Stem Cell Clinic

In the race to find a Covid-19 cure, leaders must not forget other diseases in need of research funds – The National

By adminMay 22, 2020Stem Cell Doctors

In the past few months, countries have raced to find vaccines and treatments for Covid-19.

From the US to the UK, potential vaccines are being tested out. Recently, scientists in the UAE have also made extraordinary advances in treatment and testing. Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre unveiled a new type of aerosol stem-cell therapy that has been tested on 73 patients with mild to severe symptoms, all of whom recovered. This new treatment helps lung cells regenerate faster and is meant to be administered alongside other existing protocols.

Among the recovered patients who underwent stem-cell therapy is Abdullahi Rodhile. A father of 10 with underlying conditions, he had to be put in an induced coma for nearly three weeks. I was brought back to life. he told The National. I was dead and now I am alive.

And on Tuesday, QuantLase Imaging Lab, the medical research arm of Abu Dhabi-based International Holdings Company, announced the development of a rapid laser coronavirus test with the potential to carry out mass screenings and deliver results in seconds. The new technology could, in the coming months, replace swab tests, which can take hours to process.

These new treatments, vaccines and testing methods have yet to be accessible on a large scale, and require further work. But they are a clear step towards the innovation necessary to diminish the pandemics threat to daily life. For several years now, scientific research worldwide has suffered from a lack of resources and funding. In Europe, home to many renowned institutions of medical science, governments have repeatedly struck blows to research programmes through immigration restrictions, budget cuts to universities and a lack of public investment in the sciences. In the US, the Trump administration has been criticised for its 2018 dissolution of Washingtons pandemic response team, a taskforce put in place by the Obama administration after the discovery of Ebola.

This pandemic has proved the importance of promoting strong research institutions and scientific advancement. It has also given more space for medical and scientific experts in the media landscape. Their contribution is vital to combating conspiracy theories, providing trusted information and raising awareness. Nurses, doctors and innovators have now become the role models and heroes of the new generation.

I was brought back to life. I was dead and now I am alive.

Abdullahi Rodhile

But while renewed interest in scientific advancements is pivotal to global public health and to our economies, the focus on coronavirus has, unfortunately but inevitably, come at the cost of furthering research in other essential fields. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced it will give its total attention to the coronavirus pandemic. Similarly, the European Union has decided to allot an additional 675 million from the Horizon 2020 programme, the biggest research and innovation fund in Europe, to research into the coronavirus, with pandemic investment from the fund totaling 1 billion.

Global policymakers, the scientific community and civil society are all part of a delicate balancing act between allocating the resources necessary to find a path out of the coronavirus pandemic, and not allowing other priorities to fall to the wayside. Resources are limited, but when used carefully and effectively, we can spur innovation on all fronts.

Updated: May 21, 2020 10:53 AM

Indian tennis: For injury-plagued Yuki Bhambri, the lockdown is both a chance and another challenge – Scroll.in

By adminMay 22, 2020Stem Cell Doctors

If these were normal circumstances, Yuki Bhambri would probably be back on the grind of the tennis tour trying to qualify for a Grand Slam again. It would be a far cry from his breakthrough 2018 season, where he crossed top 100 and played all four Majors, but at least he would be back and fighting on court.

However as things stand, the former India No 1 has not played a competitive match since October 2018 after battling a debilitating knee injury that wasnt correctly diagnosed for months and led to a layoff that is 18 months and counting now.

From a career-best ranking of 83 in April 2018 to losing his ranking and being tagged as inactive on the official ATP charts, it has been a period of difficulty and confusion for the 27-year-old, who has been a junior world No 1 and Grand Slam champion.

Its been a pain a struggle. The [past] 18 months have felt like five years. From not being able to really put any load on my knee, I think its a big achievement to be able to finally get back to playing tennis and do even the basic exercises, Bhambri told Scroll.in.

But even then, there are two ways to look at the long time away from the sport due to injury and now an extended break due to the coronavirus pandemic. The positive is, of course, a shutdown of the entire tennis tour means that the timeline for recovery is extended. Does he see this time off, although due to a negative reason, as beneficial?

Yes, it does for me and for everyone whos been out injured because you dont miss out on the tour. Everyone in the same situation, everyone comes back without hitting a tennis ball for months. Ill not be missing the Grand Slams or any events and it gives me time to come back. So for the few ones, like me, Roger Federer, Juan Martin del Potro, this is a good time. Of course, you dont want it to happen due to a pandemic, he added.

