Archive for February, 2012

By Andrew Zajac and Susan Decker - Fri Feb 17 06:01:01 GMT 2012

Enlarge image Genetic Medicine Advances Shadowed by Regulatory Issues

Gene-sequencing breakthroughs, spawning fast-growing, multibillion-dollar markets for drugs, software and medical tests, are also creating thorny issues over how to regulate commercial use of the human genetic code. Illustration: Rich Clement/Bloomberg

Gene-sequencing breakthroughs, spawning fast-growing, multibillion-dollar markets for drugs, software and medical tests, are also creating thorny issues over how to regulate commercial use of the human genetic code. Illustration: Rich Clement/Bloomberg

Gene-sequencing breakthroughs, spawning a fast-growing, multibillion-dollar market for drugs and medical tests, are also creating thorny questions over how to regulate commercial use of the human genetic code.

Health regulators are fashioning rules for bolstering oversight of laboratory-developed tests, including genetic analysis, that may show whether an individual is predisposed to certain diseases. Congress is determining whether patents on genetic material should be treated differently from other intellectual property.

The agencies, along with the U.S. Supreme Court in cases on genetic patents, are reviewing laws and policies enabling the use of genetic data to tailor treatment for each patient. The changing landscape affects companies including Quest Diagnostics Inc. (DGX), Roche Holding AG and Pfizer Inc. (PFE), the world’s biggest drugmaker.

“The industry is optimistic about the promise of the technology but concerned about challenges on the regulatory and legal fronts,” said Edward Reines, a patent attorney at Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP in Redwood Shores, California.

Genetic tests can indicate a patient’s susceptibility to conditions including breast and ovarian cancer, cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease or hemophilia -- and the most promising treatment. The tests alone account for as much as $6 billion in annual sales worldwide that may climb 15 percent a year, estimates Ross Muken, an analyst covering life sciences for Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Matching Patients, Products

The use of pairing drugs with diagnostics to help match patients with products rose almost six-fold from 2006 to 2011, according to the Personalized Medicine Coalition, a Washington- based nonprofit focused on educating the public and policy makers on medicine tailored to individuals.

The drugs involved include Pfizer’s Xalkori for a rare form of lung cancer and Basel, Switzerland-based Roche Holding’s Zelboraf for a life-threatening form of skin cancer. Both are accompanied by tests approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to detect gene mutations.

The Supreme Court may say on Feb. 21 whether it will hear two cases capable of changing the landscape for biotechnology companies. In the first, New Brunswick, New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is asking the court to overturn a ruling that patent owners must clearly describe what they said they have invented in all patents. The second seeks a review of an appeals court decision upholding the patentability of DNA sequences isolated by Myriad Genetics Inc. (MYGN)

Cancer Risk

In the case involving Salt Lake City-based Myriad, the owner of a test for the hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer contends that researchers created a new compound eligible for patent protection by extracting the specific sequence from the long strand of DNA.

Opponents including Ellen Matloff, director of the Yale Cancer Genetic Counseling Program, say Myriad simply identified material that exists in nature.

“We’re all born with these genes,” said Matloff, a plaintiff in the Myriad case. “They didn’t create them. They don’t deserve a patent.”

Patents on individual DNA molecules including Myriad’s are becoming “increasingly irrelevant” because the latest platforms sequence genes en masse to avoid the need to isolate a particular DNA molecule -- and potentially infringe a patent, said James Evans, a professor of genetics and medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

‘A Disaster’

Evans said he’s more concerned about claims to patent a mental process, such as finding an association between genes and disease risk. The high court is considering the types of diagnostics tests eligible for legal protection.

“What I think would be a disaster would be if the courts were overly permissive,” Evans said. Some patents are “abstract mental processes, and as such not patentable.”

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is conducting a Congress-mandated study related to genetic testing and whether special provisions should be created to ensure access to second opinions on tests covered by patents. The first of two hearings was held yesterday, and a report is due in June.

“These are really intense and difficult questions,” said Brenda Jarrell, a patent lawyer with Choate, Hall & Stewart in Boston who specializes in biotechnology. “It’s clearly good to have incentives for companies, institutes or anyone to learn more about the genetic basis of disease and treatments.”

Patent Options

The patent office probably will consider three options: setting more stringent requirements to obtain diagnostic patents, subjecting such patents to shorter terms than normal patents, or requiring patent owners to license their technology to competing labs, Jarrell said.

Patents aren’t the stumbling block to availability, said Hans Sauer, associate general counsel for the Washington-based Biotechnology Industry Organization, said at the hearing.

“One has to strain quite hard to trace existing problems with patient access and utilization of genetic tests back to patents,” said Sauer, who called insurance issues the greatest hindrance.

The patent agency’s historical position that no special rules exist for individual technologies conflicts with social and public policy issues surrounding health care, said Antigone Peyton, a patent lawyer with Cloudigy Law PLLC, of Alexandria, Virginia.

“There’s this intensely personal aspect that you have with diagnostic tests that you don’t have with something like the iPhone,” said Peyton, who co-authored a study on how patents affect access to genetic tests. “There are certain diagnostic patents that have been used to impede the kind of progress we could achieve. But that’s the price we pay by giving rewards to those who innovate.”

FDA Plan

Another source of concern for parts of the genetic medicine field is an FDA plan to oversee lab-developed tests. The policy covers genetic analysis and may affect as many as 30,000 laboratories, according to David Mongillo, former vice president for policy and medical affairs at the Washington-based American Clinical Laboratory Association.

The new, still-unspecified regulatory protocol would apply to tests made by large companies, such as Madison, New Jersey- based Quest and Burlington, North Carolina-based Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings, as well as diagnostics from smaller individual labs.

Regulation Concern

The lab industry says it’s already sufficiently regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Mongillo is concerned that FDA oversight will slow innovation.

“This whole area of genetic and molecular medicine is advancing so rapidly,” Mongillo said. “What these labs can do is rapidly incorporate that new information into the laboratory- developed tests and improve it or better target a patient.” FDA approval still takes time “and the patient suffers,” he said.

It’s bad tests that are causing patients to suffer, said Jeffrey Shuren, director of FDA’s medical device review center.

“We’ve seen plenty of lab-developed tests that are inaccurate,” Shuren told the House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee on Feb. 15.

Some labs copy other companies’ FDA-approved tests, he said, and “who knows if they’re actually any good? You may have tests that are directing patients to get drugs that they shouldn’t, or not get drugs that they should, and that’s a disaster.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Andrew Zajac in Washington at azajac@bloomberg.net; Susan Decker in Washington at sdecker1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Shepard at mshepard7@bloomberg.net

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Patents on Genetic Data Raise Legal Questions on Rights to DNA

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

BioTime, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTX), a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of regenerative medicine, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Michael D. West, Ph.D. will present at the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit at Bridgewaters New York City on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 8:48 a.m. ET. Dr. West will provide an update and new information on the Company's manufacturing technologies and cell-based therapeutics in development. The presentation will be available online at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

The annual New York Stem Cell Summit provides investors, industry, practitioners, and analysts with the latest developments and investment opportunities in the stem cell marketplace.

About BioTime, Inc.

BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is developed through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of applications. BioTime develops and markets research products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary ACTCellerate™ cell lines, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime's wholly owned subsidiary ES Cell International Pte. Ltd. has produced clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell lines that were derived following principles of Good Manufacturing Practice and currently offers them for use in research. BioTime's therapeutic product development strategy is pursued through subsidiaries that focus on specific organ systems and related diseases for which there is a high unmet medical need. BioTime's majority owned subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences, Ltd. is developing therapeutic products derived from stem cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative diseases. Cell Cure's minority shareholder Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has an option to clinically develop and commercialize Cell Cure's OpRegen™ retinal cell product for use in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. BioTime's subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is developing therapeutic applications of stem cells to treat orthopedic diseases and injuries. Another subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of stem cell technology in cancer, including the diagnostic product PanC-DxTM currently being developed for the detection of cancer in blood samples, therapeutic strategies using vascular progenitor cells engineered to destroy malignant tumors. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. is developing applications of BioTime's proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology to reverse the developmental aging of human cells to treat cardiovascular and blood cell diseases. BioTime's newest subsidiary, LifeMap Sciences, Inc., is developing an online database of the complex cell lineages arising from stem cells to guide basic research and to market BioTime's research products. In addition to its stem cell products, BioTime develops blood plasma volume expanders, blood replacement solutions for hypothermic (low-temperature) surgery, and technology for use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment and other applications. BioTime's lead product, Hextend®, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corp. under exclusive licensing agreements. Additional information about BioTime, ReCyte Therapeutics, Cell Cure, OrthoCyte, OncoCyte, BioTime Asia, LifeMap Sciences, and ESI can be found on the web at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for BioTime and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of BioTime and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in BioTime's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. BioTime disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

To receive ongoing BioTime corporate communications, please click on the following link to join our email alert list:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83805&p=irol-alerts

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BioTime CEO Michael D. West to Present at New York Stem Cell Summit

16-02-2012 20:19 Many of our patients travel to Guangzhou from all over the world for medical treatment and tourism. China medical tourism can help with becoming a patient, travel arrangements and language assistance. If you want to know more about our services, please browse the web:htttp://www.medicaltourism.hk/ or mail to us: giels-x@medicaltourism.hk firstcare-china@hotmail.com Adult stem cells provide real improvement for cirrhosis patients Breakthrough adult stem cell research has shown that stem cells are able to regenerate and repair damaged or destroyed liver cells. For patients with cirrhosis, this means improved liver function, decreased pain and a significantly improved quality of life. Stem cell therapy offers the safest and most effective treatment alternative for liver cirrhosis and it is quickly becoming a preferred treatment in Asia. China medical tourism offers unique access to the best stem cell therapies available at leading medical facilities. Supporting data and statistics Three out of every four patients treated experienced a significant improvement in their condition following stem cell treatment. The following clinical results were observed: •Improved liver function •Decreased pain •Improved values for liver function, PLT (blood platelet) and blood ammonia You may see improvements during your hospitalization due to neurotrophic factors released during the stem cell transplantation, which stimulate nerve activity; new cells will grow for up to six months after you ...

