective of the trial is to see whether Altemia lowers certain red blood cell fatty acids over four weeks,Sancilio said.Itexpects the study to be finished in August.

Research in the early 1990s suggested that some fatty acids decrease red blood cell destruction in mammals. Studies also showed that sickle cell patients have abnormally high levels of fatty acids in their red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. The findings led to scientists surmising that certain fatty acids could play a role in the treatment of SCA and SCD.

In 2001, a small clinical trial showed that specific fatty acids could also reduce pain episodes in sickle cell patients. In addition, fatty acids can increase hemoglobin the molecules in blood that carry oxygen and reduce sickle cell patients anemia, organ damage and other complications.

Based on these findings, Sancilio designed Altemia to replenish the fatty acids destroyed by mutations of the beta thalassemia gene, which controls hemoglobin levels.The abnormalities are responsible for SCD, scientists say.

Altemias ultimate goal is restoring the fluidity or normal movement of red blood cell membranes. Sickle cell patients blood cells lose fluidity, triggeringa cascade of events that leads to organ damage. By minimizing this damage, the premise is that Altemia can reduce sickle cell crises and death.

We are very encouraged by the high retention rate and adherence to treatment seen thus far in the study,Fred Sancilio, president and chief executive officer of Sancilio Pharmaceuticals, said in a press release. This study will further our understanding of the impact of Altemia on SCD.

The faster than expected enrollment in this study highlights the intense interest and enthusiasm of the investigators, their staffs, as well as the patients and their families, in achieving this important step for our development program,said Dr. Adrian L. Rabinowicz, Sancilios chief medical officer. We look forward to reporting top-line results from the study early Q4 this year.

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Sancilio Completes Enrollment in Clinical Trial of Altemia as Treatment for Children with Sickle Cell Conditions - Sickle Cell Anemia News

High school student gets an early start in stem cell research at USC – USC News

By Stell Cell Research

Even though Richard Lopez is still in high school, he can already tell you a thing or two about the ureteric bud, the metanephric mesenchyme and the developing kidney.

More impressively, he was familiar with these terms before starting his summer internship in the lab of Andy McMahon, kidney researcher and director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC.

I knew I was going to come here, Lopez said. So from December on, I was just reading papers that were written by Dr. McMahons lab. And so I read about the development of the kidney, kidney organoids, experimental methods like in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, all that stuff. Im really glad I did all of that because now that Im here, I understand whats going on.

Lopez undertook this intense preparation as part of the Science Research Program at his Connecticut boarding school, Choate Rosemary Hall. In addition to familiarizing him with the McMahon labs research, the program provided experience with useful molecular biology techniques, ranging from gel electrophoresis to polymerase chain reaction.

Lopez didnt start his high school career at Choate. Growing up in Lennox near the Los Angeles International Airport, he attended local public schools until his sophomore year in high school. At that point, his exceptional scores on the California Standardized Test attracted the attention of the Young Eisner Scholar program, which empowers underserved students to fulfill their potential.

As an Eisner Scholar, he earned both admission and a full scholarship to attend Choate. But the decision to leave home wasnt easy.

I was terrified at first, leaving everything behind, he said. I talked to my mom about it, and at first she was hesitant because I was born and raised here, and Im the only child. But then she realized that this is an amazing opportunity, and I cant let it go by.

Lopez recalls that Choate was initially in a huge culture shock from the occasional Maserati to the international student body to the exceptional academic opportunities such as the Science Research Program that brought him to USC.

In the McMahon lab, Lopez has learned about the molecular signals that drive the branching development of the kidney, and he has practiced a wide range of lab techniques.

Im really excited about science because I know its potential.

Richard Lopez

Im really excited and passionate about science because I know its potential, he said. If you pair that with math, you have no boundaries. If you look at the lab where Im working right now creating kidney organoids, learning about kidney development, these kinds of things can solve really burdensome illnesses that are fatal to some people, like end-stage renal disease and polycystic kidney disease.

To get to the lab every day, Lopez bike commutes a total of 32 miles from his home in Lennox to USCs Health Sciences Campus. Hes run the Los Angeles Marathon once and the San Francisco Marathon twice. In November, hes planning to travel to Florida to celebrate his 18th birthday with his first Ironman Triathlon a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.

