Industry Update: Business Development
Latest developments compiled from 01 — 31 December 2014
Latest developments in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine compiled from publicly available information and press releases from non-academic institutions 01 — 31 December 2014, scheduled to be published in Volume 10 Issue 3 of Regenerative Medicine.
Collaborations, partnerships & alliances
Collaboration agreement: Pluristem and Hadassah
Pluristem Therapeutics (Israel; www.pluristem.com) has entered into a long-term collaboration agreement with Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem (www.hadassah-med.com) . The medical center’s Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cancer Immunotherapy will use preclinical models to assess the potential efficacy of PLX-RAD cells for treatment and prevention of hematological deficiencies and complications of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood transplantation. PLX-RAD cells are Pluristem’s second cell therapy product candidate.
License and development agreement: BioTime and GE Healthcare
BioTime (CA, USA; www.biotimeinc.com) announced that its subsidiary ES Cell International and GE Healthcare (UK; www.gehealthcare.com) have signed a set of license agreements through which GE Healthcare received rights to ES Cell’s stem cell patents and ES Cells received rights to stem cell patents controlled by GE Healthcare, in both cases for the development of cellular assays and models derived from stem cells for use in drug discovery and toxicity screening. In addition, the agreements give GE Healthcare the right to grant sub-licenses to the ES Cells patent portfolio and, in certain circumstances, ES Cells may further sublicense its rights for the purpose of marketing stem cell-derived products. Financial terms were not disclosed.
License and development agreement: Heraeus and Locate
Heraeus Medical (Germany; www.heraeus.com) entered into an agreement with Locate Therapeutics (UK; www.locatetherapeutics.com) to license the intellectual property surrounding the use of Targeted, Orchestrated Signaling, TAOS®, technology in orthopaedic applications and the inception of the first development program in this field. The TAOS technology enables the precision focus of therapeutic signals and provides an optimal structure to support tissue repair. Uniquely, TAOS can accommodate and promote the actions of receptor-binding moieties, locally applied drugs, and emergent biological and cell-based therapies. The agreement gives Heraeus the rights to the future co-developed orthopaedic products as well as the processes involved in manufacturing the final product. Locate Therapeutics has the full capabilities to carry out such development work. The agreement takes the form of a standard upfront and milestone payment structure.
Partnership agreement: Osiris and Stryker
Osiris Therapeutics (MD, USA; www.osiris.com), has entered into an exclusive, worldwide partnership with Stryker Corporation (MI, USA; www.stryker.com) for the commercialization and development of Osiris’ viable bone matrix tissue form. The Agreement provides Stryker with exclusive, worldwide rights to Osiris’ viable bone matrix under the name BIO4 â„¢. Osiris will be responsible for the manufacturing, continued research and product improvement activities while Stryker will be responsible for the commercialization and marketing of BIO4. To demonstrate the differentiating benefits and ensure the continued success and growth of this innovative product, both organizations will collaborate on the design and conduct of future clinical development programs. BIO4 is a bone allograft that contains both viable cells and growth factors. It is a safe alternative to autografts that minimizes the potential for harvest site co-morbidities. BIO4 is composed of a structural extracellular matrix, osteogenic and angiogenic growth factors, endogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and osteoblasts. It possesses osteoconductive, osteoinductive, osteogenic and angiogenic properties that are required for bone repair and regeneration. BIO4 was developed by Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., the creators of the first cellular allograft, utilizing their proprietary Biosmart® cryopreservation technology. It is ready-to-use out of Osiris Announces a Strategic Partnership with Stryker for Marketing Osiris’ Viable Bone Matrix. Originally branded as OvationOS®, Osiris’ viable bone matrix tissue form will now be marketed by Stryker under the brand name BIO4.
Achievements
Pluristem
Pluristem (Israel; www.pluristem.com) has published a study showing that PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cells protect PC12 cells — an established model of various nerve cells including dopaminergic neurons — from death after oxygen and glucose deprivation [1]. The protective effects of PLX cells were strongly correlated with the secretion of interleukin 6 and vascular endothelial growth factor, which are known to have neuroprotective effects in humans with injuries to the nervous system that can occur after events such as a stroke.
References:
[1] Lahiani A, Zahavi E, Netzer N et al. Human PLacental eXpanded (PLX) mesenchymal-like adherent stromal cells confer neuroprotection to nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12 cells exposed to ischemia by secretion of IL-6 and VEGF. Biochim Biophys Acta 1853(2), 422-430 (2014).