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China medicdal tourism-- Cirrhosis--Stem cells therapy 1.mp4 - Video

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InVivo Therapeutics’ CEO Frank Reynolds Scheduled to Appear on Fox News First and San Antonio Living

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

BioTime, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTX), a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of regenerative medicine, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Michael D. West, Ph.D. will present at the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit at Bridgewaters New York City on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 8:48 a.m. ET. Dr. West will provide an update and new information on the Company's manufacturing technologies and cell-based therapeutics in development. The presentation will be available online at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

The annual New York Stem Cell Summit provides investors, industry, practitioners, and analysts with the latest developments and investment opportunities in the stem cell marketplace.

About BioTime, Inc.

BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is developed through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of applications. BioTime develops and markets research products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary ACTCellerate™ cell lines, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime's wholly owned subsidiary ES Cell International Pte. Ltd. has produced clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell lines that were derived following principles of Good Manufacturing Practice and currently offers them for use in research. BioTime's therapeutic product development strategy is pursued through subsidiaries that focus on specific organ systems and related diseases for which there is a high unmet medical need. BioTime's majority owned subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences, Ltd. is developing therapeutic products derived from stem cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative diseases. Cell Cure's minority shareholder Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has an option to clinically develop and commercialize Cell Cure's OpRegen™ retinal cell product for use in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. BioTime's subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is developing therapeutic applications of stem cells to treat orthopedic diseases and injuries. Another subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of stem cell technology in cancer, including the diagnostic product PanC-DxTM currently being developed for the detection of cancer in blood samples, therapeutic strategies using vascular progenitor cells engineered to destroy malignant tumors. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. is developing applications of BioTime's proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology to reverse the developmental aging of human cells to treat cardiovascular and blood cell diseases. BioTime's newest subsidiary, LifeMap Sciences, Inc., is developing an online database of the complex cell lineages arising from stem cells to guide basic research and to market BioTime's research products. In addition to its stem cell products, BioTime develops blood plasma volume expanders, blood replacement solutions for hypothermic (low-temperature) surgery, and technology for use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment and other applications. BioTime's lead product, Hextend®, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corp. under exclusive licensing agreements. Additional information about BioTime, ReCyte Therapeutics, Cell Cure, OrthoCyte, OncoCyte, BioTime Asia, LifeMap Sciences, and ESI can be found on the web at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for BioTime and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of BioTime and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in BioTime's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. BioTime disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

To receive ongoing BioTime corporate communications, please click on the following link to join our email alert list:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83805&p=irol-alerts

Read the original post:
BioTime CEO Michael D. West to Present at New York Stem Cell Summit

16-02-2012 20:19 Many of our patients travel to Guangzhou from all over the world for medical treatment and tourism. China medical tourism can help with becoming a patient, travel arrangements and language assistance. If you want to know more about our services, please browse the web:htttp://www.medicaltourism.hk/ or mail to us: giels-x@medicaltourism.hk firstcare-china@hotmail.com Adult stem cells provide real improvement for cirrhosis patients Breakthrough adult stem cell research has shown that stem cells are able to regenerate and repair damaged or destroyed liver cells. For patients with cirrhosis, this means improved liver function, decreased pain and a significantly improved quality of life. Stem cell therapy offers the safest and most effective treatment alternative for liver cirrhosis and it is quickly becoming a preferred treatment in Asia. China medical tourism offers unique access to the best stem cell therapies available at leading medical facilities. Supporting data and statistics Three out of every four patients treated experienced a significant improvement in their condition following stem cell treatment. The following clinical results were observed: •Improved liver function •Decreased pain •Improved values for liver function, PLT (blood platelet) and blood ammonia You may see improvements during your hospitalization due to neurotrophic factors released during the stem cell transplantation, which stimulate nerve activity; new cells will grow for up to six months after you ...

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China medicdal tourism-- Cirrhosis--Stem cells therapy 1.mp4 - Video

By Kristen Hallam - Fri Feb 17 18:20:49 GMT 2012

Enlarge image Oxford Nanopore Plans Portable Gene-Sequencing Device

Nigel Champan via Bloomberg

Clive G Brown, chief technology officer of Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd., displays the company's MinION device.

Clive G Brown, chief technology officer of Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd., displays the company's MinION device. Photographer: Nigel Champan via Bloomberg

Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd. is entering the gene-sequencing race with a new portable device that will allow people to analyze DNA on the go.

The product, called MinION, is about the size of a USB memory stick, the closely held Oxford, England-based company said today. MinION will be ready for sale in the second half of the year at a cost of less than $900. It’s a smaller version of the GridION device that Oxford Nanopore is developing.

Oxford Nanopore is relying on the two products to spur demand for machines that can decode the building blocks of life, helping to identify new targets for medicines and illuminate crop science. The company is jumping into a market led by Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE) and Illumina Inc. (ILMN), which last month said they’ve built products that can sequence a genome in a day. GridION is designed so that computing equipment can be clustered to sequence an entire human genome in as little as 15 minutes.

“The USB stick is an absolute game-changer,” Oxford Nanopore Chief Executive Officer Gordon Sanghera in a telephone interview. “It’s plug-and-play, on-the-go DNA sequencing.”

Life Technologies fell 4.3 percent to $47.66 at 1:15 p.m. in Nasdaq Stock Market trading after dropping as much as 7 percent, the biggest intraday decline since Oct. 7. Illumina dropped 2.9 percent to $52.39 after falling as much as 4.5 percent.

Tiny Hole

The company presented data on the two products today at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology conference in Florida. The devices use a novel technique known as strand sequencing, in which an entire string of DNA is guided by an enzyme and passes intact through a tiny hole in a cell membrane one-billionth of a meter wide, like a child sucking spaghetti through his mouth.

The strand-sequencing technique relies on an engineered protein or nanopore that creates the hole. As DNA bases, or chemical building blocks, pass through the hole, an electronic chip measures changes in electrical current in the membrane and produces data that, when decoded, identifies the sequence of bases that make up a genome.

That’s different from current techniques, in which 200 or 300 continuous bases of DNA are analyzed, Sanghera said. Oxford Nanopore’s machines can read strands of tens of thousands of bases with an accuracy comparable to technology already on the market, he said.

Space Age

“That is some kind of fantastical, space-age thing,” Sanghera said.

The MinION device can only be used once and can’t decode an entire human genome, according to Oxford Nanopore. Users don’t have to amplify DNA to be able to read it, and the sensitivity is about the same as the larger GridION device, Sanghera said.

“This will result in broader adoption of DNA sequencing,” he said. “This allows non-specialist scientists to extract DNA information back in the field. You just need a laptop and software.”

The GridION system, which is about the size of a videocassette recorder, is designed so that researchers who need quick results can add units of cartridges called nodes that speed processing. Using 20 high-end nodes would allow the entire genome to be sequenced in as little as 15 minutes, Oxford Nanopore said.

‘Pregnant Woman’

“Our competitors are like a pregnant woman,” said Zoe McDougall, a company spokeswoman. “It takes nine months to make a baby, and you can’t put nine women on it and get a baby in a month. With our system, you can put nine women on it and make a baby in a month.”

Not all customers want or need such speed, Sanghera said.

“You give flexibility back to the researcher in how they do their experiments,” he said.

Pricing will be “competitive” and will vary, similar to mobile-phone packages tailored to customers’ needs for talk time and data, said Clive Brown, Oxford Nanopore’s chief technology officer.

“There’s no fixed run time on this machine,” Brown said in an interview. “You need pricing elasticity. They all pay same cost per base, but it’s how it’s divided. That’s completely new.”

