Stem Cell Clinic

North Central Texas Stem Cell Clinics in conjunction …

By Stem Cell Clinics

Our Regenerative Cell Treatment is a revolutionary breakthrough treatment option for people suffering from inflammation, reduced mobility, sports injuries, tissue and ligament damage, or chronic pain. Regenerative Cell Therapy is an injectable regenerative tissue matrix solution, that often times leaves the patient feeling relief after only ONE treatment. This cutting edge treatment takes the best components from all the current non-invasive treatment options and puts them into one.

Why should you use Regenerative Cellular Medicine? It works with the bodys natural ability to heal itself. Unlike treatments that simply address the symptoms, regenerative cell therapy actually promotes the natural process of repair in the body, assisting in restoring degenerated tissue.

Our treatment plans are comprehensive. Not only will we provide you with the most cutting-edge treatment options, but we will also assist you through rehabilitation. Following the custom program created for your specific needs will thoroughly increase the effectiveness.Typically, there is no little to no downtime from cellular therapy.

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North Central Texas Stem Cell Clinics in conjunction ...

Private clinics are peddling untested stem cell treatments it’s unethical and dangerous – Yahoo News UK

By Stem Cell Clinic

Getty Images/Spencer Platt

Stem cell science is an area of medical research that continues to offer great promise. But as this weeks paper in Science Translational Medicine highlights, a growing number of clinics around the globe, including in Australia, are exploiting regulatory gaps to sell so-called stem cell treatments without evidence that what they offer is effective or even safe.

Such unregulated direct-to-consumer advertising typically of cells obtained using liposuction-like methods not only places the health of individuals at risk, but could also undermine the legitimate development of stem cell-based therapies.

Many academic societies and professional medical organisations have raised concerns about these futile and often expensive cell therapies. Despite this, national regulators have typically been slow or ineffective in curtailing them.

As well as tighter regulations here, international regulators such as the World Health Organisation and the International Council on Harmonisation need to move on ensuring patients desperate for cures arent sold treatments with limited efficacy and unknown safety.

Hundreds of stem cell clinics post online claims that they have been able to treat patients suffering from a wide range of conditions. These include osteoarthritis, pain, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and infertility. The websites are high on rhetoric of science often using various accreditation, awards and other tokens to imply legitimacy but low on proof that they work.

osteoporosis strong bones workout old lady

Donna McWilliam/APRather than producing independently verified results, these clinics rely on patient testimonials or unsubstantiated claims of improvement. In so doing these shonky clinics understate the risks to patient health associated with these unproven stem cell-based interventions.

Properly administered informed consent is often overlooked or ignored, so patients can be misled about the likelihood of success. In addition to heavy financial burdens imposed on patients and their families, there is often an opportunity cost because the time wasted in receiving futile stem cells diverts patients away from proven medicines.

The many recent reports of adverse outcomes demonstrate the risks of receiving unproven cell therapies are not trivial. In the USA three women were blinded following experimental stem cell treatment for macular degeneration (a degenerative eye disease that can cause blindness). One man was rendered a quadriplegic following a stem cell intervention for stroke. And a woman whose family sought treatment for her dementia died in Australia.

Other notorious cases involving the deaths of patients include the German government shutting down the X-Cell Centre and the Italian government closing the Stamina Foundation it had previously supported.

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REUTERS/Juan Carlos UlateAt present, the only recognised stem cell treatments are those utilising blood stem cells isolated from bone marrow, peripheral blood (the cellular components of blood such as red and white blood cells and platelets) or umbilical cord blood.

Hundreds of thousand of lives have been saved over the last half-century in patients with cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, as well as rare inherited immune and metabolic disorders.

A few types of cancer and autoimmune diseases may also benefit from blood stem cells in the context of chemotherapy. Different stem cells are also successfully used for corneal and skin grafting.

All other applications remain in the preclinical research phase or are just starting to be evaluated in clinical trials.

Often dismissed by for-profit clinics as red tape hampering progress, the rigour of clinical trials allows for the collection of impartial evidence. Such information is usually required before a new drug or medical device is released into the marketplace. Unfortunately, in the case of for-profit stem cell clinics, their marketing has gazumped the scientific evidence.

