Cell therapy weekly: Funding exosome-based therapies for pulmonary diseases
This week: The US Department of Defense (VA, USA) awards a US$2.4 million grant to tackle pulmonary diseases, California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM; CA, USA) allocates US$9.8 million to the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego; CA, USA) researchers and Boehringer Ingelheim (Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany) acquires T3 Pharmaceuticals (T3 Pharma; Allschwil, Switzerland).
The news highlights:
- Grant awarded to a consortium investigating a regenerative exosome-based therapy for pulmonary diseases
- UC San Diego researchers granted funding from the California Stem Cell Research Agency
- Boehringer Ingelheim expands immuno-oncology portfolio with the acquisition of T3 Pharmaceuticals AG
Grant awarded to a consortium investigating a regenerative exosome-based therapy for pulmonary diseases
A US$ 2.4 million grant has been awarded by the US Department of Defense to a consortium of RION (MN, USA), a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company, the Mayo Clinic (MN, USA) and the US Army Medical Research Institute for Chemical Defence (MD, USA). The grant will be used to explore RION’s propriety Purified Exosome Product™ and its ability to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other pulmonary conditions developed through exposure to airborne hazards in war zones.
“This grant speaks to the potential of our purified exosome product to deliver on the promise of regenerative medicine – leveraging the body’s innate ability to heal,” explained Atta Behfar, CEO and co-founder of RION. “We look forward to unlocking the therapeutic possibilities of [Purified Exosome Product] for patients suffering from debilitating pulmonary diseases with a high unmet need, including [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] among soldiers and veterans.”
UC San Diego researchers granted funding from the California Stem Cell Research Agency
Two professors at UC San Diego have received close to US$10 million from CIRM for the clinical translation of their work. Eric Adler, Director of the Strauss-Wilson Centre for Cardiomyopathy at UC San Diego Health, will advance his research on treating Danon disease with gene-edited stem cells.
Karen Chrisman, professor of Bioengineering at UC San Diego, will advance her work on using biomaterials that reduce cardiac tissue inflammation and promote cell and tissue repair in the wake of myocardial infarction.
“With a pro-regenerative biomaterial that can be delivered into the bloodstream and target the damaged area, we’re healing tissues from the inside out,” Professor Chrisman added.
Boehringer Ingelheim expands immuno-oncology portfolio with the acquisition of T3 Pharmaceuticals AG
Boehringer Ingelheim’s acquisition of T3 Pharma highlights the goal of expanding its immuno-oncology portfolio. T3 Pharma’s Yersinia enterocolitica bacterial-delivery platform, which is capable of delivering bioactive proteins into the tumor microenvironment, has the potential for the development of immuno-oncology combination therapies.
“The acquisition of T3 Pharma will significantly expand our immuno-oncology pipeline portfolio and is synergistic with many of our existing R&D programs. This will bring us closer to achieving our vision of driving a paradigm shift in cancer care treatments,” said Michel Pairet, member of the Board of Managing Directors at Boehringer Ingelheim with responsibility for the Innovation Unit.