Life Technologies, based in Carlsbad, California, on Jan. 10 said it is taking orders for its benchtop Ion Proton Sequencer. The machine, available for $149,000, is designed to provide a full transcript of a person’s DNA in a day for $1,000. Illumina, of San Diego, said its HiSeq 2500 will be available in the second half of the year. It didn’t reveal the price.

Potential Buyers

Illumina is the target of a $5.7 billion hostile bid by Roche Holding AG (ROG) of Basel, Switzerland. Illumina’s board unanimously rejected the offer, calling it “grossly inadequate.” Roche is a sponsor of the conference where Oxford Nanopore presented the data on its machines.

Illumina owns 15 percent of Oxford Nanopore and has a partnership with the U.K. company for a technology called exonuclease sequencing, in which the DNA building blocks are separated by an enzyme and pass individually through a nanopore.

While potential buyers have approached Oxford Nanopore, the company hasn’t pursued any offers, Sanghera said.

“Over the last year, we’ve had various companies express interest in us,” Sanghera said. “We remain focused on our strategy, which is to get this technology to our customers.”

Shareholders

Oxford Nanopore’s shareholders include IP Group Plc (IPO), which owns 21.5 percent, hedge-fund manager Lansdowne Partners LP and Invesco Perpetual, the U.K. group of mutual funds. The company also has individual shareholders, including company managers, and employees have stock options.

Oxford Nanopore is valued at about $1 billion, said Charles Weston, a London-based analyst at Numis Securities, which advises IP Group, in a note to investors Feb. 1. Weston based the figures on Oxford Nanopore gaining 25 percent of a market that could grow to $6 billion within five years.

“To get a truly accurate assessment of our valuation, we need to understand what markets we can penetrate,” Sanghera said. “We are not displeased with $1 billion; we feel it could be a lot bigger than that.”

Oxford Nanopore, spun out of University of Oxford in 2005, uses sequencing technologies that were initially based on the research of founder and board member Hagan Bayley, a chemistry professor at the university. The company has built on that science through collaborations with researchers at Harvard University, the University of California Santa Cruz and Boston University, among others, and with internal research, said McDougall, the company spokeswoman.

Early Access

Oxford Nanopore will give early access to a few laboratories to try out the two devices, allowing them to provide feedback and develop applications before the company starts selling the products later this year, Sanghera said.

“The biggest challenge is managing expectations and delivering on the next phase,” Sanghera said. “It feels like you’ve been in a band, and you’ve been doing gigs in grotty little venues, and then you wake up and you’re number one.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Kristen Hallam in London at khallam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Phil Serafino at pserafino@bloomberg.net

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Oxford Nanopore Plans Portable Gene-Sequencing Device

SAN BRUNO, Calif., Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cord Blood Registry (CBR) is the exclusive partner for a growing number of clinical researchers focusing on the use of a child's own cord blood stem cells to help treat pediatric brain injury and acquired hearing loss. To ensure consistency in cord blood stem cell processing, storage and release for infusion, three separate trials have included CBR in their FDA-authorized protocol—including two at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) working in partnership with Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, and a third at Georgia Health Sciences University, home of the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). This makes CBR the only family stem cell bank pairing researchers with prospective patients for these studies. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120216/AQ54476LOGO)

"Partnering with a series of specialists who want to research the use of a child's own newborn blood stem cells on a variety of disease states allows CBR to help advance medical research for regenerative therapies by connecting the child whose family banked with CBR to appropriate researchers," said Heather Brown, MS, CGC, Vice President of Scientific & Medical Affairs at Cord Blood Registry.  "The pediatric specialists from UTHealth, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, and Georgia Health Sciences University are at the forefront of stem cell research as they evaluate cord blood stem cells' ability to help facilitate the healing process after damage to nerves and tissue."

Hearing Loss and Traumatic Brain Injury Clinical Trials Break New Ground

Sensorineural hearing loss affects approximately 6 per 1,000 children by 18 years of age, with 9 percent resulting from acquired causes such as viral infection and head injury.(1,2,3)  The Principal Investigator of the hearing loss study is Samer Fakhri, M.D., surgeon at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and associate professor and program director in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery at UTHealth.  He is joined by James Baumgartner, M.D., sponsor of the study and guest research collaborator for this first-of-its-kind FDA-regulated, Phase 1 safety study of the use of cord blood stem cells to treat children with acquired hearing loss. The trial follows evidence from published studies in animals that cord blood treatment can repair damaged organs in the inner ear. Clients of CBR who have sustained a post-birth hearing loss and are 6 weeks to 2 years old may be eligible for the year-long study. "The window of opportunity to foster normal language development is limited," said James Baumgartner, M.D.  "This is the first study of its kind with the potential to actually restore hearing in children and allow for more normal speech and language development."

Although the neurologic outcome for nearly all types of brain injury (with the exception of abuse) is better for children than adults,(4,5) trauma is the leading cause of death in children,(6) and the majority of the deaths are attributed to head injury.(7) Distinguished professor of pediatric surgery and pediatrics at UTHealth, Charles S. Cox, M.D. launched an innovative study building on a growing portfolio of research using stem cell-based therapies for neurological damage. The study will enroll 10 children ages 18 months to 17 years who have umbilical cord blood banked with CBR and have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are enrolled in the study within 6-18 months of sustaining the injury. Read more about the trial here.

"The reason we have become interested in cord blood cells is because of the possibility of autologous therapy, meaning using your own cells. And the preclinical models have demonstrated some really fascinating neurological preservation effects to really support these Phase 1 trials," says Charles S. Cox, M.D., principle investigator of the trial. "There's anecdotal experience in other types of neurological injuries that reassures us in terms of the safety of the approach and there are some anecdotal hints at it being beneficial in certain types of brain injury."

Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU) Focuses on Cerebral Palsy

At the GHSU in Augusta, Dr. James Carroll, professor and chief of pediatric neurology, embarked on the first FDA-regulated clinical trial to determine whether an infusion of stem cells from a child's own umbilical cord blood can improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy. The study will include 40 children whose parents have stored their cord blood at CBR and meet inclusion criteria. 

"Using a child's own stem cells as a possible treatment is the safest form of stem cell transplantation because it carries virtually no threat of immune system rejection," said Dr. Carroll. "Our focus on cerebral palsy breaks new ground in advancing therapies to change the course of these kinds of brain injury—a condition for which there is currently no cure."

Cerebral palsy, caused by a brain injury or lack of oxygen in the brain before birth or during the first few years of life, can impair movement, learning, hearing, vision and cognitive skills. Two to three children in 1,000 are affected by it, according to the Centers for Disease Control.(8)

Cord Blood Stem Cell Infusions Move From the Lab to the Clinic

These multi-year studies are a first step to move promising pre-clinical or animal research of cord blood stem cells into clinical trials in patients. Through the CBR Center for Regenerative Medicine, CBR will continue to partner with physicians who are interested in advancing cellular therapies in regenerative applications.

"The benefits of cord blood stem cells being very young, easy to obtain, unspecialized cells which have had limited exposure to environmental toxins or infectious diseases and easy to store for long terms without any loss of function, make them an attractive source for cellular therapy researchers today," adds Brown. "We are encouraged to see interest from such diverse researchers from neurosurgeons to endocrinologists and cardiac specialists."

About CBR

CBR® (Cord Blood Registry®) is the world's largest and most experienced cord blood bank.  The company has consistently led the industry in technical innovations and supporting clinical trials. It safeguards more than 400,000 cord blood collections for individuals and their families. CBR was the first family bank accredited by AABB and the company's quality standards have been recognized through ISO 9001:2008 certification—the global business standard for quality. CBR has also released more client cord blood units for specific therapeutic use than any other family cord blood bank. Our research and development efforts are focused on helping the world's leading clinical researchers advance regenerative medical therapies. For more information, visit http://www.cordblood.com.

(1)  Bergstrom L, Hemenway WG, Downs MP. A high risk registry to find congenital deafness. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1977;4:369-399.
(2)  Billings KR, Kenna MA. Causes of pediatric sensorineural hearing loss: yesterday and today. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999 May;125(5):517-21.
(3)  Smith RJ, Bale JF Jr, White KR. Sensorineural hearing loss in children. Lancet. 2005;365(9462):879-890.
(4)  Faul M, Xu L, Wald MM, Coronado VG. Traumatic brain injury in the United States: emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; 2010.
(5)  Schnitzer, Patricia, PH.D., "Prevention of Unintentional Childhood Injuries", American Academy of Family Physicians, 2006.
(6)  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "10 Leading Causes of Death, United States, 1997-2007", WISQARS, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Vital Statistics System
(7)  Marquez de la Plata, Hart et al, National Institutes of Health, "Impact of Age on Long-term Recovery From Traumatic Brain Injury", Arch Phys Med Rehabilitation, May 2008.
(8)  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsCerebralPalsy, accessed February 6, 2012

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Groundbreaking Clinical Trials Study Cord Blood Stem Cells to Help Treat Brain Injury and Hearing Loss

A new paper in Nature describes the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel, or DGRP, which provides the highest-resolution view to date of the genome structure and variation in a population of 192 fruit flies with diverse traits. 

