Maastricht University And PharmaCell Publish Results On Possible Improved Immune
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Released
on: January 19, 2010, 6:58 am
Author:
R. Hesselink
Industry: Biotech
In a collaborative publication in the prestigious journal
Blood that appears this week,
PharmaCell BV, the Maastricht University, Institute for Research in Biomedicine in
Switzerland and the Research Center for Allergy and Immunology in Japan present data
on a
novel approach to improve treatment of acute leukemia patients. In a study that
received a
grant from the Dutch governmental organization SenterNovem, the consortium has shown
that hematopoetic stem cells, commonly used in the treatment of those patients, can be
cultured such that they show clear signs of an improved capacity to repair the immune
system.
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Patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia can be cured by hematopoetic stem cell
transplantation, but many viral or bacterial infections occur after the treatment
and are life
threathening. The protocol developed by the consortium can potentially reduce the
period
after treatment that the patient is susceptible to such opportunistic infections.
The proposed
treatment may greatly reduce morbidity and mortality in those patients. In the study
that was
conducted in mice, it was found that the stem cells treated with their protocol quickly
migrated specifically to the thymus and matured there into effector cells of the immune
system. Further research is needed to delineate the precise mechanism of action and to
prepare the technique for application in patients.
Alexander Vos, CEO of PharmaCell comments: “The outcome of this projects shows the
strength of consortia in which academia collaborates with industry. It has enabled
us to keep
a focus towards clinical application in a research project that had fundamental
questions. As
a company that focuses on the development and production of cell therapies, this
research
fitted very well in our profile. We are very pleased with the collaboration as well
as with the
outcome. PharmaCell intends to closely follow future developments in this project
and will
expertly support future clinical application of this cell therapeutic application
where possible.”
Dr. Gerard Bos, who together with Dr. Wilfred Germeraad,is the lead investigator of the
Division of Heamatology, Department of Internal Medicine of the Maastricht University
Medical Center+ announces: “We believe that the potential of this technique to improve
patient care is high. Further research is needed before application in patients is
possible, but
we feel very confident about that. The research has been carried out by a very strong
international group of scientist and the results are convincing. We are looking
forward to
further developing the method.”
The paper, in which the technique and its outcome are presented, is published in
January 14 issue of Blood.
Contact Details: Reinout Hesselink Ph.D. or:
Manager R&D
PharmaCell B.V.
Oxfordlaan 70
The Netherlands
R.Hesselink@Pharmacell.nl
Tel. +31 (0)6 46 7369 16
www.pharmacell.nl
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