UPCI Joins ExCell Research Study Using Stem Cells for Leukemia and Lymphoma Patients

http://www.urbanmoms.ca/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=52&id=31305
The phase III study is assessingh the safety and efficacyof StemEx(R), an investigational productt derived from stem cells, as an alternativ treatment to bone marrow transplants for hematologicaol malignancies, including leukemia and lymphoma. StemEc is a graft of expanded stem/progenitor cells taken from a singlse unit of umbilical cord blood and then transplanted in combinationwith non-expanded cells from the same "I am extremely pleased UPCI has the opportunitu to be a part of this study," said Mounzer Agha, M.D.
, clinical director of UPCI's Hematopoieticc Stem Cell Transplant "Using umbilical cord blood stem cells instead of a traditionaol bone marrow transplant opens tremendous treatment possibilities for patients with diseasez like leukemia and lymphoma." Bone marrow transplantation is a life-savinv treatment for many types of leukemiz and lymphoma. However, more than half the numbee of patients in need of atransplant can'tr find matching bone marrow donors. Cord blood could be an alternativesof choice. Previous research has shown that umbilical cord bloox stem cells offer a viable therapeutic option for leukemiz and lymphoma patients without the necessity of amatcher donor.
Umbilical cord blood has two importan tadvantages - it is a readily available source for stem cellw and it has a lower matching requirement for With StemEx(R), the cord blood unit is enriched with stem which are critical for a successful "We are pleased to work with the able and highluy experienced team at UPCI led by Dr. They join an extraordinaryt group of cord bloor cancer centers currently recruiting patients for theExCellp trial. Everyone on the internationalp ExCell clinical team shares the samegoal - to validate the therapeutifc potential of StemEx as a treatmentr for blood cancers," said , vice president of clinical development at Gamidqa Cell.
Founded in 1984, the Universitgy of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute became a National CancerInstitute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Cente in 1990. UPCI, the only cance center in western Pennsylvania with thiselite designation, serves the region'sa population of more than 6 Presently, UPCI receives a totak of $154 million in researcbh grants and is ranked 10th in funding from the NCI. Gamidsa Cell Ltd. is a world leader in stem cell expansion technologiesa andtherapeutic products.
The company is developing a pipeline of products in stem cell transplantation and in tissure regeneration to effectively treat debilitating and often fataol illnesses suchas cancer, hematological, autoimmune and ischemi c diseases. Gamida Cell's therapeutix candidates contain populations of adult stem selectedfrom non-controversial sources such as umbilical cord blood and bone which are expanded in culture. Gamida Cell was successful in translating thesed proprietary expansion technologies into robust and validated manufacturinhg processesunder GMP.
Gamida Cell's flagship StemEx, is now bein studied as a therapy for patients with blood canceras in an international pivotal trial at leadintg transplant centers inthe U.S., Europe and Israel. StemEx has orphan drug designationm inthe U.S. and in Gamida Cell's current shareholders include: Elbit Biomedical Investment, Israel Healthcare Venture, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Denali Ventures and Auriga CONTACT: Courtney McCrimmon Wendy Zellner UPMC MediaRelationsa PHONE: +1-412-647-3555 E-MAIL: McCrimmonCP@upmc.edu ZellnerWL@upmc.edu Marjie Hadad Gamida Cell +972-54-536-5220 E-MAIL: marjie@gamida-cell.
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