The study was led by Trudy Mackay of North Carolina State University, in collaboration with the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine and David Mittelman of Virginia Tech's Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, as well as a large group of researchers around the world.

"One of the grand challenges of biology is to understand how genetic variants and environmental factors interact to produce variation in complex phenotypes such as height, behaviors, and disease susceptibility within populations. This effort has been stymied by the lack of knowledge of all genetic variants in a population of a genetically tractable model organism. The DGRP sequences provide such a resource," Mackay noted.

It’s been known for a long time that genes often work in concert to produce different effects, or phenotypes. But determining the exact contribution of these genes and genetic changes within them to animal traits remains a key challenge in genetics.

That’s where model organisms like Drosophila melanogaster (the common fruit fly) shine. Using inbred strains of fruit flies in controlled environments, researchers can use whole genome data, which captures genetic changes at the nucleotide level, to better explain why strains exhibit variable traits. The DGRP acts as a “living library” of this information, helping researchers understand both common traits and rare variants. 

Mittelman, with support from the NVIDIA Foundation’s Compute the Cure Award, aided the study by analyzing genetic variation in the Drosophila population.  “To truly exploit whole genome sequencing as a means of determining the basis for traits and disease, it is critical to develop methods for detecting all forms of genetic variation. In this study, we developed a method for measuring tandem repeat variation, which has been shown to modulate gene function, traits, and disease,” said Mittelman. 

A companion paper describing this method has been recently accepted for publication which will enable others to exploit these tools in their research.

The study has far reaching effects that span animal breeding, pesticide development, and personalized medicine.

Provided by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Continued here:
Genetic 'Rosetta Stone' unveiled in Nature

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Histogenics Corporation, a privately held regenerative medicine company, today announced that the Company will present at the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit on February 21st at Bridgewaters New York City. Kirk Andriano, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development for Histogenics, will speak about current and future cell therapies being developed by the Company as it works toward commercialization. Lead candidates include NeoCart®, an autologous bioengineered neocartilage grown outside the body using the patient’s own cells for the regeneration of cartilage lesions, and VeriCart™, a three-dimensional cartilage matrix designed to stimulate cartilage repair in a simple, one-step procedure. NeoCart recently entered a Phase 3 clinical trial after reporting positive Phase 2 data, in which all primary endpoints were met and a favorable safety profile was demonstrated.

Dr. Andriano earned his BS in chemistry and biology from Utah State University and his MS and Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Utah. Prior to his work at Histogenics, he was the Chief Technology Officer for ProChon Biotech, Ltd. which was acquired by Histogenics in May 2011.

About Histogenics

Histogenics is a leading regenerative medicine company that combines cell therapy and tissue engineering technologies to develop highly innovative products for tissue repair and regeneration. In May of 2011, Histogenics acquired Israeli cell-therapy company ProChon BioTech. Histogenics’ flagship products focus on the treatment of active patients suffering from articular cartilage derived pain and immobility. The Company takes an interdisciplinary approach to engineering neocartilage that looks, acts and lasts like hyaline cartilage. It is developing new treatments for sports injuries and other orthopaedic conditions, where demand is growing for long-term alternatives to joint replacement. Histogenics has successfully completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of its NeoCart autologous tissue implant and is currently in a Phase 3 IND clinical study. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company is privately held. For more information, visit http://www.histogenics.com.

Excerpt from:
Histogenics to Present at 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit

World Stem Cells, LLC Stem Cell Therapy at a state of the art clinic in beautiful Cancun. The clinic is staffed by top specialist in the field of stem cell implants and a new laboratory to support the stem cell treatments given.

(PRWEB) February 16, 2012

World Stem Cells, LLC. contract laboratory Advanced Cellular Engineering Lab (Ingenieria Celular Advanzada S.A. de C.V.) a new adult stem cell laboratory being built in Cancun, Mexico to support Stem Cell research, stem cell clinical trials and stem cell treatments. This was accomplished by private funding in conjunction with World Stem Cells, LLC worldstemcells.com a US patient management company, Medicina Biocelular Avanzada , S.E. de C.V. a Mexican patient management company and Advanced Cellular Medicine Clinic of Cancun, a Stem Cell treatment Clinic owned and operated by Dr. Sylvia M. Abblitt a well known board certified hematologist and oncologist, in Cancun.

Uniquely, Dr. Abblitt is one of a limited number of physicians licensed to perform autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants. Dr. Abblitt has been utilizing stem cell therapies with successes for many years.

She is the president and lab director of Advanced Cellular Engineering Lab (Ingenieria Celular Advanzada S.A. de C.V.). Her extensive background includes having been the laboratory director and head of hematology for Hospital Fernando Quiroz for 11 years. As a pioneer in the stem cell transplant field, she brings a vast array of knowledge to the lab. Her memberships include the american association of blood banks (aabb), Mexican society of transfusional medicine, interamerica society of transfusional medicine, Mexican association) for studies of hematologyandicms and ICMS (international cellular medical society and all patients are monitored by ICMS an independent agency for a period of between 2-20 years on a quarterly basis. Dr. abblitt has had a 26-year clinical practice history.

The laboratory construction is complete and operations were transferred to our new facility. This facility provides Cancun, and patient around the world, a state of the art GLP laboratory to support their stem cell treatments in a beautiful, and positive environment. The lab was designed and constructed to provide one ISO7 lab, one wet lab along with a treatment area. This will allow stem cell retrieval, testing, culturing, selection, counting, analyses and sorting along with cryopreservation, without removal from the lab. This all in house capability reduces the possibility of contamination and errors. Dr. M. Abblitt will operate the Lab under cGMP/cGLP guidelines and use the state of the art facility to provide quality care to her stem cell transplant patients.

Working under the guidelines set forth by ICMS world stem cells, LLC ( http://worldstemcells.com/ ) provides stem cell treatment for ankylosing spondylitis, autism, cerebral palsy, charcot-marie-tooth disease (cmt), crohn’s diseases, copd, fuch’s disease, guillain-barre’ syndrome, hashimoto’s thryroiditis, itp, kidney diseases, macular degeneration, lupus (sle), multiple sclerosis, pad, parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, stroke, ulcerative colitis

The laboratory will be engaged in private clinical trials, IRB’s and joint studies with US companies, Mexican Educational Institutes, US universities and doctors to better understand the benefits and precaution to be taken in the stem cell treatment process.

###

Charles Newcomer

727-421-4359
Email Information

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World Stem Cells, LLC. Stem Cell Treatments In Cancun at Advanced Cellular Medicine Clinic

GAITHERSBURG, MD--(Marketwire -02/16/12)- Cytomedix, Inc. (OTC.BB: CMXI.OB - News) (the "Company"), a leading developer of biologically active regenerative therapies for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis, today announced that Chief Operating Officer Edward L. Field will present a clinical overview of Aldagen's autologous cell therapy technology at two upcoming meetings: The Cell Society's 2nd Annual Clinical Meeting being held February 17-18 at the Coronado Marriott Resort in San Diego; and the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit being held on February 21 at Bridgewaters New York in New York City.

Mr. Field will present during the session, "Commercialization Opportunities with Adult Stem Cell Therapies," on Friday, February 17 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Pacific time at the Cell Society meeting.

Cell Society International is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the clinical application of adult stem cell therapies worldwide. Cell Society's 2nd Annual Clinical Meeting will continue in the tradition established at the 1st Annual Meeting and will offer a unique opportunity for multidisciplinary, international clinical collaboration designed to enhance understanding and thought-provoking insight into treatments and cures for disease and agonizing medical conditions. This year's clinical focus will center on therapies particularly relevant to cardiology, neurology, and orthopedic and plastic surgery.

At the Stem Cell Summit, Mr. Field will present at 2:35 p.m. Eastern time. This meeting showcases more than 30 of the world's leaders in this rapidly evolving industry. The New York Stem Cell Summit brings the future of this dynamic industry to life for investors, industry, practitioners and analysts so they can learn about the investment opportunities in the stem cell marketplace, groundbreaking stem cell products that physicians use today and the growing market potential in terms of revenues.

About Cytomedix, Inc.

