Follow Me on Pinterest

Monday, April 13, 2009

Cell Therapy Industry HiLites 2009-04-10

Here we are in April 2009. The much newly anticipated date when we expect the Dendreon saga to head toward a climax. Few people know the Dendreon story better then Xconomy journalist, Luke Timmerman who does an outstanding job of summarizing the saga and stakes in Dendreon's immiment Provenge gamble. Indeed tomorrow is the beginning of what we now anticipate will be the final chapter in this epic sage. Tomorrow (at 9am EDT), Dendreon will discuss the final results from their phase III IMPACT trial of Provenge for prostate cancer (call details here).

Here are a couple random bits to kick us off:
___________________________________________________________________

This issue of blog is sponsored by the 'next advance' in innovative, reliable and low-cost laboratory instruments.


You wanna feel the rush of getting quality lab products for lower prices? You wanna rush to NextAdvance.com.
www.nextadvance.com
___________________________________________________________________

Not settling with organizing doctors against the FDA with his
"American Stem Cell Therapy Association (ASCTA)" (see my previous blog comments), Dr. Christopher "the renegade" Centeno is now inciting patients to oppose the "FDA's position that the patient's own adult stem cells are drugs and should be regulated as such." (Click here for the press release.)

To facilitate patient activism he has launched a patient web-site, safestemcells.org, to drive the activities and opinions of patients in what he's calling the Safe Stem Cells NOW! movement. The Stem Cells Now! movement's goal? "To inform patients and physicians that their ability to access safe stem cell treatment is being heavily restricted by pharmaceutical industry agendas and by the FDA."

He has also recruited the enthusiasm of Barbara Hanson, co-founder of stemcellpioneers.com, who is quoted as saying:
"Adult stem cells are cells from our own body. They are very safe. There are no moral or ethical issues. They are safer than taking aspirin and yet the FDA has classified our own stem cells as drugs that require regulation. This means that prolonged investigations, including lengthy clinical trials, will be required for each and every disease and application that adult stem cells could be used for. This could take years and years. It smells of big pharma to me and many others."
For my other posts about the work of Dr. Centeno, see Regenexx vs the FDA 2009 and Cell therapy is not the practice of medicine.

FINANCIAL

Some people I talk to in the sector say they feel weirdly immune from the entire economic meltdown because the industry seems to be ticking along just fine in many ways continuing to be fueled by its own internal optimism and external enthusiasm for the promise of cell-based therapies...well that, and the still-growing amount of money being spent on the research side of the sector. Others, are certainly feeling the pinch. The dividing line may well be those who are trying to raise money and those who are not.

Having said that, here we go with reports of money being raised -- all from non-US investors mind you. P
roving that its economy is not down and out, the first two report of fundraises come from Down Under.

There's no way I can start this first story any better then The Australian did in its March 12 report (that I only now just picked up now):
"From the miracles-do-happen file comes this provident yarn of a $3.4 million market cap tiddler that has secured $12 million of funding for further development of its ovarian cancer drug, CVac."

They're talking, of course, about Prima BioMed Limited (ASX:PRR) which has been busy reinventing itself with new management and money since Biomira took a pass on its option to partner on CVac development more than a year ago. The company has been slowly bleeding money and management since. The company is still clearly on a low burn because I had to mine this information from anywhere but direct sources. The company itself has been very quiet about any of this.

The news is this: Prima Biomed has secured access to a $12-million funding facility from investment bank Fortrend Securities to help commercialize the company’s ovarian cancer treatment. The deal allows Prima to place shares with Fortrend as needed over the next three years.

Prima said it will use the cash to move through a phase IIb trial and towards a pivotal US registration trial of its dendritic cell-based ovarian cancer therapy, which the company says is designed to stimulate the body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells. The company said it now hopes to begin a US trial by mid-year, after the company reported positive feedback on its pre-investigational new drug meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration last year.

*
Not to be outdone by the magic tricks of its pennystock sibling, the much more stable Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB) which reported on 31 December 2008 having $9.6 million of capital at its disposal announced that it has successfully raised an additional $10.81 million by completing a private placement to existing, as well as new, institutional and sophisticated investors. The new funds will be used to expand the company’s clinical trial programs focusing on bone and cartilage regenerative products for spinal vertebral disc disease. These programs will be pursued in parallel to the Company’s ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial in knee osteoarthritis. The placement of 15.02 million shares was reportedly oversubscribed and was made at a 10% discount to the closing price of the Company’s shares on 25 March 2009.

