- All PLX-treated groups showed improvements in survival rates compared to untreated groups
- PLX-R18 cells did not increase leukocyte levels in non-irradiated NHPs, indicating no requirement to determine levels of radiation exposure prior to administration
- Data will inform a pivotal trial that could support marketing authorization under the FDA’s Animal Rule regulatory pathway
Governments on Alert and Stockpiling Antidotes for Nuclear Accidents and Attacks
Many governments, including the U.S. and Japan, are well aware of the dangers to their populations of exposure to high levels of radiation from nuclear accidents or dirty bomb attacks. Whereas Japan’s population was recently exposed at Fukushima following the tsunami of 2011, the U.S. Department of Defense has been stockpiling acute radiation syndrome (ARS) countermeasures as a precaution for many years.
The recent escalation of tensions between North Korea and the U.S. may give the American government cause to up its investment in ARS antidotes. During a military parade on April 15th, North Korea displayed weapons including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could be capable of reaching the U.S. ARS may have just become a larger threat to health than it was just a few weeks ago. [Read more…]
Pluristem Launches Co-CEO Structure and Appoints New CFO
- Yaky Yanay appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer to serve together with Co-Chief Executive Officer Zami Aberman
- Erez Egozi appointed as Chief Financial Officer
Pluristem’s PLX-PAD Cells May Save $1B in Post-Op Costs for Hip Fracture
The lifetime prevalence of hip fracture in the U.S. is 10% for men and 20% for women. Incidence is expected to continue to rise, driven by an increasing elderly population. Even with today’s surgical repair techniques and post-operative care, at 6 months postinjury, only half of patients can perform their pre-fracture daily living activities.
At 1 year after hip fracture, older adults are five times more likely to be institutionalized than age-matched controls without hip fracture, and mmortality rates resulting from hip fracture range from 12% to 37% within the first year. In parallel, the cost to the U.S. healthcare system is also staggering, and amounts to between $10 and $15 billion annually. [Read more…]
Placental-Derived Allogeneic Stem Cells Meet the Needs of the Market and the Patient
As an increasing number of stem cell therapies advance through clinical trials, the healthcare industry’s focus comes to looking at which cells, allogeneic or autologous, are more likely to be commercially feasible. Proving safety and efficacy for a specific indication is a large enough challenge for any treatment, but for stem cell therapies in particular, commercial viability may be just as big a hurdle.
Israel-based Pluristem Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PSTI), may be the only stem cell company that can mass produce immune-privileged allogeneic cells at a scale and price that not only makes them commercially viable, but moreover makes stem cell therapy a preferred method of treatment for patients and payors alike. A proprietary 3D stem cell expansion technology which uses placental-derived cells is the key. [Read more…]