Cytomedix, Inc. develops, sells and licenses regenerative biological therapies primarily for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis. The Company markets the AutoloGel™ System, a device for the production of autologous platelet rich plasma ("PRP") gel for use on a variety of exuding wounds; the Angel® Whole Blood Separation System, a blood processing device and disposable products used for the separation of whole blood into red cells, platelet poor plasma ("PPP") and PRP in surgical settings; and the activAT® Autologous Thrombin Processing Kit, which produces autologous thrombin serum from PPP. The activAT® kit is sold exclusively in Europe and Canada, where it provides a completely autologous, safe alternative to bovine-derived products. On February 8, 2012 Cytomedix announced the acquisition of Aldagen, a biopharmaceutical company developing regenerative cell therapies based on its proprietary ALDH bright cell ("ALDHbr") technology, currently in a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of ischemic stroke. For additional information please visit http://www.cytomedix.com

Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this communication not relating to historical facts are forward-looking statements that are intended to fall within the safe harbor rule for such statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The information contained in the forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain, and Cytomedix' actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond Cytomedix' ability to predict or control, including many among others, risks and uncertainties related to the Company's ability to successfully integrate this acquisition, to successfully manage contemplated clinical trials, to manage and address the capital needs, human resource, management, compliance and other challenges of a larger, more complex and intergrated business enterprise, viability and effectiveness of the Company's sales approach and overall marketing strategies, commercial success or acceptance by the medical community, competitive responses, the Company's ability to raise additional capital and to continue as a going concern, and Cytomedix's ability to execute on its strategy to market the AutoloGel™ System as contemplated. To the extent that any statements made here are not historical, these statements are essentially forward-looking. The Company uses words and phrases such as "believes," "forecasted," "projects," "is expected," "remain confident," "will" and/or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements in this press release. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ from the forward-looking statements. More information about some of these risks and uncertainties may be found in the reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Cytomedix, Inc. Cytomedix operates in a highly competitive and rapidly changing business and regulatory environment, thus new or unforeseen risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Except as is expressly required by the federal securities laws, Cytomedix undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances or future events or for any other reason. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC and other subsequent filings. These filings are available at http://www.sec.gov.

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Cytomedix to Showcase Aldagen's Promising Autologous Cell Therapy Technology at Two Regenerative Medicine Meetings

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pathfinder Cell Therapy, Inc. ("Pathfinder," or "the Company") (OTCQB:PFND.PK - News), a biotechnology company focused on the treatment of diseases characterized by organ-specific cell damage, today announced that Richard L. Franklin, M.D., Ph.D., Founder, CEO and President of Pathfinder, will present at the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit being held on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

Event: 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit
Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Place: Bridgewaters New York, 11 Fulton Street, New York, NY
Time: 3:35 pm ET

Dr. Franklin will be providing an overview of the Company's novel Pathfinder Cell therapy.

The New York Stem Cell Summit brings together stem cell company executives, researchers, investors and physicians to explore investment opportunities in stem cell research and innovation. More information can be found at http://www.stemcellsummit.com.

About Pathfinder

Pathfinder is developing a novel cell-based therapy and has generated encouraging preclinical data in models of diabetes, renal disease, myocardial infarction, and critical limb ischemia, a severe form of peripheral vascular disease. Leveraging its internal discovery of Pathfinder Cells ("PCs") Pathfinder is pioneering a new field in regenerative medicine.

PCs are a newly identified mammalian cell type present in very low quantities in a variety of organs, including the kidney, liver, pancreas, lymph nodes, myometrium, bone marrow and blood. Early studies indicate that PCs stimulate regeneration of damaged tissues without the cells themselves being incorporated into the newly generated tissue. Based on testing to date, the cells appear to be "immune privileged," and their effects appear to be independent of the tissue source of PCs. For more information please visit: http://www.pathfindercelltherapy.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. You should be aware that our actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our inability to obtain additional required financing; costs and delays in the development and/or FDA approval, or the failure to obtain such approval, of our product candidates; uncertainties or differences in interpretation in clinical trial results, if any; our inability to maintain or enter into, and the risks resulting from our dependence upon, collaboration or contractual arrangements necessary for the development, manufacture, commercialization, marketing, sales and distribution of any products; competitive factors; our inability to protect our patents or proprietary rights and obtain necessary rights to third party patents and intellectual property to operate our business; our inability to operate our business without infringing the patents and proprietary rights of others; general economic conditions; the failure of any products to gain market acceptance; technological changes; and government regulation. We do not intend to update any of these factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements.

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Pathfinder to Present at New York Stem Cell Summit

ROCKVILLE, MD--(Marketwire -02/16/12)- MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of the new report "Personalized Medicine Market Analysis," to their collection of Biotechnology market reports. For more information, visit http://www.marketresearch.com/RNCOS-v3175/Personalized-Medicine-6746156/

With the increasing knowledge of human DNA, a new segment called personalized medicines has emerged in the healthcare industry, which includes therapeutics, diagnostics, and theranostics tailored towards the treatment or prevention of disease. Even though personalized medicines are in their nascent stages, it is expected to transform the biopharmaceutical and molecular diagnostics markets in the coming years.

According to "Personalized Medicine Market Analysis," the US market for personalized medicine is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 9.5% during 2009-2015. The growth will be driven by factors, such as treatment cost savings, early detection of diseases, patient compliance, drug safety, and optimization of therapies.

The US has the major share in the global personalized medicine market. But with the advancements, countries like the UK, France, Germany, India, China, and Japan have also been trying to establish themselves in the market. In order to promote the development of personalized medicines, huge money is being invested. For instance, US$780 Million have been invested in the UK to establish an institute for aiding the development of clinical applications to fight cancer, heart diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Strategic alliances, like the Abbott Laboratories with Pfizer are also being formed. Academic and private research institutions as well as small biotech and major pharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking for alternative ways to strengthen their pipelines.

The research reveals that personalized medicines for cancer are dominating the market, accounting for more than half of the total personalized medicines which are commercially available. The therapeutic applications of personalized medicines have been extending to new areas, like HIV, cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorders, etc. It is expected that these applications will grab a bigger piece of the pie in the coming years.

Providing an extensive information and rational analysis of the global personalized medicine market, the research report thoroughly examines current market trends and industrial developments to enable clients with a proper understanding of the market structure and its future progress. The study also provides an insight into the segment-wise competitive landscape, which includes the profiles of Pharmaceutical/Biotech, Diagnostic, IT/Informatics, and Research Tool companies across the globe.

For more information, visit http://www.marketresearch.com/RNCOS-v3175/Personalized-Medicine-6746156/

About MarketResearch.com

MarketResearch.com is the leading provider of global market intelligence products and services. With over 300,000 research reports from more than 700 top consulting and advisory firms, MarketResearch.com offers instant online access to the world's most extensive database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. For more information, call Veronica Franco at 240-747-3016 or visit http://www.MarketResearch.com.

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Market Research Projects US Personalized Medicine Market Growth at 9.5% CAGR Through 2015

POSTED AT: 6:50 am

Four finalists have been selected in a search to replace interim Dean of the College of Fine Arts Jim Linnell, who suffered a spinal cord injury in Mexico over the winter break, the New Mexico Daily Lobo reported.

Linnell announced last semester that he would be stepping down as dean in June, and a search committee formed last fall received numerous applications from around the country, settling on four finalists, the Daily Lobo said.

The finalists are: Judith Thorpe, professor and head of the Art & Art History Department at the University of Connecticut’s School of Fine Arts; Ronald Shields, professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Film at Bowling Green State University; Kymberly Pinder, professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she has served as graduate program head and department chair; and Sanjit Sethi, director of the Center for Art and Public Life and the Barclay Simpson chair of community art at California College of the Arts.

Linnell underwent surgery at the UNM Hospital trauma center on Dec. 29 after receiving initial medical care in Mexico, family members said in a statement.

The statement went on to say that the surgery was successful, that Linnell is in stable condition and will soon begin rehabilitation at a spinal injury clinic in Denver, the Daily Lobo said.

Read more from the original source:
UNM Eyes Finalists for Fine Arts Dean Post

The federal government has already approved $24 million for the design of the proposed new spinal cord injury unit and renovation of the old complex at the Brockton VA hospital, federal budget documents show.

The hospital now needs $163 million more to construct the building and renovate the older building, according to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs budget documents.

The $188 million project would use a soccer field next to Building 8 for the construction of a 96-bed, long-term care, spinal cord injury unit. Upon completion, the existing 60-bed spinal cord injury unit in Building 8 would be renovated to become an outpatient mental health facility.

But the $163 million needed to complete the process is subject to upcoming budget negotiations.

“Hopefully these will get funded,” said Diane Keefe, a spokesman for the VA Boston Healthcare System. “The budget process is just beginning. (President Obama) just released his budget proposal so the budget has to be approved.”

Obama requested $140.3 billion for the department’s budget, with $52.7 billion earmarked for medical care.

The Brockton campus of the VA Boston Healthcare System, 940 Belmont St., received $24 million in 2009 for the designing of both the new building and the renovation of the older building.

The construction phase of the project is one of 21 projects nationwide that were already started and await completion. The projects in total need $5.9 billion more in funding for completion, according to VA budget documents for fiscal year 2013.

The hospital, which sits on 145 acres of federally owned land, opened in 1953. The complex has 26 buildings connected by an underground tunnel system.

The Brockton campus totals about 1.1 million square feet of hospital space and has 418 total beds. It handles long-term care, spinal cord injuries, mental health, substance abuse, and outpatient care. The campus also boasts a gymnasium and a therapeutic indoor swimming pool.