*
NeoStem, Inc. (Amex: NBS) reports they have completed an $11 Million series D private placement financing from three Asia-based investors, including a private equity firm operating in partnership with strategic investors. Investors are RimAsia Capital Partners, LP, a pan-Asia private equity firm operating in partnership with a regional network of strategic investors drawn from leading Asian families and companies, investing $5 million; Enhance Biomedical Holding Corporation based in Shanghai, and investing $5 million and Elancrest Investments Ltd., a Singapore-based firm, investing $1 million.

While NeoStem makes mention of using the funds in various ways including the development of its VSEL (very small embryonic-like stem cells) technology licensed from the University of Louisville, what they really seem focused on is expansion activities in China, including those relating to its pending acquisitions and medical tourism - defined as travel by people whose primary and explicit purpose is to access in a foreign country medical treatment not yet available in their own nation.

NeoStem expects to connect U.S. citizens with advanced therapies not yet available in the U.S., and attract people from other countries to seek regenerative therapies in China. Indeed Eric Wei, Managing Partner of RimAsia Capital Partners, LP is quoted as saying, "We are extremely optimistic about the growth opportunities for NeoStem based on its multi-pronged plan to capitalize on a growing PRC-based network. We are glad to be joined by other investors in Asia who recognize the huge market potential for stem cell therapies in the PRC [People's Republic of China], a field in which breakthroughs are developing at an accelerating rate."

*
In a UK report about how stem cell innovation is at risk, the study authors from The University of Nottingham, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), reports that the global cell therapy industry, reports that the global cell therapy industry:
"...now involves nearly 200 companies developing primary and secondary cell therapies, plus another 180 banking cord blood. In total the global cell therapy industry currently has sales of over $1 billion a year and a steady number of products are now reaching late stage clinical trials."
*
Crystal Research Associates, LLC has issued an Executive Informational Overview® (EIO®) on Neuralstem, Inc. (CUR: NYSE-Alt)

CLINICAL

Amorcyte, Inc recently presented data at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Annual Scientific Session from its Phase I clinical trial of AMR-001, the company's lead product for the treatment of damaged heart muscle following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), that showed a significant relationship between cell dose and biologic effect. According to the company this is the first and only study to prospectively define a dose of a purified and potent autologous stem cell therapy (AMR-001) that resulted in a significant improvement in perfusion, a trend towards improved cardiac function and the potential to reduce subsequent adverse cardiac events following AMI. Emory University - one of the study sites - also issued its own press release on the data.

*
At the same meeting, TCA Cellular Therapy’s Medical Director Gabriel Lasala, M.D. presented preliminary results of an adult stem cell treatment for severe limb ischemia from its Phase I safety/efficacy clinical trial using a combination of the patient’s own endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and mesenchymyal stem cells (MSCs) obtained through bone marrow aspiration then mixed and infused into damaged veins.

*
MolMed S.p.A. (MLM.MI) announced that results obtained in the European multicentric Phase I/II study (TK007) of its TK therapy have been published in the April issue of the prestigious medical journal The Lancet Oncology. The article - Infusion of suicide gene-engineered donor lymphocytes after family haploidentical hemopoietic transplantation for leukemia: the TK007 phase I/II trial - gives insight into the outcome of the trial, conducted on 54 adult patients, that resulted in significant survival improvement of patients affected by high risk acute leukaemia receiving bone marrow transplants from a partially compatible family donor (haplo-transplants). In this context, the introduction of TK therapy allows the use of add-backs of donor T lymphocytes, that promote a rapid and wide immune reconstitution, abating transplant-related mortality and permitting long-term survival.

These trial results were, of course, already communicated to the market and included in MolMed’s Offering Circular and allowed MolMed to get authorisation to begin a Phase III randomised trial that started in Italy in Spring 2008, and will be expanded to other European clinical centres this year. The Phase III trial TK008 is pivotal for the registration of TK therapy, that could become among the very first cell therapies using genetically engineered cells to obtain marketing approval. MolMed’s partner for the Asian markets, Takara Bio Inc. (OTCPK:TKBIF), started clinical development of TK in Japan in October 2008, with a Phase I trial in relapsed leukaemia patients conducted at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo.