Hes participating in these events not only for fun and fitness, but also as a way to give back. Hes currently raising sponsorship money for the Partnership Scholars Program, which provides underserved junior high and high school students with educational and cultural experiences, ranging from theatergoing to restaurant outings to college tours. His goal is to raise $54,000 to fund three new scholars.

I was very lucky, he said. So I want to raise money for the scholarships that have helped me out along the way.

More stories about: Research, Stem Cells

Middle and high school students visit labs and tour USCs stem cell research center,cancer center and Keck Hospital of USC.

Its never too early to get teens interested in science, as evidenced by these enthusiastic researchers.

The teens boost their scientific IQ by conducting research in USC labs.

Andy McMahon and his colleagues investigate ways to help the millions who suffer from the chronic ailment.

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High school student gets an early start in stem cell research at USC - USC News

Surrey teen rallies stem cell donors to help with ‘desperate’ need for South Asians – Surrey Now-Leader

By Stem Cell Clinic

Joban Bal in front of one of his tents during his swab drive calling for people to join the stem cell donor registry, which is in desperate need. (Photo: Alex Wilks)

Thirty-seven South Asian Canadian patients in desperate need of a stem cell transplant, says CBS

Alex Wilks, Surrey Now-Leader contributor

SURREY Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is in desperate need of donors to add to the registry and a Surrey teen wants to help.

Eighteen-year-old Joban Bal organized a stem cell swab event to help CBS build up the donor list.

He held his event on Saturday (July 29) during the annual Miri Piri Nagar Kirtan celebration at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

I saw the great need in hospitals for blood donors and especially stem cell donors, explained Bal. Essentially its rare that diseases do occur that need a stem cell donor but then that donation can make a real impact on a persons life.

Bal has been driven for the cause since high school where he launched Tamanawis Secondary Schools first blood donor clinic and stem cell swabbing campaigns.

I think of it as an investment in our future. Getting the younger generation really into blood donation because were trying to build up that community engagement with it, he said.

Bal is the founder of the One Blood for Life Foundation and a 2017 Winner of Surreys Top 25 under 25 Awards. Alongside a group of enthusiastic volunteers he hopes to recruit donors and educate people about the importance of blood and stem cell donation.

Stem cell transplantation is a procedure that replaces unhealthy blood-forming cells with healthy cells. It can be used to treat illnesses such as leukemia, lymphoma and various forms of cancer.

I dont want to say its personal. I want to say its more community oriented, explained Bal. I havent per se ever been affected by it, but I dont think it should take the point to where I am personally affected to see the impact it has.

It only takes about ten minutes to register. Donors are then briefed on what to expect if they are ever called in to donate. Following that is a quick cheek swab.

There are over 400,000 people in our registry and most people will never ever be called to be a match because it is that hard to find a match, said Territory Manager for CBS Sarah Jasmins.

Currently 37 South Asian Canadian patients are in desperate need of a stem cell transplants she emphasized.

They dont have a match, she said. Our registry right now is only six per cent South Asian and the important thing about a stem cell transplant is that the odds are youre only going to find somebody within your own ancestry.

So what were doing today is actually appealing to the South Asian population and getting them to join our registry, she adds.

Jasmins aims to build up the South Asian representation on the registry and with the help of Bal encourage people to donate blood as well.

It goes hand-in-hand. Usually somebody that requires a stem cell transplant also requires blood transfusions, she explained.

Bal chose to set up his red and white donor tents at the Miri Piri festival last weekend because of its unique South Asian diversity.

Its really important to bring awareness across cultural barriers and language barriers, he said. Because when we realize it theres something that connects us all, its blood. Regardless of what race, gender, ethnicity or if your old or young.

CBS requires donors to be between the ages of 17 to 35, in general good health and willing to help all Canadian patients.

I feel like every multicultural event should include something of this nature, explained Bal. It really is very closely integrated to community involvement. If we break down barriers between education and bring it to community events where we can facilitate this, we have the people; we have the resources, lets connect the two.

Joban Bal (far left) and some of his volunteers. (Photo: Alex Wilks)

One of the two swab tents set up on the parade route. (Photo: Alex Wilks)

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Surrey teen rallies stem cell donors to help with 'desperate' need for South Asians - Surrey Now-Leader

NantKwest (NK) Says Phase I Trial of aNK Cell Therapy in Patients … – StreetInsider.com

By Uncategorized

Get daily under-the-radar research with StreetInsider.com's Stealth Growth Insider Get your 2-Wk Free Trial here.