U.S. Rep Stephen Lynch told The Patriot Ledger editorial board on Monday he is working to secure the remaining funds to complete the project.

“While these funds have yet to be approved, I remain committed to helping the Brockton VA secure this funding,” Lynch said in a statement Tuesday. “Our veterans deserve the very best care we as a nation can offer.”

The new building, Lynch said in the editorial board meeting, would be a more appropriate setting for the hospital’s medical technology.

Lynch also mentioned a goal of securing funds for a clinical addition to the West Roxbury campus, which has 188 beds, originally opening in 1943. According to the budget documents released Monday, the clinical addition to the hospital, which would cost an estimated $296 million, is fourth on the VA’s list of 1,154-item budget priority list.

Alex Bloom may be reached at abloom@enterprisenews.com.

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Link:
$24 million approved for design phase of Brockton VA expansion

Public release date: 16-Feb-2012
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Contact: Jennifer Brown
jennifer-l-brown@uiowa.edu
319-356-7124
University of Iowa Health Care

Loss of bone density leads to brittle bones that fracture easily. It is a major complication of spinal cord injury (SCI), which affects about 250,000 Americans every year.

A new clinical trial conducted by University of Iowa researchers shows that delivering high doses of "load," or stress, to bone through programmed electrical stimulation of the muscle significantly slows the loss of bone density in patients with SCI.

The focus on quantifying the effective dose of load is one of the study's most important aspects, says Richard Shields, P.T., Ph.D., a professor and director of the UI Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs. The study also is the first to carefully test the impact of different doses of load in humans with paralysis.

Previous research had suggested that stressing or loading bone through muscle contractions could slow the loss of bone density, but results from clinical trials have been mixed.

"Thirty years ago a clinical trial concluded that putting patients with SCI in an upright weight-bearing position with braces or standing frames did nothing to prevent loss of bone density," Shields says. "The novelty of our study is we have designed a method for individuals with paralysis to stand (bear weight) while superimposing a dose of muscle force using programmed electrical stimulation of the muscle."

The study findings, published in the journal Osteoporosis International in December 2011, reveal that only high "doses" of muscle force are effective for significantly reducing bone loss.

"The previous studies, without muscle activation, were like doing a drug trial where the dose of drug was too low, or below 'therapeutic threshold,' to cause an effect," Shields explains.

The UI researchers have also recently shown that the electrical stimulation strengthens muscle by activating genes that promote muscle growth and endurance, and improve glucose metabolism.

Testing doses of load

The clinical trial developed by Shields and his team is based on biomechanical modeling and information from bone biology studies that show that bone cells, called osteoblasts, produce new bone only when the load is high enough.

The study compared the effect of "high dose" loads of 150 percent of body weight (induced by electrically stimulating the quadriceps muscle in one leg while the patient was supported in a standing position) with "low dose" load of 40 percent body weight (assisted standing with no electrical stimulation) and "no dose" loads of 0 percent body weight (sitting). Participants were asked to perform their training five times per week for three years and had their bone mineral density and muscle strength tested several times over the study period.

"When we applied a load of 1.5 times their body weight using electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle we saw a significant impact on the bone density as well as the expected growth of the skeletal muscle," says Shields.

Specifically, the study found that after three years, average bone density in the femur was almost 40 percent lower in patients who received low dose or no dose load compared to patients who received high dose. The study also showed that high dose load slows the deterioration of the trabecular bone -- the type of bone found at the joint ends of long bones where fractures most often occur.

"Keeping 40 percent of the bone material in the bone should translate into improved overall health along several dimensions, including reducing the risk of fracture, as well as reducing other common complications stemming from SCI, like kidney stones and diabetes," says Shields.

A unique feature of the study was that patients in the high dose group only received muscle stimulation on one leg. This meant that the patients' non-treated leg provided a "within subject" control that clearly contrasted the effect of high dose compared to low dose when all other factors were the same.

Usability key for translating study findings to therapy

Shields notes that for any treatment regimen to be truly useful for patients, it must be something that a patient can easily incorporate in his or her daily life. The study suggested that participants found it fairly easy to stick with the training program. In addition, six of the seven participants on the high-dose protocol were able to participate from home using a specially modified wheelchair that raised them to a standing position and custom-designed stimulators that automatically logged the participant's training.

"It is much harder to make brittle bones strong again. So in a situation where we know that loss of bone density will occur, like SCI, we need an intervention that prevents or at least slows down the loss of bone density," Shields says. "This study provides evidence that there is a mechanical dose of load through muscle force that the skeleton can respond to that has an effect."

###

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, and the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.

In addition to Shields, the study team included Shauna Dudley-Javoroski, P.T., Ph.D., Shih-Chiao Tseng, P.T., Ph.D., Punam Saha, Ph.D., Manish Suneja, M.D., Chris Adams, M.D., Ph.D., Andy Littmann, P.T., Elizabeth Faidley, Michael Petrie, Brandon Campbell, Zhiyun Gao, and Colleen McHenry.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Health Care Media Relations, 200 Hawkins Drive, Room W319 GH, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1009

MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Brown, 319-356-7124, jennifer-l-brown@uiowa.edu

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Excerpt from:
High doses of 'load' slows loss of bone in spinal cord injury

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Histogenics Corporation, a privately held regenerative medicine company, today announced that the Company will present at the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit on February 21st at Bridgewaters New York City. Kirk Andriano, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development for Histogenics, will speak about current and future cell therapies being developed by the Company as it works toward commercialization. Lead candidates include NeoCart®, an autologous bioengineered neocartilage grown outside the body using the patient’s own cells for the regeneration of cartilage lesions, and VeriCart™, a three-dimensional cartilage matrix designed to stimulate cartilage repair in a simple, one-step procedure. NeoCart recently entered a Phase 3 clinical trial after reporting positive Phase 2 data, in which all primary endpoints were met and a favorable safety profile was demonstrated.

Dr. Andriano earned his BS in chemistry and biology from Utah State University and his MS and Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Utah. Prior to his work at Histogenics, he was the Chief Technology Officer for ProChon Biotech, Ltd. which was acquired by Histogenics in May 2011.

About Histogenics

Histogenics is a leading regenerative medicine company that combines cell therapy and tissue engineering technologies to develop highly innovative products for tissue repair and regeneration. In May of 2011, Histogenics acquired Israeli cell-therapy company ProChon BioTech. Histogenics’ flagship products focus on the treatment of active patients suffering from articular cartilage derived pain and immobility. The Company takes an interdisciplinary approach to engineering neocartilage that looks, acts and lasts like hyaline cartilage. It is developing new treatments for sports injuries and other orthopaedic conditions, where demand is growing for long-term alternatives to joint replacement. Histogenics has successfully completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of its NeoCart autologous tissue implant and is currently in a Phase 3 IND clinical study. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company is privately held. For more information, visit http://www.histogenics.com.

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Histogenics to Present at 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit

Current treatments for facial injuries often lead to disfigurement or speech impediments, but the Biomask could change regenerative medicine.

It's estimated that 85 percent of injuries to our armed forces in the field cause damage to the extremities or the face. Innovations in regenerative medicine are moving along at an amazing pace, but the common current facial burns treatment typically involves removing damaged areas, followed by skin grafting, which usually leads to disfigurement and the possibility of speech impediments and scarring.

A new project called Biomask, a collaboration between engineers at the University of Texas, Arlington; Northwestern University regenerative medicine specialists; leaders in burn treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center; and consultants Army Institute of Surgical Research seeks to improve burn treatment outcomes with the latest in medical electronics and regenerative medicine.

The Biomask consists of two layers: The top layer is a hard shell that protects the wearer's face and stores the electronic components. The second layer is a polymer mask that will fit around the contours of the face. The polymer also acts as a seal around the wounds which compresses them to prevent lumpy scar formation. The polymer shell is also embedded with a number of sensors and actuators to monitor the healing process and send data to physicians.

While the mask itself will already improve treatment outcomes, Biomask takes it a step further by featuring a network of microtubes and valves in the polymer layer that will constantly deliver therapeutics, such as painkillers, antibiotics, and stem cells to the parts of the face that the onboard sensors determine.

Altogether, this makes Biomask a highly customized and automated 24/7 treatment system that researchers hope will make healing faster and better.

This post also appears on medGadget, an Atlantic partner site.

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Biomask: Improving Facial Burn Treatment for Soldiers in the Field

GAITHERSBURG, MD--(Marketwire -02/16/12)- Cytomedix, Inc. (OTC.BB: CMXI.OB - News) (the "Company"), a leading developer of biologically active regenerative therapies for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis, today announced that Chief Operating Officer Edward L. Field will present a clinical overview of Aldagen's autologous cell therapy technology at two upcoming meetings: The Cell Society's 2nd Annual Clinical Meeting being held February 17-18 at the Coronado Marriott Resort in San Diego; and the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit being held on February 21 at Bridgewaters New York in New York City.