The Indian has been spending time at home in Delhi, trying to get whatever fitness training he can at home with the tennis courts shut amid the nationwide lockdown but he knows its not enough.

Its difficult and different, no matter how much you train at home, its not the same. Youre obviously doing it for your career, for tennis and Im not able to play it and theres only a certain amount that you can really do at home. For me, its really just about being active and doing bits and pieces so that I dont have to start from scratch when I get back on the court, he added.

I was already following a bunch of exercises I need to for my knee rehab. But sometimes modifications are needed and Im in constant touch with my team. Theres only so much you know you can do but I think Ive been good enough in being active, said the Indian who is coached by Stephen Koon from the Impact Tennis Academy in Thailand.

Bhambri admitted that he is unsure if he would be a 100% if the tour were to restart.

Its pretty good but I am not match-fit. I made a lot of progress and if I had to, even right now Id give myself a 70% chance. I need to get out there and practice because I havent done anything in regards to my physical fitness for about over a year and a half now.

The body takes some time to get used to it again and for that Id have to be on the court I presume for at least a couple of months, to be able to get back to running and being able to take the load of a match. I had just started to do that and get into a routine when the lockdown happened. Once its over Ill get back to practice but looking at things, we may not have a tennis season this year he added.

As candid as Bhambri is while talking about the past few months, the toll becomes evident when he describes the excruciating details of his injury and the experimental treatment. He was injured in mid-2018 but it was only in September 2019 when he consulted with Dr Angel Ruiz Cortorro, who has worked with many top injured tennis players including Rafael Nadal, that Bhambri got a clear idea of the problem.

From what I understand of the diagnosis I have a small, partial tear in the medial part of my knee. Because it was tiny and in the middle of the tendon, no one could really figure it out and I was somewhere stuck in between because surgery would have been too big a step to repair it and the basic modern medication and therapy werent working. So I had to try different kinds of treatments, different injections to help heal the tendon, he said.

I was seeing doctors in the US and getting different opinions. But a few of them had the same idea, which was an experimental treatment called stem cell. This procedure was more advanced in Spain and there are very few countries that actually do it; they dont even do it in the States. Since I was getting different opinions, I decided to get in touch with Dr Cortorro just to have another opinion and went with him because hes the one who has treated a lot of tennis players who had knee trouble, Bhambri added.

The decision paid off because after almost a year of taking different injections and waiting for months to see if they made a difference, he finally made progress in late 2019. Around the new year is when I got back on court to hit the ball and I have seen improvement every week, which is a good sign.

Also read: Yuki Bhambri on building up the ammo to fire his way to the top

In his career so far, Bhambri is no stranger to injuries or fighting back from them, but even then one needs immense self-belief to be able to deal with this long and complicated rehab process.

There havent been too many positives, he laughed, but admitted that his success in 2017-18 was a reminder of what he is capable of.

I needed to keep reminding myself that I want to come back and continue playing to get back at the level I was at. I think having tasted success of finally playing the Slams, my first Wimbledon, winning a few matches at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami, pushed me as well to try. Wanting to play those events again kept me going, he said.

Coming from a family of tennis players also helped the 27-year-old. His sister Ankita is the Indian Fed Cup coach while other sister Sanaa and cousin Prerna are all pro tennis players.

Theyre always on the lookout, helping out; specially both my sisters who have been helping with the research, making sure I am finishing training and not being lazy my parents coming in and asking if Ive iced my knee or not. So theyve all been actively involved and try to help it in whatever way they can, he said.

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Indian tennis: For injury-plagued Yuki Bhambri, the lockdown is both a chance and another challenge - Scroll.in

Joint Pain Injections Market In Depth Research with Industry Driving Factors and Forecast – 2028 | Anika… – Azizsalon News

By adminMay 22, 2020Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

This detailed market study covers joint pain injections market growth potentials which can assist the stake holders to understand key trends and prospects in joint pain injections market identifying the growth opportunities and competitive scenarios. The report also focuses on data from different primary and secondary sources, and is analyzed using various tools. It helps to gain insights into the markets growth potential, which can help investors identify scope and opportunities. The analysis also provides details of each segment in the global joint pain injections market.

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According to the report, the joint pain injections market report points out national and global business prospects and competitive conditions for joint pain injections. Market size estimation and forecasts were given based on a detailed research methodology tailored to the conditions of the demand for joint pain injections. The joint pain injections market has been segmented by type of injection (steroid joint injections, hyaluronic acid injections, platelet-rich plasma (prp) injections, placental tissue matrix (ptm) injections), by application (shoulder & elbow, knee & ankle, spinal joints, hip joint). Historical background for the demand of joint pain injections has been studied according to organic and inorganic innovations in order to provide accurate estimates of the market size. Primary factors influencing the growth of the demand joint pain injections have also been established with potential gravity.