Action is required on many fronts. Regulators at both an international and national level need to tackle regulatory loopholes and challenge unfounded marketing claims of businesses selling unproven stem cell interventions.

Researchers need to more clearly communicate their findings and the necessary next steps to responsibly take their science from the laboratory to the clinic. And they should acknowledge that this will take time.

Patients and their loved ones must be encouraged to seek advice from a trained reputable health care professional, someone who knows their medical history. They should think twice if someone is offering a treatment outside standards of practice.

The stakes are too high not to have these difficult conversations. If a stem cell treatment sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

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Private clinics are peddling untested stem cell treatments it's unethical and dangerous - Yahoo News UK

Private clinics’ unproven stem cell treatment is unsafe and unethical … – Business Standard

By Stem Cell Clinic

Professional medical organisations have raised concerns about these expensive cell therapies

Stem cell science is an area of medical research that continues to offer great promise. But as this weeks paper in Science Translational Medicine highlights, a growing number of clinics around the globe, including in Australia, are exploiting regulatory gaps to sell so-called stem cell treatments without evidence that what they offer is effective or even safe.

Such unregulated direct-to-consumer advertising typically of cells obtained using liposuction-like methods not only places the health of individuals at risk but could also undermine the legitimate development of stem cell-based therapies.

Many academic societies and professional medical organisations have raised concerns about these futile and often expensive cell therapies. Despite this, national regulators have typically been slow or ineffective in curtailing them.

As well as tighter regulations here, international regulators such as the World Health Organisation and the International Council on Harmonisation need to move on ensuring patients desperate for cures arent sold treatments with limited efficacy and unknown safety.

So whats on offer?

Hundreds of stem cell clinics post online claims that they have been able to treat patients suffering from a wide range of conditions. These include osteoarthritis, pain, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and infertility. The websites are high on the rhetoric of science often using various accreditation, awards and other tokens to imply legitimacy but low on proof that they work.

Rather than producing independently verified results, these clinics rely on patient testimonials or unsubstantiated claims of improvement. In so doing these shonky clinics understate the risks to patient health associated with these unproven stem cell-based interventions.

Properly administered informed consent is often overlooked or ignored, so patients can be misled about the likelihood of success. In addition to heavy financial burdens imposed on patients and their families, there is often an opportunity cost because the time wasted in receiving futile stem cells diverts patients away from proven medicines.

The many recent reports of adverse outcomes demonstrate the risks of receiving unproven cell therapies are not trivial. In the USA three women were blinded following experimental stem cell treatment for macular degeneration (a degenerative eye disease that can cause blindness). One man was rendered a quadriplegic following a stem cell intervention for stroke. And a woman whose family sought treatment for her dementia died in Australia.

Other notorious cases involving the deaths of patients include the German government shutting down the X-Cell Centre and the Italian government closing the Stamina Foundation it had previously supported.

Whats approved?

At present, the only recognised stem cell treatments are those utilising blood stem cells isolated from bone marrow, peripheral blood (the cellular components of blood such as red and white blood cells and platelets) or umbilical cord blood.

Hundreds of thousand of lives have been saved over the last half-century in patients with cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, as well as rare inherited immune and metabolic disorders.

A few types of cancer and autoimmune diseases may also benefit from blood stem cells in the context of chemotherapy. Different stem cells are also successfully used for corneal and skin grafting.

All other applications remain in the preclinical research phase or are just starting to be evaluated in clinical trials.

Often dismissed by for-profit clinics as red tape hampering progress, the rigour of clinical trials allows for the collection of impartial evidence. Such information is usually required before a new drug or medical device is released into the marketplace. Unfortunately, in the case of for-profit stem cell clinics, their marketing has gazumped the scientific evidence.

The action is required on many fronts. Regulators at both an international and national level need to tackle regulatory loopholes and challenge unfounded marketing claims of businesses selling unproven stem cell interventions.

Researchers need to more clearly communicate their findings and the necessary next steps to responsibly take their science from the laboratory to the clinic. And they should acknowledge that this will take time.

Patients and their loved ones must be encouraged to seek advice from a trained reputable health care professional, someone who knows their medical history. They should think twice if someone is offering a treatment outside standards of practice.

The stakes are too high not to have these difficult conversations. If a stem cell treatment sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For more information on recognised stem cell treatments visit the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia and Stem Cells Australia, Choice Australia, EuroStemCell, International Society for Stem Cell Research, and International Society for Cellular Therapy.

Megan Munsie, Deputy Director - Centre for Stem Cell Systems and Head of Education, Ethics, Law & Community Awareness Unit, Stem Cells Australia, University of Melbourne and John Rasko, Clinical Haematologist and President-Elect, International Society for Cellular Therapy., University of Sydney

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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Private clinics' unproven stem cell treatment is unsafe and unethical ... - Business Standard

Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections – Hedley Orthopaedic Institute

By Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

Platelet-rich plasma therapy also referred to as PRP injection is an exciting branch of sports medicine that allows athletes to heal and recover from chronic pain and/or injuries of the tendons, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, nerves, and more. The treatment is safe, non-surgical, and doesnt even use drugs. With PRP injections, the patients own blood platelets are the healing agent.

At Hedley Orthopaedic Institute, sports medicine physicians can help you get back in the game with fast-acting, highly effective platelet-rich plasma therapy. Learn more below about this revolutionary alternative to steroid injections and surgery.

The idea behind PRP therapy is relatively simple on the surface, but a working knowledge of your bodys natural repair functions can make PRP easy to understand

Everyone knows that blood platelets help stop a cut. But researchers now know that these platelets do more than coagulate and stop blood flow; they also release growth factors, which draw special regenerative cells (progenitor cells) to the site of the injury. Platelet-rich plasma therapy maximizes this platelet/progenitor cell relationship.

During your appointment at Hedley Orthopaedic Institute, your physician will perform a basic blood draw. The blood is placed in a centrifuge that separates the platelets and plasma from the red blood cells. After about 15 minutes, the platelet-rich plasma is removed from the centrifuge. Using ultrasound guidance, your physician will place a needle into the damaged area of your body that requires treatment, and inject the platelet-rich plasma into the injury site. The high concentration of platelets is loaded with growth factors, which expedites the healing and recovery process. This entire procedure is done in-office and takes about an hour to complete.

After you receive a PRP injection, you will be asked to return to Hedley Orthopaedic Institute for a follow-up appointment six to eight weeks later. Your sports medicine physician will evaluate your injury to see how effective PRP therapy has been. While some patients may be fully or nearly recovered, most patients will return for two or three more treatments. Injections are usually spaced eight to 12 weeks apart.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy offers many benefits. Athletes are especially interested in this treatment option, as it can help speed up the recovery process and get them back to the game.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy can be used to treat:

For more information about platelet-rich plasma injections and other regenerative medicine services, contact us. Sports medicine services available in Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa.

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Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections - Hedley Orthopaedic Institute

Alternative treatments for knee arthritis – Palm Beach Post

By Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

Question: Ive been told that I need a knee replacement. Are there other options?

Answer: If youve been told that you need a knee replacement, it is likely that you have advanced arthritis. There are various conservative options that must be considered before having joint replacement surgery. Some of the initial treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, cortisone, and visco-supplementation injections.

Emerging treatments include PRP (platelet rich plasma), stem cell therapy, as well as A2M (Alpha 2 Macroglobulin). These are newer options which bring much promise for the right candidate, but still have emerging data about their potential level of efficacy.

Should none of these provide adequate pain relief, there is the option of a genicular rhizotomy/radiofrequency ablation. This is where the nerves around the knee are treated to reduce or eliminate the perception of pain.

Some patients may benefit from a procedure called subchondroplasty, which reinforces the underlying, overstressed bone. Studies have shown that this can significantly delay or decrease the chances of having a knee replacement if done on the right patient.

If all else fails, it is possible in the appropriate patient to undergo a robotic-assisted partial knee replacement with a minimally invasive approach. This procedure resurfaces only the worn portion of the knee.

Dr. Noble specializes in non-operative treatment and innovative surgical techniques for the treatment of knee and hip arthritis. He completed a total joint replacement fellowship at the Harvard School of Medicine, Brigham and Womens Hospital, and Orthopaedic residency at the Medical College

_____________________________________

Palm Beach Orthopaedic Institute

Four locations: Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, West Palm Beach

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Alternative treatments for knee arthritis - Palm Beach Post

Oxford BioMedica wins big contract for Novartis cell therapy – Reuters

By Uncategorized

LONDON Novartis has signed a major contract with Oxford BioMedica that could earn the British company more than $100 million over three years for supplying the Swiss drugmaker with material for its novel cell therapy CTL019.

The deal, announced by Oxford BioMedica on Thursday, could help put the veteran biotech firm on a path to sustainable profitability.

The contract is for the supply of lentiviral vectors used to generate CTL019, a new kind of treatment for hard-to-treat leukemia that is expected to reach the market this year.

A U.S. advisory panel will discuss the case for approving CTL019 at a meeting on July 12 and Novartis has already designated the treatment as a potential blockbuster.

Oxford BioMedica will received $10 million from Novartis upfront, as well as payments for various performance incentives and bioprocessing and development services.

It will also get a royalty on future sales of CTL-019. Jefferies analysts said this could earn Oxford BioMedica between 65 million and 75 million pounds ($84-97 million) a year, assuming CTL019 peak sales of at least $1 billion.

The agreement also covers the supply of vectors for other undisclosed Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CART) products.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Keith Weir)

Eli Lilly and Co won a years-long patent dispute with Actavis on Friday after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the generic drugmaker's versions of Lilly's top-selling cancer drug Alimta directly infringe on certain Lilly patents in Britain, France, Italy and Spain.

Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corp said on Friday it would evaluate strategic options after its sole experimental eye drug failed another trial, sending the company's shares tumbling 45 percent in extended trading.

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Oxford BioMedica wins big contract for Novartis cell therapy - Reuters

Global CAR T Cell Therapy Market & Clinical Trials Insight 2022 – PR Newswire (press release)

By Uncategorized

LONDON, July 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As per report findings, the promise of CAR modified T cell therapy derives from its combined immunologic benefits and include the specificity of a targeted antibody, the ability to expand the T cell population and the potential for long term persistence to facilitate the ongoing tumor surveillance. The success in early phase trials, assess the feasibility of evaluating the treatment modality across the multiple centers and in larger patients. Currently, there are 99 CAR T Cell based therapies in clinical pipeline and most of them belong to Phase-I and Phase-I/II clinical trials.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4844165/

In recent years, researchers have identified the chimeric antigen receptor as a potential target for molecular genetics to insert a new epitopes on the receptor region which allows a degree of control of the immune system. CAR T cell therapy satisfy the need to explore new and efficacious adoptive T cell therapy. The gene transfer technology could efficiently introduce the genes encoding CARs into the immune effector cells. The transferring of engineered T cells provides the specific antigen binding in a non-major histocompatibility complex.

The promise of CAR modified T cell therapy derives from its combined immunologic benefits and include the specificity of a targeted antibody, the ability to expand the T cell population and the potential for long term persistence to facilitate the ongoing tumor surveillance. The success in early phase trials, assess the feasibility of evaluating the treatment modality across the multiple centers and in larger patients.

The first commercial application of CAR T Cell based therapy for the treatment of Mantle- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is expected to be available from 2020. The anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy axicabtagene ciloleucel (KTE-C19) is developed by KITE Pharma in collaboration with National Cancer Institute. Currently this therapy is in preregistration phase.

In future, the advancement of CAR T Cell therapy will be largely driven by academia and will require the support for the expensive early phase clinical trials which promise to cover the way for a new form of targeted, exportable immunotherapy for cancer patient. The manufacturing of CD19 CAR T cell therapy CTL019 is in a way which will modernize the process of using the therapy globally. The anticipation of regulatory and manufacturing issues before they arise and proactively addressing the concerns helps to accelerate the process of bringing this promising therapeutic approach to more patients in future.

"Global CAR T Cell Therapy Market & Clinical Trials Insight 2022" report highlights: CAR T Cell Therapies Delivery Pipeline & Mechanism of Action Global CAR T Cell Therapy Clinical Trials for Cancer Treatment Global CAR T Cell Therapies Clinical Pipeline by Company, Indication & Phase Global CAR T Cell Therapies Clinical Pipeline: 99 Therapies CAR T Cell Therapies in Highest Phase: Preregistration Majority of CAR T Cell Therapies in Phase-I/II Trials: 16 Therapies Global Market Scenario of CAR T Cell Therapy Global CAR T Cell Therapy Market Future Prospects Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4844165/

About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: query@reportbuyer.com Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: http://www.reportbuyer.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-car-t-cell-therapy-market--clinical-trials-insight-2022-300484282.html

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Global CAR T Cell Therapy Market & Clinical Trials Insight 2022 - PR Newswire (press release)

Capricor yo-yos as Johnson & Johnson dumps stem cell partnership – FierceBiotech

By Uncategorized

After three and a half years, Johnson & Johnson is ducking out of a partnership with Capricor Therapeutics focusedon the use of stem cells to treat cardiovascular disease.

The decision by J&J's Janssen unit not to pursue a license comes as little surprise. The therapy at the center of their end-2013 dealCAP-1002 (off-the-shelf cardiosphere-derived cells)has already been marked up as missing the target in a phase 1/2 study involving patients who had suffered a heart attack, although the data remains under wraps.

Added to that, in April, interim results from a trial in Duchenne muscular dystrophy revealed promising activity, and prompted Capricor to upgrade the importance of the new indicationwhich lies outside the scope of its license with J&J.

The California biotech has already said it plans to start a second trial in DMD in the latter half of the year. But while the back-up indication is a comfort to investors, there is no question that the company will miss the financial backing from J&J, which included $12.5 million upfront and up to $325 million in milestone payments, as well as the kudos of a big pharma partner in a sector that has failed so far to live up to early promise.

Weak or scarred heart muscle is a major cause of heart failure, so using stem cells to repair scar tissue appears to be a logical way of improving outcomes. Attempts to show a benefit have met with marginal success, however. Last year for example, Celyad's 271-patient trial of its C-Cure stem cell therapy revealed no improvement compared to a sham procedure.

Capricor's CEO Linda Marbn, Ph.D. accentuated the positive of claiming full rights to CAP-1002, including not only the DMD data but also work with Janssen on developing a commercial-scale manufacturing process for the cell therapy, to which it now has a "fully paid-up nonexclusive license."

She also said it settled "uncertainty concerning the scope of the license for CAP-1002" and frees the company to seek partners elsewhere.

"We discussed potential product registration strategies for this indication at our recent meeting with the U.S. FDA, and we look forward to providing an update on our clinical development plans in DMD very shortly," continued Marbn.

Capricor also announced in an SEC filing that it is filingfor resale of up to 1.2 million shares of its common stock but would not be receiving any proceeds from the transaction. It ended the first quarter with $2.75 million in cash.

Shares in the biotech fell after the announcement but had rebounded at the time of writing, though they are still in penny stock territory at $0.80.

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Capricor yo-yos as Johnson & Johnson dumps stem cell partnership - FierceBiotech

The Global Market for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) should reach $3.6 Billion in 2021, Increasing at a CAGR … – Business Wire (press…

By Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Global Markets" report to their offering.

The Global Market for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) should reach $3.6 Billion in 2021, Increasing at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2016 through 2021

This study is focused on the market side of iPSCs rather than its technical side. Different market segments for this emerging market are covered.

For example, application-based market segments include academic research, drug development and toxicity testing, and regenerative medicine; product function-based market segments include molecular and cellular engineering, cellular reprogramming, cell culture, cell differentiation and cell analysis; iPSC-derived cell-type-based market segments include cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, neurons, endothelia cells and other cell types; geography-based market segments include the U.S., Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of World. Research and market trends are also analyzed by studying the funding, patent publications and research publications in the field.

Key Topics Covered:

1: Introduction

2: Summary and Highlights

3: Overview

4: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Applications

5: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Market Segmentation and Forecast

6: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research Application Market

7: Drug Discovery and Development Market

8: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Contract Service Market

9: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Clinical Application Market

10: Research Market Trend Analysis

11: Clinical Application Market Trend Analysis

12: Company Profiles

13: Conclusions

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/qwdtwm/induced

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The Global Market for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) should reach $3.6 Billion in 2021, Increasing at a CAGR ... - Business Wire (press...

Grnenthal Group: Launch of the Project – Modelling Neuron-glia Networks Into a Drug Discovery Platform for Pain … – PR Newswire (press release)

By Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The new research project NGN-PET was launched in the framework of the Innovative Medicine Initiative (IMI), the largest public-private partnership (PPP) for health research worldwide co-funded by the EU and the European pharmaceutical industry. The NGN-PET consortium unites the expertise and knowledge of industry partners from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and academia. Together they will investigate neuron-glia interactions aiming to develop authentic cellular (co-culture) assays to discover improved treatments of neuropathic pain using neuronal and glial cell types derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), and their co-cultures.

The primary objective is to provide a translational platform for the identification, validation and testing of neuropathic pain targets in preclinical and human-relevant test systems suitable for drug discovery.

Chronic pain is a serious debilitating disease which greatly reduces the quality of life for the individual patients. In Europe, 20% of the population are affected which causes considerable socioeconomic burden of over 200 bn per year[1]. Chronic pain of neuropathic origin has a population prevalence of 8.2%[2].

Neuropathic pain arises after insults such as surgery, trauma, diabetes, chemotherapy or viral infections, and its prevalence is expected to rise in the future due to the ageing society.

Current treatments for chronic pain have limited efficacy, leaving about 60% of patients without adequate pain relief[1]. Moreover, these therapies address only symptoms not the causes of the pain, and are therefore not curative. In fact, the aetiologies of the disease are poorly understood which hinders the development of new analgesics with improved efficacies.

One of the major findings of the last decade in pain research is that non-neuronal cells play a very active role in the development of sensory abnormalities. In particular, glia - like Schwann cells, microglia, or astrocytes - contribute directly to modulation of neuronal functions.

NGN-PET consortium: understand biology and develop test systems for neuropathic pain

The NGN-PET consortium aims to explore neuron-glial interactions in subtypes of neuropathic pain which are induced by chemotherapy or trauma, and to develop human-predictive test systems that can be implemented in the drug discovery process. These cellular systems will use preclinical tissues and human iPSC-derived neuron-glia co-cultures in novel high-throughput screening platforms. We hope this new science helps in identifying novel more efficacious treatments for neuropathic pain patients.

To achieve these ambitious goals, a consortium of 6 partners, with the support of IMI, has been formed. NGN-PET brings together experts from industry, SMEs and academia in a synergistic public-private partnership. NGN-PET is supported by over 3million euros from IMI2 and industry partners in direct and in-kind contributions. The project duration is 3 years. The consortium will disseminate the results through publication in high-impact scientific journals, applying open access policy whenever possible, or in scientific meetings by means of poster or oral presentations. Online outreach of the project publications will be performed via the project website.

The NGN-PET project is coordinated by Axxam; the project leader is ESTEVE, supported by Grnenthal as project Co-Leader.

About the partners

About Axxam

Axxam is an innovative Partner Research Organization (iPRO) based in Milan, Italy. Axxam is a leading provider of integrated discovery services across Life Sciences industries including: pharmaceuticals, crop protection, animal health, cosmetics, fragrances, food and beverages. The company has consolidated expertise across a broad range of discovery disciplines and innovative technologies including: assay development, high-throughput screening of both the Axxam high quality compound collections (synthetic and natural) or those provided by our clients, compound management, hit identification and hit validation. Axxam performance-driven approach has been recognized by the clients as key to the success for their discovery programs. Axxam is also engaged in alliance-based research towards innovative small molecule therapies for diseases with a high unmet medical need. Axxam's business terms are flexible, ranging from fee-for-service to risk-sharing deal structures.

More information: http://www.axxam.com

About Life & Brain

LIFE & BRAIN GmbH is a biomedical enterprise founded in 2002 and located at the University Hospital Campus in Bonn, Germany. As a center of innovation, LIFE & BRAIN acts as a revolving door between academic research and industry. Innovative research results are recognized early and developed further into marketable biomedical products and services. Its mission is to discover and develop novel strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of nervous system disorders. A key focus of LIFE & BRAIN is the development and provision of human pluripotent stem cell-based tools and services for neurological disease modeling and drug discovery. Within the project LIFE & BRAIN will provide induced pluripotent stem cell-derived glial and neuronal populations to model the neuron-glia network in neuropathological pain conditions.

More information: http://www.lifeandbrain.com

About King's College London

King's College London is one of the top 25 universities in the world (2016/17 QS World University Rankings) and among the oldest in England. Research at King's has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and work that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar.