Mr. Field will present during the session, "Commercialization Opportunities with Adult Stem Cell Therapies," on Friday, February 17 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Pacific time at the Cell Society meeting.

Cell Society International is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the clinical application of adult stem cell therapies worldwide. Cell Society's 2nd Annual Clinical Meeting will continue in the tradition established at the 1st Annual Meeting and will offer a unique opportunity for multidisciplinary, international clinical collaboration designed to enhance understanding and thought-provoking insight into treatments and cures for disease and agonizing medical conditions. This year's clinical focus will center on therapies particularly relevant to cardiology, neurology, and orthopedic and plastic surgery.

At the Stem Cell Summit, Mr. Field will present at 2:35 p.m. Eastern time. This meeting showcases more than 30 of the world's leaders in this rapidly evolving industry. The New York Stem Cell Summit brings the future of this dynamic industry to life for investors, industry, practitioners and analysts so they can learn about the investment opportunities in the stem cell marketplace, groundbreaking stem cell products that physicians use today and the growing market potential in terms of revenues.

About Cytomedix, Inc.

Cytomedix, Inc. develops, sells and licenses regenerative biological therapies primarily for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis. The Company markets the AutoloGel™ System, a device for the production of autologous platelet rich plasma ("PRP") gel for use on a variety of exuding wounds; the Angel® Whole Blood Separation System, a blood processing device and disposable products used for the separation of whole blood into red cells, platelet poor plasma ("PPP") and PRP in surgical settings; and the activAT® Autologous Thrombin Processing Kit, which produces autologous thrombin serum from PPP. The activAT® kit is sold exclusively in Europe and Canada, where it provides a completely autologous, safe alternative to bovine-derived products. On February 8, 2012 Cytomedix announced the acquisition of Aldagen, a biopharmaceutical company developing regenerative cell therapies based on its proprietary ALDH bright cell ("ALDHbr") technology, currently in a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of ischemic stroke. For additional information please visit http://www.cytomedix.com

Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this communication not relating to historical facts are forward-looking statements that are intended to fall within the safe harbor rule for such statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The information contained in the forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain, and Cytomedix' actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond Cytomedix' ability to predict or control, including many among others, risks and uncertainties related to the Company's ability to successfully integrate this acquisition, to successfully manage contemplated clinical trials, to manage and address the capital needs, human resource, management, compliance and other challenges of a larger, more complex and intergrated business enterprise, viability and effectiveness of the Company's sales approach and overall marketing strategies, commercial success or acceptance by the medical community, competitive responses, the Company's ability to raise additional capital and to continue as a going concern, and Cytomedix's ability to execute on its strategy to market the AutoloGel™ System as contemplated. To the extent that any statements made here are not historical, these statements are essentially forward-looking. The Company uses words and phrases such as "believes," "forecasted," "projects," "is expected," "remain confident," "will" and/or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements in this press release. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ from the forward-looking statements. More information about some of these risks and uncertainties may be found in the reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Cytomedix, Inc. Cytomedix operates in a highly competitive and rapidly changing business and regulatory environment, thus new or unforeseen risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Except as is expressly required by the federal securities laws, Cytomedix undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances or future events or for any other reason. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC and other subsequent filings. These filings are available at http://www.sec.gov.

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Cytomedix to Showcase Aldagen's Promising Autologous Cell Therapy Technology at Two Regenerative Medicine Meetings

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. announced today a partnership agreement with Vanderbilt University under which Iverson receives global exclusive commercialization rights for molecular diagnostics that will help physicians to assess breast cancer risk in women considering hormone replacement therapy during menopause. Research suggests that estrogen metabolites represent one of several determinants of the risk of breast cancer. Specific enzymes regulate the biochemical pathways associated with the metabolism of estrogen. Corresponding genes code for the synthesis of these enzymes. Mutations of these genes are common and have been shown in the work of Fritz Parl, M.D., Ph.D., Philip Crooke, Ph.D., William Dupont, Ph.D., and others to be associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Dr. Sujatha Reddy, M.D., OB/GYN at Premier Care for Women in Atlanta and Medical Correspondent for WXIA, a NBC affiliate in Atlanta, said, “I think I will use this test in my practice for patients who are trying to decide if they should stay on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). If you break down estrogen well, you may be at lower risk for breast cancer and then choose to continue your hormones. We can give people a more individualized therapy based on their own genetic makeup.”

Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder of the Institute for Systems Biology and a member of Iverson Genetic Diagnostics’ Board of Directors, commented, “The importance of finding gene variants that affect the metabolism of drugs and hormones--hence causing disease--is incredibly important for personalized medicine. This venture between Iverson and Vanderbilt is a wonderful example of a diagnostic test that could significantly improve the health of relevant patients.”

Dean Sproles, CEO of Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc., stated, “We are very pleased to collaborate with Vanderbilt University on this product and look forward to including the new e-Metab GenoSTATTM test in the Women’s Health segment of Iverson’s Physician’s LogicTM portfolio later this year. We are considering additional opportunities to partner with Vanderbilt University in the areas of Women’s Health and Autoimmunity.”

About Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc.

Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. is a Nevada C corporation with administrative headquarters in Bothell, Washington, and production headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina. Iverson is establishing a recognizable global brand for providing trusted genetic tests and testing services for the emerging market of individualized medicine and genetics-based molecular diagnostics. The company’s mission is to improve patient outcomes through personalized care. Iverson is a fully credentialed laboratory service company focused on providing results within 24 hours for hospitals and physicians. Iverson’s patented technology, Physician’s LogicTM, is our healthcare information resource developed to deploy test results to providers and integrate with various electronic medical record systems in a HIPAA-compliant environment.

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Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. Announces a Strategic Partnership with Vanderbilt University for the Development and ...

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Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 15 Feb 2012 - 8:00 PST

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According to a study published in the February issue of the STEM CELL Translational Medicine Journal , a world-first technique for generating adult stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs]) has been developed by researchers at the University of Queensland. This new method can be used to repair bone and possibly other organs, and will considerably affect individuals suffering from a variety of serious diseases.

Professor Nicholas Fisk, who leads the collaborative study between the UQ Clinical Research Center (UQCCR) and the UQ's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), explained:

"We used a small molecule to induce embryonic stem cells over a 10 day period, which is much faster than other studies reported in the literature.

The technique also worked on their less contentious counterparts, induced pluripotent stem cells.

To make the pluripotent mature stem cells useful in the clinic, they have to be told what type of cell they need to become (pre-differentiated), before being administered to an injured organ, or otherwise they could form tumors.

Because only small numbers of MSCs exist in the bone marrow, and harvesting bone marrow from a healthy donor is an invasive procedure, the ability to make our own MSCs in large number in the laboratory is an exciting step in the future widespread clinical use of MSCs.

We were able to show these new forms of stem cells exhibited all the characteristics of bone marrow stem cells and we are currently examining their bone repair capability."

Ernst Wolvetang, co-researcher on the study and AIBN Associate Professor, explained that the technique had overcome a considerable obstacle in the translation of stem cell-based therapy.

Wolvetang said: "We are very excited by this research, which has brought together stem cell researchers from two of the major UQ research hubs UQCCR and AIBN."

Written by: Grace Rattue

Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Visit our stem cell research section for the latest news on this subject. UniQuest, The University of Queensland's main commercialization company, invites parties interested in licensing the intellectual property relating to this discovery to contact UniQuest on 3365 4037 or lifesciences@uniquest.com.au.

Source: University of Queensland

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Grace Rattue. "Bone Repair Stem Cell Breakthrough Shows Promise." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 15 Feb. 2012. Web.
16 Feb. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241706.php&gt;

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Bone Repair Stem Cell Breakthrough Shows Promise

Posted on February 17, 2012, Friday

KUCHING: Organic solutions company Juice Beauty is introducing three new products in its Stem Cellular Repair line to the public, incorporating technology and science in delivering the new products.

“The three products, namely Stem Cellular Repair Moisturiser, Stem Cellular Repair Eye Treatment and Stem Cellular Repair Booster Serum work at the cellular level to repair damage and increase cellular proliferation,” explained Juice Beauty retail outlet manager, Shirley Ann Tan.

The products were noted to have used the brand’s own proprietary blend of organic fruit stem cells injected into its clinically validated antioxidant rich organic juice base to help decrease DNA damage and accelerate cellular proliferation.

Tan stated that Juice Beauty products were antioxidant-rich and made from 100 per cent organic juices. The formulations were protected from environmental contamination with high tech airtight pump jars.

The manager added, “The reason we are so intent in creating organic products is that we want people to avoid using harmful chemicals in their skin care range for health purposes. People with eczema, skin problems and allergies could feel free to try out our organic products.”

Juice Beauty’s boasts its patent-pending juice base which does not have any drying effect on the skin or suffocate the skin as alcohol- or petroleum-based products do.

