Pervasis Therapeutics Inc of Cambridge Massachusetts has announced plans to pursue an endothelial cell-based therapy to target and regulate cell stroma in order to prevent solid tumour growth and metastasis.
A group of prominent UK scientists has been assembled to carry out a two-year research project to investigate the role of cancer stem cells in the development, growth and spread of tumours in breast, prostate and head and neck cancers.
Cell Medica Ltd and Baylor College of Medicine in the US have agreed to collaborate on a cell-based treatment for cancers associated with the Epstein Barr virus that involves an ex vivo procedure enabling a patient’s own cells to tackle the disease.
Advanced Cell Technology Inc of the US has entered into an agreement with Roslin Cells Ltd of Scotland to establish a bank for GMP-grade human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines that could be used in future research or in clinical trials.
An autologous stem-cell treatment for patients with damaged heart muscle following an acute myocardial infarction has resulted in improved perfusion, a trend towards improved cardiac function, that was dose dependent, according to US research.
Evotec AG has entered into a licensing agreement with the AstraZeneca Plc subsidiary, MedImmune, to generate biological factors that play a role in beta cell regeneration. The deal includes a €5 million upfront payment to Evotec.
A team of scientists from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have reported generating functioning human intestinal tissue in the laboratory from pluripotent stem cells. The findings were reported online in Nature on 12 December.
Cephalon Inc is to pay $130 million upfront for access to stem-cell technology developed by Mesoblast Ltd of Australia as part of an alliance to develop and commercialise adult mesenchymal precursor stem cell therapeutics for disease.
AstraZeneca Plc has signed a research agreement with the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts to use stem cells to generate new research tools for investigating the causes of Type 2 diabetes.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge and Edinburgh University have reported identifying several genes which appear to be active in the natural repair of myelin, the protective sheath around nerve cells which is damaged in multiple sclerosis.