Regional segmentation and analysis to understand growth patterns:The market has been segmented in major regions to understand the global development and demand patterns of this market.

North America, Western Europe, and Asia Pacific by region are estimated to dominate the joint pain injections market during the forecast period. These regions have been market leaders for the overall healthcare sector in terms of technological developments and advanced medical treatments. Moreover, the government policies have been favourable for the growth of the healthcare infrastructure in these regions. North America and Western Europe have an established healthcare infrastructure for product innovations and early adaptations. This is expected to drive the demand for joint pain injections market during the forecast period.

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The US, Germany, France, UK, Canada, and Spain have been some the major markets in the region. Asia Pacific is estimated to register one of highest CAGR for joint pain injections market during the forecast period. This region has witnessed strategic investments by global companies to cater the growing demand in the recent years. China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Australia are amongst some of the key countries for joint pain injections market in the region. Other regions including Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Rest of the World (South America and Africa) are estimated to be emerging markets for joint pain injections market during the forecast period.

This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for joint pain injections market and related technologies.2) Analysis of global market trends, yearly estimates and annual growth rate projections for compounds (CAGRs).

3) Identification of new market opportunities and targeted consumer marketing strategies for global joint pain injections market .4) Analysis of R&D and demand for new technologies and new applications5) Extensive company profiles of key players in industry.

The researchers have studied the market in depth and have developed important segments such as product type, application and region. Each and every segment and its sub-segments are analyzed based on their market share, growth prospects and CAGR. Each market segment offers in-depth, both qualitative and quantitative information on market outlook.

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Major Companies:1. Anika Therapeutics, Inc.2.Bioventus, Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.3.Sanofi4. Zimmer Biomet.

Market Segmentation:By Type of Injection:o Steroid Joint Injectionso Hyaluronic Acid Injectionso Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Injectionso Placental Tissue Matrix (PTM) Injections

By Application:o Shoulder & Elbowo Knee & Ankleo Spinal Jointso Hip Joint

By Region:North America Joint Pain Injections Marketo North America, by Countryo USo Canadao Mexicoo North America, by Type of Injectiono North America, by Application

Europe Joint Pain Injections Marketo Europe, by Countryo Germanyo Russiao UKo Franceo Italyo Spaino The Netherlandso Rest of Europeo Europe, by Type of Injectiono Europe, by Application

Asia Pacific Joint Pain Injections Marketo Asia Pacific, by Countryo Chinao Indiao Japano South Koreao Australiao Indonesiao Rest of Asia Pacifico Asia Pacific, by Type of Injectiono Asia Pacific, by Application

Middle East & Africa Joint Pain Injections Marketo Middle East & Africa, by Countryo UAEo Saudi Arabiao Qataro South Africao Rest of Middle East & Africao Middle East & Africa, by Type of Injectiono Middle East & Africa, by Application

South America Joint Pain Injections Marketo South America, by Countryo Brazilo Argentinao Colombiao Rest of South Americao South America, by Type of Injectiono South America, by Application

Years Covered in the Study:Historic Year: 2017-2018Base Year: 2019Estimated Year: 2020Forecast Year: 2028

Objectives of this report:o To estimate market size for joint pain injections market on regional and global basis.o To identify major segments in joint pain injections market and evaluate their market shares and demand.

o To provide a competitive scenario for the joint pain injections market with major developments observed by key companies in the historic years.o To evaluate key factors governing the dynamics of joint pain injections market with their potential gravity during the forecast period.

Reasons to Buy This Report:o Provides niche insights for decision about every possible segment helping in strategic decision making process.o Market size estimation of the joint pain injections market on a regional and global basis.o A unique research design for market size estimation and forecast.o Identification of major companies operating in the market with related developmentso Exhaustive scope to cover all the possible segments helping every stakeholder in the joint pain injections

Customization:This study is customized to meet your specific requirements:o By Segmento By Sub-segmento By Region/Countryo Product Specific Competitive Analysis

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ABOUT US:QMI has the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services available on the web. We deliver reports from virtually all major publications and refresh our list regularly to provide you with immediate online access to the worlds most extensive and up-to-date archive of professional insights into global markets, companies, goods, and patterns.

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Joint Pain Injections Market In Depth Research with Industry Driving Factors and Forecast - 2028 | Anika... - Azizsalon News

Looking toward the Future of Cell & Gene Therapies – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

By adminMay 22, 2020Stem Cell Treatment

Broadcast Date: June 18, 2020Time: 8:00 am PT, 11:00 am ET, 17:00 CET

Cell and Gene therapies continue to evolve in their use for treating human diseases. Cell-based therapies are emerging as a promising strategy for cancer, while AAV vectors have taken center stage as a gene delivery vehicle for potential gene therapy for several human diseases.

In this GEN webinar, our expert speakers, who are leading investigators in the field ofcell and gene therapy, will discuss emerging gene-edited and engineered cell therapies for cancer, as well as the next generation of AAV vectors for human gene therapy. Additionally, our speakers will cover some of the following key points:

Advancements in cell surface receptor-targeted adult stem cells, cancer cells, and T cells expressing novel bi-functional immunomodulatory proteins Demonstrate the strength of using innovative gene therapy approaches clinically Provide data and rationale for assessing combined cell- and gene-based approaches in preclinical studies

A live Q&A session will follow the presentations, offering you a chance to pose questions to our expert panelists.

Produced with support from:

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Looking toward the Future of Cell & Gene Therapies - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

NantKwest Announces FDA Authorization of IND Application for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Product for the Treatment of Severe COVID-19 Patients – Yahoo…

By adminMay 22, 2020Stem Cell Treatment

NantKwest, Inc. (NASDAQ: NK) today announced it has received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an Investigational New Drug application to treat patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19 with BM-Allo.MSC, an allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) product derived from human bone marrow. NantKwest has entered into an agreement with the National Marrow Donor Program (Be the Match) to provide donor material and has developed automated proprietary methods to expand and generate multiple dose forms utilizing a modular, closed system (GMP-in-a-box) from NantKwest affiliate ImmunityBio, Inc., to expand BM-Allo.MSCs, enabling the scalable manufacture and immediate distribution of cryopreserved BM-Allo.MSC product.

"There is an urgent need to develop broadly accessible treatment options for the devastating outcomes seen in the thousands of COVID-19 patients who are facing severe disease with ARDS and cytopathic storm," said Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NantKwest and ImmunityBio. "While MSC-derived treatments have shown promise in treating patients with ARDS, including those with COVID-19, the ability to scale production to support the overwhelming patient need has been a challenge. Our proprietary GMP-in-a-Box enables the rapid and scalable manufacture of our fully human BM-Allo.MSC product, overcoming this previous limitation to advance a promising new treatment to those patients who are most in need. Due to our proprietary methods, we are well positioned to rapidly advance BM-Allo.MSC during the current wave of COVID-19, with an anticipated trial initiation in Q2."

BM-Allo.MSC is a bone marrow-derived allogenic MSC product being developed to attenuate the inflammatory processes that drive ARDS in severe COVID-19 patients. MSCs are multipotent progenitor cells that give rise to cell types responsible for tissue repair and may restore effective immune function and contribute to viral clearance. Prior work with allogeneic MSC products in patients with ARDS has shown that such treatment is safe and may reduce key markers of inflammatory processes.

Trial Design

The Phase 1b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of BM-Allo.MSC versus current supporting care in treating patients with severe disease and requiring ventilator support (IND 019735). The therapeutic will be administered to a total of 45 patients receiving care in the critical care or ICU setting. The primary objectives of the study include overall safety and reduction in time on ventilator. The secondary objective will focus on the efficacy of BM-Allo.MSC in reducing the number of days patients require oxygen, duration of hospitalization, and mortality.

About NantKwest

NantKwest (NASDAQ: NK) is an innovative, clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on harnessing the power of the innate immune system to treat cancer and virally-induced infectious diseases. NantKwest is the leading producer of clinical dose forms of off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell therapies. The activated NK cell platform is designed to destroy cancer and virally-infected cells. The safety of these optimized activated NK cellsas well as their activity against a broad range of cancershas been tested in Phase I clinical trials in Canada and Europe, as well as in multiple Phase I and II clinical trials in the United States. By leveraging an integrated and extensive genomics and transcriptomics discovery and development engine, together with a pipeline of multiple, clinical-stage, immuno-oncology programs, NantKwests goal is to transform medicine by delivering off-the-shelf living drugs-in-a-bag and bringing novel NK cell-based therapies to routine clinical care. NantKwest is a member of the NantWorks ecosystem of companies. For more information, please visit http://www.nantkwest.com

haNK is a registered trademark of NantKwest, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning or implying that NantKwest will be successful in improving the treatment of cancer and/or Covid-19. Risks and uncertainties related to this endeavor include, but are not limited to, obtaining FDA approval of NantKwests NK cells, as well as other therapeutics, as part of the NANT Cancer Vaccine platform as a cancer treatment and/or Covid-19 treatment.

Story continues

Forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

These and other risks regarding NantKwests business are described in detail in its Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including in NantKwests Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended March 31, 2020. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to update these statements except as may be required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200518005217/en/

Contacts

Jen HodsonJen@nant.com 562-397-3639

Excerpt from:
NantKwest Announces FDA Authorization of IND Application for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Product for the Treatment of Severe COVID-19 Patients - Yahoo...

Kleo Pharmaceuticals and Celularity Enter into Research Collaboration to Rapidly Develop Allogeneic NK Cell Combination Therapies for COVID-19 and…

By adminMay 22, 2020Stem Cell Treatment

NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kleo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading company in the field of developing next-generation, fully synthetic bispecific compounds designed to emulate or enhance the activity of biologics, and Celularity, Inc., a leading developer of allogeneic, or off-the-shelf, natural killer (NK) cell therapies, today announced a preclinical research collaboration to rapidly advance synergistic combinations of each companys technology platform as potential treatments for COVID-19 and multiple myeloma.

The collaboration comes at an opportune time for both companies. Earlier this year, Kleo received IND authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test its CD38-targeting antibody recruiting molecule (ARMTM) in combination with autologous NK cells in a clinical study. In early April, Celularity received FDA authorization to evaluate one of its allogeneic NK cell products, CYNK-001, in COVID-19 infected adults. CYNK-001 is the only cryopreserved allogeneic, off-the-shelf Natural Killer (NK) cell therapy being developed from placental hematopoietic stem cells. It also is being investigated as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), multiple myeloma (MM), and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

We look forward to working with Celularity to advance the ARMTM technology platform across multiple drug programs, said Doug Manion, MD, CEO of Kleo Pharmaceuticals. Celularitys cryopreserved allogeneic NK cells easily combine with the ARMTM platform, which is expected to facilitate NK cell targeting toward cancerous tumors or sites of viral infection. Celularitys CEO Robert Hariri, MD, PhD added, We quickly realized the advantages of Kleos synthetic bifunctional technology, and the synergistic potential between ARMTM molecules and our allogeneic NK cells. The speed and modularity of the Kleo platform allow for the development of ARMTM-allogeneic NK cell combination therapies across a wide variety of indications.

When used in combination with NK cells, ARMTM molecules behave similarly to chimeric antigen receptors, though their synthetic nature eliminates the need for genetic engineering. ARMTM molecules associate with NK cells via IgG antibodies bound to a first moiety, while also containing an interchangeable and customizable second moiety. Selection of the second moiety can be used to confer affinity of an ARMTM-NK cell complex against a biological target, such as the spike protein of COVID-19 particles or CD38 expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma hematologic tumors, ultimately facilitating NK-cell mediated destruction of target cells. This modular design allows ARMTM molecules to be broadly applicable across a range of drug programs.

About Kleo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Kleo Pharmaceuticals is a unique biotechnology company developing next-generation, bispecific compounds designed to emulate or enhance the activity of biologics based on the groundbreaking research of its scientific founder Dr. David Spiegel at Yale University. Kleos compounds are designed to direct the immune system to destroy cancerous or virally infected cells and are currently in development for the treatment of various diseases, including multiple myeloma and COVID-19. Compared to biologics, Kleos compounds are smaller and more versatile, leading to potentially improved safety and efficacy. They are also much faster and more efficient to design and produce, particularly against novel targets. Kleo develops drug candidates based on its proprietary technology platforms, all of which are modular in design and enable rapid generation of novel immunotherapies that can be optimized against specified biological targets and combined with existing cell- or antibody-based therapies. These include Antibody Recruiting Molecules (ARMs) and Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Enhancers (MATEs). Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company (NYSE:BHVN) and PeptiDream Inc. (Nikkei:PPTDF) are investors in Kleo Pharmaceuticals. For more information visit http://kleopharmaceuticals.com.

About Celularity

Celularity, headquartered in Warren, N.J., is a clinical-stage cell therapeutics company delivering transformative allogeneic cellular therapies derived from the postpartum human placenta. Using proprietary technology in combination with its IMPACT platform, Celularity is the only company harnessing the purity and versatility of placental-derived cells to develop and manufacture innovative and highly scalable off-the-shelf treatments for patients with cancer, inflammatory and age-related diseases. To learn more, please visit http://www.celularity.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding the Company's plans and objectives, expectations and assumptions of management are forward-looking statements. The use of certain words, including the words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "will, "plan," "could," "may" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT INFORMATION

LifeSci Advisors (Investors)

Irina Koffler

646-970-4681

ikoffler@lifesciadvisors.com

Kleo Pharmaceuticals (Media)

Brian Dowd

(203) 643-9172

bdowd@kleopharmaceuticals.com

Celularity Inc. Media Contact:

Dani Frank

Factory PR

celularity@factorypr.com

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Kleo Pharmaceuticals and Celularity Enter into Research Collaboration to Rapidly Develop Allogeneic NK Cell Combination Therapies for COVID-19 and...

Blocking the deadly cytokine storm is a vital weapon for treating COVID-19 – The Conversation US

By adminMay 22, 2020Stem Cell Treatment

The killer is not the virus but the immune response.

The current pandemic is unique not just because it is caused by a new virus that puts everyone at risk, but also because the range of innate immune responses is diverse and unpredictable. In some it is strong enough to kill. In others it is relatively mild.

My research relates to innate immunity. Innate immunity is a persons inborn defense against pathogens that instruct the bodys adaptive immune system to produce antibodies against viruses. Those antibody responses can be later used for developing vaccination approaches. Working in the lab of Nobel laureate Bruce Beutler, I co-authored the paper that explained how the cells that make up the bodys innate immune system recognize pathogens, and how overreacting to them in general could be detrimental to the host. This is especially true in the COVID-19 patients who are overreacting to the virus.

I study inflammatory response and cell death, which are two principal components of the innate response. White blood cells called macrophages use a set of sensors to recognize the pathogen and produce proteins called cytokines, which trigger inflammation and recruit other cells of the innate immune system for help. In addition, macrophages instruct the adaptive immune system to learn about the pathogen and ultimately produce antibodies.

To survive within the host, successful pathogens silence the inflammatory response. They do this by blocking the ability of macrophages to release cytokines and alert the rest of the immune system. To counteract the viruss silencing, infected cells commit suicide, or cell death. Although detrimental at the cellular level, cell death is beneficial at the level of the organism because it stops proliferation of the pathogen.

For example, the pathogen that caused the bubonic plague, which killed half of the human population in Europe between 1347 and 1351, was able to disable, or silence, peoples white blood cells and proliferate in them, ultimately causing the death of the individual. However, in rodents the infection played out differently. Just the infected macrophages of rodents died, thus limiting proliferation of the pathogen in the rodents bodies which enabled them to survive.

The silent response to plague is strikingly different from the violent response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This suggests that keeping the right balance of innate response is crucial for the survival of COVID-19 patients.

Heres how an overreaction from the immune system can endanger a person fighting off an infection.

Some of the proteins that trigger inflammation, named chemokines, alert other immune cells like neutrophils, which are professional microbe eaters to convene at the site of infections where they can arrive first and digest the pathogen.

Others cytokines such as interleukin 1b, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor guide neutrophils from the blood vessels to the infected tissue. These cytokines can increase heartbeat, elevate body temperature, trigger blood clots that trap the pathogen and stimulate the neurons in the brain to modulate body temperature, fever, weight loss and other physiological responses that have evolved to kill the virus.

When the production of these same cytokines is uncontrolled, immunologists describe the situation as a cytokine storm. During a cytokine storm, the blood vessels widen further (vasolidation), leading to low blood pressure and widespread blood vessel injury. The storm triggers a flood of white blood cells to enter the lungs, which in turn summon more immune cells that target and kill virus-infected cells. The result of this battle is a stew of fluid and dead cells, and subsequent organ failure.

The cytokine storm is a centerpiece of the COVID-19 pathology with devastating consequences for the host.

When the cells fail to terminate the inflammatory response, production of the cytokines make macrophages hyperactive. The hyperactivated macrophages destroy the stem cells in the bone marrow, which leads to anemia. Heightened interleukin 1b results in fever and organ failure. The excessive tumor necrosis factor causes massive death of the cells lining the blood vessels, which become clotted. At some point, the storm becomes unstoppable and irreversible.

One strategy behind the treatments for COVID is, in part, based in part on breaking the vicious cycle of the cytokine storm. This can be done by using antibodies to block the primary mediators of the storm, like IL6, or its receptor, which is present on all cells of the body.

Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor can be achieved with FDA-approved antibody drugs like Remicade or Humira or with a soluble receptor such as Enbrel (originally developed by Bruce Beutler) which binds to tumor necrosis factor and prevents it from triggering inflammation. The global market for tumor necrosis factor inhibitors is US$22 billion.

Drugs that block various cytokines are now in clinical trials to test whether they are effective for stopping the deadly spiral in COVID-19.

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Blocking the deadly cytokine storm is a vital weapon for treating COVID-19 - The Conversation US

HKBU invents nanostructure that stimulates growth of stem cells for Parkinson’s disease treatment – PRNewswire

By adminMay 22, 2020Stell Cell Research

Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. It is commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 60. It arises from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (i.e., dopamine-producing nerve cells) in the substantia nigra, a complex and critical region of the brain. This results in impaired body movement and issues with the body's motor systems, with common symptoms including shaking and difficulty with walking.

While current treatments cannot cure Parkinson's disease completely, stem cell therapy is one of the most promising potential treatments.It involves cultivating stem cells for differentiation into new and healthy cells, tissues or organs which can then be transplanted to human body to replace damaged or dead cells.

Conventional stem cell culturing techniques require a large number of additional growth factors in a culture medium. The chemicals used may stimulate the growth of cancer cells and increase the risk of developing tumours after transplantation to human body. Besides, the brainlike structures obtained from this method usually poorly resemble their counterparts in the brain. Efficiency of the conventional culturing techniques is low as the process spans more than a month, resulting in a high risk of contamination.

Reducing differentiation time and cancer risk

The pioneering nanomatrix, developed by a research team led by Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam, Professor of the Department of Biology and Dr Jeffery Huang Zhifeng, Associate Professor of the Department of Physics at HKBU, can induce the rapid and specific differentiation of neural stem cells into miniature substantia nigra-like structures (mini-SNLSs). These mini-SNLSs mainly comprise of dopaminergic neurons and they can replace the damaged or degenerated cells in the substantia nigra in the brain.

The nanomatrix consists of a silica plate coated with a nanostructure layer. Thickness of the nanomatrix is only 550 to 730 nm, yet there are trillions of nanozigzag structures on the surface which can initiate the growth of neural stem cells into mini-SNLSs without the use of chemical growth factors.

"When the neural stem cells come into physical contact with our tailor-made nanozigzag matrix in vitro, the 'physical massage' can induce the cells to differentiate rapidly into the desired dopaminergic neurons. A self-organised mini-brain-like structure can be developed in only two weeks with risk of carcinogenesis substantially reduced," said Dr Huang.

Encouraging results in rat models

The research team carried out further laboratory tests with mini-SNLSs in a rat model. They transplanted mini-SNLSs cultured with the nanozigzag matrix into the brains of rats with Parkinson's disease that exhibited severe motor asymmetry and rotation, which are major symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Starting from the 8th week after the transplantation, all rats showed improvements and a progressive reduction in rotation. In the 18th week, dopaminergic neurons were seen and widely spread around the primary transplantation site. In addition, no tumourlike characteristics were detected. In contrast, rats in the control group without transplantation showed no signs of improvement.

Differentiation of other functional cells

"The results showed that these mini-brain-like structures exhibited excellent survival and functionality in the brains of rats and resulted in the early and progressive improvement of Parkinson's disease in rats in vivo. It lays the foundation for research into stem cell therapies that may ultimately cure Parkinson's disease," said Professor Yung.

"By varying the stiffness, density and arrangement of the nanozigzags, or the shape of the matrix layer, the neural stem cells can be differentiated into different desirable functional cells. The invention has shown great potential for the treatment of other incurable diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and certain types of cancer," Professor Yung added.

The research discovery was published in the academic journal Advanced Science. The research team has been granted a US patent for the nanozigzag matrix.

Apart from HKBU scientists, the research team also included Dr King Lai Wai-chiu, Associate Professor of the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong, and a number of other researchers.

Media enquiries:

Wong Suk-lingof the Communication and Public Relations Office (3411 2119, [emailprotected]).

SOURCE Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)

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Global Stem Cells Group Announces the Launch of its New Division VITA NOVAS – PR Web

By adminMay 22, 2020Stell Cell Research

VITA NOVAS POSTER

MIAMI (PRWEB) May 21, 2020

Having the cushion of an already established worldwide network and 10 years of experience of GSCG, VITA NOVAS has already gained ground with the inherited reputation of quality, innovation, and professionalism. The VITA NOVAS program delivers micro-nutrients , vitamins and stimulating biological products intravenously, guaranteeing an effective way for the ingredients to become immediately available to the cells. This greatly decreases the time it takes for the medication or supplements to take effect. Patient-centered carved out packages The Shield, the Fighter, and the Lightening are delivered on-demand to homes, offices, or hotels administered by certified healthcare professionals.

Believing on the precept of Prevent-Protect-Thrive, VITA NOVAS aspires to set standards in the industry, and committed to ensure in-home, and personalized patient service; keeping them away from hospitals and emergencies. VITA NOVAS offers infusion packages, mixed with essential fluids, electrolytes, vitamins, and antioxidants as a powerful cocktail to stimulate the immune system and help bolster it to assist in fighting infections and diseases. In-line with the evolved life pattern of social distancing, the process of treatment at VITA NOVAS is as simple as:

Select Your Service Area

Schedule a video consultation with our local doctors to discuss your possible treatment plan

Receive the treatment at home

We have combined elements of Tele-health with Regenerative therapy, IV wellness infusions, and a direct-to-consumer model intending to serve at the patients place of residence, due to convenience and social distancing practices, explains Benito Novas , CEO of VITA NOVAS.

The secret behind the VITA NOVAS program is the provision of assistance and prime incentives to medical professionals. Once a physician joins the network, the company provides training and support that they will need in order to set-up run, and market their practices. They enjoy geography and specialization exclusively as well as a strong network of patients referrals, increased revenues, and conduct consultations from home.

Global Stem Cells Group, with golden track record and experience of a decade, is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products, and solutions. Founded in 2010 by Benito Novas, the company combines dedicated researchers, physicians, patient educators, and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading-edge Regenerative Medicine treatments. Global Stem Cells Groups corporate mission is to make the promise of Regenerative medicine a reality for patients around the world. With each of GSCGs six operating companies focused on a separate research-based mission, the result is a global network of state-of-the-art regenerative technology, while adhering to the highest medical standards.

VITA NOVAS can help, to find your service area, please visit: http://www.vitanovas.net To know more about the company, visit http://www.stemcellsgroup.com

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Not All Cancer Research Money Is Going Away During COVID University of Chicago Receives $10-million Gift For Cell Therapy – SurvivorNet

By adminMay 22, 2020Stell Cell Research

As the coronavirus pandemic goes on, cancer researchers around the country tell SurvivorNet that they fear their funding will be diverted to research on the virus. However there are bright spots. The University of Chicago says it just received a $10 million gift from an investor to fund their cellular therapy research for certain types of cancer. The money was provided by David Jonas, the CEO of JVC Investment Partners. The research will be conducted at David and Etta Jonas Center for Cellular Therapy.

Jonas donated the money to University of Chicago specifically because of Dr. Michael Bishops work. Dr. Bishop is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago and is a hematologist and oncologist. He specializes in treatments for leukemia and lymphomas and his research deals with relapse after stem cell transplantation.

RELATED:AML Relapse How IDH-Inhibitor Drugs Work To Achieve Remission Before Stem-Cell Transplant

The funding will be put towards improving stem cell therapy, like CAR-T cell therapy.

Cell therapy has been revolutionary for patients with blood cancers This has been a game changer because these are patients who wouldve inevitably died. Their average life expectancy wouldve been six months. But CAR-T cells have permitted some of these patients to achieve complete remissions, says Dr. Bishop in a Chicago Tribune article about the fund.

This fund will help more researchers join the team to better advance therapies. This grant from Jonas comes at a time when cancer research is not gaining as much funding as COVID-19 research efforts.

The Charity organization Cancer Research U.K (CRUK) announced that due to COVID-19, many research areas are not receiving as much funding. Existing grants are being cut by 10% while research centers are being cut by 20%. Overall, CRUK is looking at over $54 million being cut from their research portfolio this year.

The charity admitted toThe Daily Telegraphthat the impact of this pandemic could set back the cancer research effort within the U.K potentially for many years, but the disruption in cancer research is proving to be a world-wide issue.

Researchers told SurvivorNet that newclinical trials in the United States may be pauseddue to restrictions in place during COVID-19. With that being said, it seems that some private donors are attempting to balance out these cuts through personal donations to research groups like Jonas is doing for University of Chicago.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

The funding will be put towards improving stem cell therapy, like CAR-T cell therapy.

This fund will help more researchers join the team to better advance therapies. This grant from Jonas comes at a time when cancer research is not gaining as much funding as COVID-19 research efforts.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.