*
These breasts and slim waist are brought to you by Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTX) and GE Healthcare. Available soon to women for only £6,500?

*
While Prima BioMed has been closing the deal on its new financing it has also apparently obtained permission from the Australian TGA's Special Access to treat a patient with its CVac ovarian cancer treatment. The injection of the vaccine in ovarian cancer patients works as a postsurgery and post-chemotherapy maintenance therapy to delay relapse and control metastases. While the company is currently not in clinical trial in Australia and has not yet filed its IND for FDA approval in the U.S., the company has sought special exemption for a single-use treatment for what must be a very special patient.

*
Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIR) announced the treatment of the first patient in a Phase II clinical trial evaluating Prochymal for the treatment of heart attacks.

COMMERCIAL

Further to my speculative post here last week, we've now learned that ULURU Inc. (NYSE Amex: ULU) has signed a non-binding offer letter to acquire York Pharma plc ("York"). York Pharma is a United Kingdom based skin care company with operations or distribution networks throughout Europe with an established revenue base. By way of reminder, the reason this is of interest here is that York has two cell therapy products on the UK market for the treatment of chronic wounds and burns: Myskin™ and Cryoskin™.

While the companies have not yet executed definitive documentation relating to any acquisition transaction and there's no guarantee they will, Uluru is hoping potential benefits will significantly accelerate the maturation of ULURU into a commercially based company with a strong revenue base and positively position the company for more rapid growth both in the United States and Europe.
ULURU Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of a portfolio of wound management and oral care products to provide patients and consumers with improved clinical outcomes through controlled delivery utilizing its innovative Nanoflex(TM) Aggregate technology and transmucosal delivery system

*
Novocell, Inc. announced that it has received U.S. Patent 7,510,876 with claims covering human definitive endoderm cells, an essential cell for generating not only pancreatic type cells, which Novocell is developing for use as a cell therapy for diabetes, but also other endoderm lineage-derived tissues and organs such as lungs, intestine, liver, thymus and thyroid.

*
Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC board member Robert A. Hamm promoted as COO of drug maker Biogen Idec.

*
Looks like WuXi PharmaTech Incorporated has some serious buyer's remorse of it $162.7 million purchase of AppTec Laboratory Services Inc.

*
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTCBB: ACTC.PK) could receive up to $1.9 million in fees as a result of a new licensing agreement with its Korean partner. ACT has agreed to license certain retinal pigment stem cell technology to CHA Bio & Diostech Co. Ltd. for development and commercialization exclusively in Korea. The two companies have a recently formed joint venture called "Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International" located in Worcester, MA and focused on the development of human blood cells. It is majority owned by CHA Bio and benefits from ACT exclusively licensing all of its hemangioblast technology to the joint venture.

If all milestones are met in this new collaboration focused on stem cell technology to treat a variety of eye diseases, ACT stands to earn $1.9 million in fees. CHA will pay all fees associated with clinical trials expected to take place in Korea. Meanwhile, ACT has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin clinical testing of its retinal pigment stem cell technology during the second half of the year.

*
Presumably to help soften the financial blow of its interrupted phase III trial of Prochymal for Crohn's disease, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIR) has announced that it has agreed with NuVasive, Inc. (NASDAQ:NUVA) to accelerate transfer of the Osteocel business. Under the terms of amendments to the existing agreements between the parties, NuVasive will assume responsibility for Osteocel processing by April 10, 2009 and has removed contingencies applicable to $30 million of the $45 million in remaining milestone payments.

Osiris is now scheduled to receive $30 million in cash or NuVasive common stock in 3 schedule payments all before the end of September. The terms applicable to the remaining $15 million milestone payment are unchanged. This additional payment becomes due and payable when NuVasive achieves $35 million in cumulative Osteocel sales. NuVasis has projected $29 million in Osteocel sales in 2009.

To date Osiris has received from NuVasive $40 million in upfront and milestone payments. Effective April 10, Osiris will cease all operations associated with Osteocel processing. Concurrent with the amendments to the Asset Purchase and Manufacturing agreements, Osiris will transfer its Osteocel inventory to AlloSource, of Centennial, Co., which had been processing quantities of Osteocel for Osiris and has now agreed to produce Osteocel solely for NuVasive. NuVasive has entered into a separate outsourcing supply agreement with AlloSource for the continued manufacture of Osteocel.