NantKwest Inc. (Nasdaq: NK), a pioneering, next-generation, clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on harnessing the unique power of the immune system using natural killer (NK) cells to treat cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammatory diseases, today announced the final results of a phase I clinical trial of the companys aNK cell therapy platform in relapsed hematological malignancies.

The data published in the journal Oncotarget by investigators at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada, demonstrated continuing evidence of safety and efficacy, with an overall response rate of 42% and no evidence of grade 3 or 4 adverse events from the infusions. Of note 2 out of the 12 patients in the safety study with relapsed Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma, demonstrated durable complete response with single agent aNK therapy, and remain free of disease to date, 10 years and 2 years respectively.

Our study was designed to assess safety and preliminary evidence of efficacy in patients with relapsed, refractory hematological malignancies whose disease recurred after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). In this heavily pretreated patient population that has a particularly poor prognosis, we demonstrated safety with minimal toxicity and showed preliminary evidence of efficacy, taking advantage of the unique properties of natural killer (NK) cells as an immunotherapeutic agent, said Armand Keating, MD, FRCP(C), Director, Cell Therapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University Health Network.

Dr. Keating continued, In this clinical study completed in 2015 of 12 patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma who had relapsed after AHCT for refractory/relapsed disease, we report encouraging results with four patients (33%) currently alive and two complete responses, one for over two years and the second for over 10 years and conclude that aNK cell therapy warrants further clinical investigation.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, Chairman and CEO of NantKwest commented, Consistent with previous studies, Dr. Keatings clinical trial results, reporting a 42% overall response rate, provide additional clinical validation of the unique potential to deliver long-term remissions with limited toxicity using the companys novel NK cell therapy. Our aNK cell therapy is currently in an ongoing Phase II clinical study in Merkel cell carcinoma and represent a critical, foundational component in the companys recently launched NANT Cancer Vaccine clinical trial program.

Dr. Soon-Shiong continued, We believe our product portfolio of novel off-the-shelf NK cell therapies is unique in offering a more uniform, consistent and optimized product potency with minimal toxicity and we remain focused on translating these unique advantages to patient care as rapidly as possible.

aNK Cell Therapy Platform

NantKwests aNK cell therapy platform is being developed as an allogeneic, off-the-shelf therapy, offering a potent, standardized, uniform and consistent product, further optimized to enhance the key capability of natural killer cells to directly target and kill cancer cells. This novel cell therapy is currently in an ongoing Phase II clinical trial in Merkel cell carcinoma and is a critical, foundational component in the companys recently launch NANT Cancer Vaccine clinical trial program.

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NantKwest (NK) Says Phase I Trial of aNK Cell Therapy in Patients ... - StreetInsider.com

TC BioPharm Wins $4.7M in EU Horizon 2020 Funding – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

By Uncategorized

Looking Beyond the U.K.

At present, TCB said, it is working with Clinical Centres of Excellence to treat cancer patients across the U.K. in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford, Southampton, London, Leeds, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield, and Belfast. Plans call for the eventual clinical testing and treatment of patients with outside the U.K. as well.

I look forward to developing our novel allogeneic GDT cell therapies with clinical partners at trial sites in Prague, Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels, TCB chief executive Michael Leek, Ph.D., MBA, said in a statement.

Added TCB COO Angela Scott: We are thrilled that H2020 funding has been awarded, allowing us to treat large numbers of cancer patients across the EU and in North America.

Headquartered in Scotland at the Pentlands Science Park outside Edinburgh, TCB has raised more than 25 million ($29.6 million) in funding since it began operations in February 2014.

Back in January, TCB said it raised more than 6.25 million ($6.7 million) from investors toward advancing ImmuniCell. Funds came primarily from NIPRO Corp. of Osaka, Japan, and the Scottish Investment Bank, as well as several unnamed family-based investment sources.

The company employs more than 50 people at facilities in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London.

The grant awarded to TCB is the largest such EU-award to any U.K. company for development of a therapeutic product. TCB said it was one of only 57 projects selected for funding out of 1514 applications to H2020s small- and medium-enterprise (SME) funding instrument, where fewer than 4% of companies applying to Phase 2 areselected.

Companies are evaluated for SME funding on criteria that include scientific excellence, business impact, and implementation quality.

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TC BioPharm Wins $4.7M in EU Horizon 2020 Funding - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

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