King's has more than 26,500 students from some 150 countries world-wide and nearly 6,900 staff. The university has an outstanding reputation for world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. King's was ranked 6th nationally in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) and is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings with an overall annual income of more than 600 million.

More information: http://www.kcl.ac.uk

About NMI

The Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tbingen (NMI) is a member of the Innovation Alliance Baden-Wrttemberg. Its main activities focus on application-oriented research at the interface between life and material sciences. In addition, it also operates as business incubator for start-up companies. NMI unique and interdisciplinary spectrum of skills and competencies, supported by a strong team of more than 150 scientists, provides an ideal research environment where innovative technologies are brought together for the benefit of public stakeholders and industry. A broad range of thematic areas are covered across several departments and laboratories:

- Pharma & biotechnology: targets and biomarkers for the identification of active compounds, electrophysiology, diagnostics and bio-analytics

- Biomedical engineering: implants, biosensors, biomaterials and regenerative medicine

- Surface and material technology: micro and nano-analytics, coatings, adhesive bonding systems

More information: http://www.nmi.de

About Esteve

Esteve is a leading pharmaceutical chemical group based in Barcelona, Spain. Since it was founded in 1929, Esteve has been firmly committed to excellence in healthcare, dedicating efforts to innovative R&D of new medicines for unmet medical needs and focusing on high science and evidencebased research. Esteve has a strong partnership approach to drug discovery, development and commercialisation. The company works both independently and in collaboration to bring new, differentiated bestinclass treatments to patients. The company currently employs 2,300 professionals and has subsidiaries and production facilities in several European countries, USA, China and Mexico.

More information: http://www.esteve.es

About Grnenthal

The Grnenthal Group is an entrepreneurial, science-based pharmaceutical company specialized in pain, gout and inflammation. Our ambition is to deliver four to five new products to patients in diseases with high unmet medical need by 2022 and become a 2 billion company. We are a fully integrated research & development company with a long track record of bringing innovative pain treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to patients. By sustainably investing in our R&D above the industrial average, we are strongly committed to innovation.

Grnenthal is an independent, family-owned company headquartered in Aachen, Germany. We are present in 32 countries with affiliates in Europe, Latin America and the US. Our products are sold in more than 155 countries and approx. 5,500 employees are working for the Grnenthal Group worldwide. In 2016, Grnenthal achieved revenues of approx. 1.4 bn.

More information: http://www.grunenthal.com

About the Innovative Medicines Initiative

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is working to improve health by speeding up the development of, and patient access to, the next generation of medicines, particularly in areas where there is an unmet medical or social need. It does this by facilitating collaboration between the key players involved in healthcare research, including universities, pharmaceutical companies, and other companies active in healthcare research, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), patient organisations, and medicines regulators. This approach has proven highly successful, and IMI projects are delivering exciting results that are helping to advance the development of urgently-needed new treatments in diverse areas.

IMI is a partnership between the European Union and the European pharmaceutical industry, represented by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). Through the IMI 2 programme, IMI has a budget of 3.3 bn for the period 2014-2024. Half of this comes from the EU's research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020. The other half comes from large companies, mostly from the pharmaceutical sector; these do not receive any EU funding, but contribute to the projects 'in kind', for example by donating their researchers' time or providing access to research facilities or resources.

Contact Project Office/General Enquires Email: info@ngn-pet.com Project Leader: Xavier Codony , ESTEVE. +34-93-4466061 Project Coordinator: Dr. Paola Tarroni, Axxam SpA. +39-02-2105639 Project Manager: Dr. Enric Castells, ESTEVE. +34-93-4466112

This project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 116072. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA Companies.

[1] van Hecke O, Torrance N, Smith BH. Chronic pain epidemiology and its clinical relevance. Br J Anaesth. 2013; 111(1):13-8. [2] Torrance N, Smith BH, Bennett MI, Lee AJ. The epidemiology of chronic pain of predominantly neuropathic origin. Results from a general population survey. J Pain. 2006 Apr;7(4):281-9.

SOURCE Grnenthal Group

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Grnenthal Group: Launch of the Project - Modelling Neuron-glia Networks Into a Drug Discovery Platform for Pain ... - PR Newswire (press release)

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