“Using an organic juice base provides the benefit of having every drop of the product feed your skin,” she highlighted.

The new products are currently available at Juice Beauty’s outlet at tHe Spring Mall.

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Juice Beauty’s to boost organic skin care further with Stem Cellular Repair line

Public release date: 16-Feb-2012
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Contact: Tara Womersley
tara.womersley@ed.ac.uk
44-131-650-9836
University of Edinburgh

Scientists have found a way to generate and maintain stem cells much more efficiently by amplifying the effect of an essential protein.

Researchers from Denmark, Scotland and the USA have created synthetic versions of a protein, which manipulates adult cells ? such as skin cells ? so that they can subsequently revert to an earlier, embryonic like state. These reverted cells have the potential to become any cell in the body.

As well as reverting adult cells to this state ? known as induced pluripotent stem cells , the protein also plays a key role in maintaining embryonic stem cells in a pure form. If the protein ? Oct4 ? is not present, the embryonic stem cells will start to differentiate into specific cells.

In order to reprogamme adult cells to have stem cell properties viruses need to be added to cell cultures to trigger production of significant quantities of Oct4.

Oct4 plays a powerful role in regulating stem cell genes. However, while large quantities of Oct4 are needed too much of it can ruin the properties of stem cells.

Scientists, whose work is published in the journal Cell Reports, were able to overcome this by producing a synthetic version of Oct4 that amplified the effect of the protein in its natural form.

The synthetic version of Oct4 was much more efficient in turning on genes that instruct cells on how to be stem cells and, as a result, the cells did not need as much Oct4 for either reprogramming or to remain as stem cells ? thereby eliminating problems caused by too much Oct4.

In fact, the synthetic Oct4 could support stem cells under conditions that they do not normally grow. These findings could also help scientists find new ways generate stem cells in the laboratory.

The study showed that Oct4 was mainly responsible for turning on genes that instruct cells on how to become stem cells, rather than turning off genes that encourage the cells to differentiate.

"Our discovery is an important step towards generating and maintaining stem cells much more effectively," says Professor Joshua Brickman, affiliated with both The Danish Stem Cell Center (DanStem), University of Copenhagen and Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

"Embryonic stem cells are characterized, among other things, by their ability to perpetuate themselves indefinitely and differentiate into all the cell types in the body ? a trait called pluripotency. But to be able to use them medically, we need to be able to maintain them in a pure state, until they're needed. When we want to turn a stem cell into a specific cell, such as insulin producing beta cell, or a nerve cell in the brain, we'd like this process to occur accurately and efficiently. This will not be possible if we don't understand how to maintain stem cells as stem cells. As well as maintaining embryonic stem cells in their pure state more effectively, the artificially created Oct4 was also more effective at reprogramming adult cells into so-called induced Pluripotent Stem cells, which have many of the same traits and characteristics as embryonic stem cells but can derived from the patients to both help study degenerative disease and eventually treat them.."

Oct4 is a so-called transcription factor ? a protein that binds to specific DNA sequences, thereby controlling the flow (or transcription) of genetic information from DNA to mRNA. The synthetic version of Oct4 was created by using recombinant DNA technology whereby a gene was modified to produce new and more active protein. The modified gene was either introduced into stem cells or used to reprogram adult skin cells.

If scientists can exploit this programming of stem cell programs, it will improve the ability to generate stem cells directly from a patient. These cells could in turn potentially be used for individualised studies and for developing individualized therapies for degenerative diseases such as type 1 diabetes and neuro-degenerative diseases.

###

The paper "Transcriptional Activation by Oct4 Is Sufficient for the Maintenance and Induction of Pluripotency", is published in Cell Reports on February 16, 2012, 12:00 EST US time/18:00 Danish time/17:00 UK time. The study involved mouse embryonic stem cells, early embryonic progenitors cells in frogs as well as iPS cells from both mouse and human sources. The research was supported by grants from the Novo Nordisk Foundation (DK), the Medical Reseach Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (MRC and BBSRC, UK).

Contact: Tara Womersley, Press and PR Officer, University of Edinburgh, 44-131-650-9836 or 44-7791-355-804

Link to Cell Report: http://cellreports.cell.com/

Embargo: Until February 16 at 12:00 EST US time/18:00 Danish time/17:00 UK time

About DanStem

The Danish Stem Cell Center opened in the Summer 2011 as a hub for international basic, translational and early clinical stem cell research. Professor Brickman and his group joined DanStem in October 2011 to partake in the build-up the center.

DanStem address basic questions in stem cell and developmental biology, and develop novel stem cell based therapeutic approaches for diabetes and cancer. It is supported by two major grants from Novo Nordisk Foundation (DKK 350 million (? 47 million)) and the Danish Research Council for Strategic Research (DKK 64.8 million (? 8,7 million)), respectively. More information about DanStem at: http://danstem.ku.dk

About Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine

The MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM) is a world leading research centre based at the University of Edinburgh. Together we study stem cells, disease and tissue repair to advance human health. Our research is aimed at developing new treatments for major diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, and liver failure. http://www.crm.ed.ac.uk

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Synthetic protein amplifies genes needed for stem cells

GAITHERSBURG, MD--(Marketwire -02/16/12)- Cytomedix, Inc. (OTC.BB: CMXI.OB - News) (the "Company"), a leading developer of biologically active regenerative therapies for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis, today announced that Chief Operating Officer Edward L. Field will present a clinical overview of Aldagen's autologous cell therapy technology at two upcoming meetings: The Cell Society's 2nd Annual Clinical Meeting being held February 17-18 at the Coronado Marriott Resort in San Diego; and the 7th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit being held on February 21 at Bridgewaters New York in New York City.

Mr. Field will present during the session, "Commercialization Opportunities with Adult Stem Cell Therapies," on Friday, February 17 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Pacific time at the Cell Society meeting.

Cell Society International is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the clinical application of adult stem cell therapies worldwide. Cell Society's 2nd Annual Clinical Meeting will continue in the tradition established at the 1st Annual Meeting and will offer a unique opportunity for multidisciplinary, international clinical collaboration designed to enhance understanding and thought-provoking insight into treatments and cures for disease and agonizing medical conditions. This year's clinical focus will center on therapies particularly relevant to cardiology, neurology, and orthopedic and plastic surgery.

At the Stem Cell Summit, Mr. Field will present at 2:35 p.m. Eastern time. This meeting showcases more than 30 of the world's leaders in this rapidly evolving industry. The New York Stem Cell Summit brings the future of this dynamic industry to life for investors, industry, practitioners and analysts so they can learn about the investment opportunities in the stem cell marketplace, groundbreaking stem cell products that physicians use today and the growing market potential in terms of revenues.

About Cytomedix, Inc.

Cytomedix, Inc. develops, sells and licenses regenerative biological therapies primarily for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis. The Company markets the AutoloGel™ System, a device for the production of autologous platelet rich plasma ("PRP") gel for use on a variety of exuding wounds; the Angel® Whole Blood Separation System, a blood processing device and disposable products used for the separation of whole blood into red cells, platelet poor plasma ("PPP") and PRP in surgical settings; and the activAT® Autologous Thrombin Processing Kit, which produces autologous thrombin serum from PPP. The activAT® kit is sold exclusively in Europe and Canada, where it provides a completely autologous, safe alternative to bovine-derived products. On February 8, 2012 Cytomedix announced the acquisition of Aldagen, a biopharmaceutical company developing regenerative cell therapies based on its proprietary ALDH bright cell ("ALDHbr") technology, currently in a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of ischemic stroke. For additional information please visit http://www.cytomedix.com

Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this communication not relating to historical facts are forward-looking statements that are intended to fall within the safe harbor rule for such statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The information contained in the forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain, and Cytomedix' actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond Cytomedix' ability to predict or control, including many among others, risks and uncertainties related to the Company's ability to successfully integrate this acquisition, to successfully manage contemplated clinical trials, to manage and address the capital needs, human resource, management, compliance and other challenges of a larger, more complex and intergrated business enterprise, viability and effectiveness of the Company's sales approach and overall marketing strategies, commercial success or acceptance by the medical community, competitive responses, the Company's ability to raise additional capital and to continue as a going concern, and Cytomedix's ability to execute on its strategy to market the AutoloGel™ System as contemplated. To the extent that any statements made here are not historical, these statements are essentially forward-looking. The Company uses words and phrases such as "believes," "forecasted," "projects," "is expected," "remain confident," "will" and/or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements in this press release. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ from the forward-looking statements. More information about some of these risks and uncertainties may be found in the reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Cytomedix, Inc. Cytomedix operates in a highly competitive and rapidly changing business and regulatory environment, thus new or unforeseen risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Except as is expressly required by the federal securities laws, Cytomedix undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances or future events or for any other reason. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC and other subsequent filings. These filings are available at http://www.sec.gov.

Originally posted here:
Cytomedix to Showcase Aldagen's Promising Autologous Cell Therapy Technology at Two Regenerative Medicine Meetings