Because of that deal, they are now able to layoff 80 people.

*
It looks like the ever well-tanned Burton Feinerman is back in control of his company Stem Cell Biotherapy which he at least appeared to lose temporarily to his former partner Casey Nabavi until Nabavi abandoned ship late last year to start a competing stemcell transplant company, Cellulogix. Now it looks like things are going to bet rough between the former partners. Stem Cell Biotherapy ("SCB") has filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the Company's Co-Founder and former President Casey Nabavi of Calabasas, California, for among other things conduct by Nabavi giving rise to patient claims against Nabavi that he had misrepresented himself as a medical doctor, practiced medicine without a license, supervised the injection of stem cells which caused some patients to become ill and personally advised patients how to manage these side effects. Nabavi/Cellulogix have offices/clinics in Los Angeles, Tampa, Montreal, Zona Rio (Mexico) and Istanbul. The SCB lawsuit also seeks to recover SCB funds in excess of $1.65 million that Navabi paid himself before leaving SCB, to recover assets including intellectual property belonging to SCB which Navabi took and used to start-up the new Cellulogix business, to prevent Nabavi from continuing to compete with SCB in contravention of the parties' non-competition agreement and for SCB to recover ownership, the business and profits of Cellulogix as belonging to SCB not to Navabi as a result of Nabavi's wrongful conduct and activities. A copy of the SCB lawsuit against Nabavi and Cellulogix can be viewed at the Company's web site www.stemcellbiotherapy.com.

SCB is in the business of "
assisting persons who desire to try stem cell therapy treatment for serious medical problems which have not responded to traditional medical treatments." SCB uses medical clinics and specialized doctors in locations around the world where stem cell therapy is authorized to treat medical conditions such as spinal cord injury, ALS, Parkinsonism, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, autism, cerebral palsy, brain damage, heart disease, COPD, kidney diseases, eye diseases, diabetes, transverse myelitis, etc.

*
Adding themselves to the growing list of companies looking to leverage their cell-based technologies to get to market early with some type of non-therapeutic low-hanging fuit in order to finance their more serious, therpeutic product development aspirations, Stem Cell Therapy International Inc. (OTCBB: SCII) -- soon to be known as AmStem International after a successful merger with Histostem Ltd, of South Korea -- has decided that its first product will be a "cosmetic face cream made with stem cells" to be sold wholesale to major cosmetic distributors worldwide. This is expected to provide AmStem with an influx of capital to finance "expansion in other areas".

*
Proving there may never be an end to the types of stem cell banking models that continue to pop up, StemSave™, Inc. is now encouraging dental patients to bite on their offer to bank stem cells collected from their disposed teeth. StemSave’s patented technology turns routine trips to the dentist into "potentially life-saving experiences".

So we can now pay to save our stem cells from our umbilical cord blood, umbilical cords, amniotic fluid, placenta, adipose (fat) tissue, menstrual blood, bone marrow, blood (after stem cell mobilization or not), and teeth. Hmmm.

RESOURCES, EVENTS & MISCELLANEA

Regenerative Medicine Vol. 4, No. 2, March 2009 is now available online.

*
Stem cell scientist Dr. Robert Lanza, Chief Scientific Officer of Advanced Cell Technology has managed to find time away from changing the world of science and modern medicine to pen a book with astronomer Bob Berman on Biocentrism , a subject that challenges our traditional, outdated perceptions on life, time & space, and even death.

*
The New York Academy of Sciences, China’s Ministry of Health, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and international partners including the Medical Research Council of the UK and the German Research Foundation are collaborating to host a conference entitled ‘Regenerative Medicine’, May 15-16, 2009 in Beijing, China. The meeting is intended to foster collaborations between industry, academia, government, and finance with a world-renowned scientific organizing committee including Nobel Laureate Dr. Torsten Wiesel and the Chinese Minister of Health, Zhu Chen. The scientific program includes Drs. Anthony Atala, John Gearheart, and Stefanie Dimmeler, among many other leaders from industry, academia, and the clinic. A full conference agenda can be found at www.nyas.org/regmed

Sign-off

That's all I got.

Thanks again to lab equipment supplier, Next Advance, for supporting this issue of the Cell Therapy Industry Hilites. They found me on Twitter, you can too. I'm @celltherapy.


No comments: