Researchers Seek to Improve Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplant Effectiveness

Cord blood stem cells have long been seen as a valuable tool in regenerative medicine. Researchers have demonstrated their effectiveness at fighting a wide range of blood borne and genetic diseases.

Future research recently received a boost with the announcement that those life-saving stem cells will be the target of a study that has the potential to further improve their efficacy as a treatment options.

A Partnership to Improve Cord Blood Stem Cells Effectiveness

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. has announced a research partnership with the New York Blood Center (NYBC).

The two organizations are evaluating methods to aid cord blood stem cells when used as a treatment for various forms of cancer. Researchers intend to pair the cord blood stem cells with Pluristem’s PLX-R18 product which is designed to help the cord blood stem cells more easily graft to patients following transplantation.

Pluristem & PLX-R18

Pluristem is an Israel-based developer of placenta-based cell therapy solutions. PLX-R18 is one of their premier products under development.

PLX-R18 cells are laboratory-generated structures derived from placental cells. These cells carry a powerful ability to secrete various proteins. Those proteins trigger the regeneration of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells within patients. This makes the cells an excellent pairing with umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants.

All PLX cells are grown using Pluristem’s own proprietary 3-D expansion technology. It’s also important to point out that this process is not related to the controversial practice of embryonic stem cell research.

Research has shown that PLX-R18 cells secrete a range of specific proteins that trigger the regeneration of bone marrow hematopoietic cells, thereby supporting the recovery of blood cell production. By this mechanism of action, PLX-R18 could potentially treat a broad range of hematologic indications.

The key here is that the PLX-R18 does not work on its own. It needs to be paired with an umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant.

Using PLX-R18 allows the patient to recovery more quickly during a time where their immune system has been compromised due to radiation or chemotherapy.

“We believe that PLX-R18 cells might contribute to a significant improvement in the success rate of umbilical cord blood transplants.”  – Dr. Beth H. Shaz, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of NYBC

Clinical Trials Have a Green Light

Approvals have been granted by the FDA to move forward with Phase I clinical trials of the product following an umbilical cord blood transplant. Additionally, the National Institute of Health (NIH) is conducting an evaluation of dosages.

References:

Racheli Ofir, Lena Pinzur, Akyüz Levent, Zami Aberman, Raphael Gorodetsky and Hans Dieter Volk; Mechanism of Action of PLX-R18, a Placental-Derived Cellular Therapy for the Treatment of Radiation-Induced Bone Marrow Failure; Blood 2015 126:2417