Connexon Creative - Cord Blood News 1.13, September 17th, 2009

In this issue: Science News | Current Publications | Industry News | Policy News | Events

TOP STORIES

Children's Hospital in Colorado Rounds Off List of 24 Cord Blood Transplant Centers Worldwide Enrolling for ExCell Trial Studying StemEx(R) for Leukemia and Lymphoma
Children's Hospital of Colorado and the Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture announced today that Children's Hospital is enrolling patients for the ExCell study. [The Children's Hospital, Aurora]

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SCIENCE NEWS

Pluristem Begins Enrollment in U.S. With Unmatched Placenta-Derived Stem Cell Product PLX-PAD in a Phase I Clinical Trial for Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. today announced that it has begun enrolling patients in the U.S. for a Phase I clinical trial with its unmatched placenta-derived stem cell product, PLX-PAD, the Company's leading product candidate for the treatment of critical limb ischemia, the end-stage of peripheral artery disease. [Pluristem Therapeutics Inc, Haifa]

Green Tea Component may Help Preserve Stored Platelets, Tissues
In two separate studies, a major component in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), has been found to help prolong the preservation of both stored blood platelets and cryopreserved skin tissues. [Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto]

Blood Vessels Contribute to Their Own Growth and Oxygen Delivery to Tissues and Tumors
The findings, published in the Sept. 15 issue of the journal Developmental Cell, could give important insights into the formation of the vasculature needed to feed new tumors. [University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

A "No-wash" Albumin-Dextran Dilution Strategy for Cord Blood Unit Thaw: High Rate of Engraftment and a Low Incidence of Serious Infusion Reactions
CB thaw with albumin-dextran dilution reduces unit manipulation, and minimizes cell loss, speeds time to infusion, is associated with a tolerable infusion reaction profile, and a high rate of sustained engraftment in CBT recipients >=20 kg. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant]

Infectious Complications after Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in Adult Patients with Hematologic Malignancies
This retrospective study assessed infectious complications occurring in adult patients after UCB transplantation. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant]

Ex Vivo Expansion of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells by a Small-Molecule Agonist of c-MPL
Scientists evaluated the effects of NR-101, a novel small-molecule c-MPL agonist, on the ex vivo expansion of human cord blood HSCs. [Exp Hematol]

Allogeneic Disparities in Immunoglobulin-Like Transcript 5 Induce Potent Antibody Responses in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
A subset of hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients have antibodies directed to surface molecules of dendritic cells. Results represent the first description of potent allogeneic antibody responses to a non-major histocompatibility complex cell surface molecule. [Blood]

Minor Histocompatibility Antigens on Transfused Leukoreduced Units of Red Blood Cells Induce Bone Marrow Transplant Rejection in a Mouse Model
Using a novel mouse model of red blood cell transfusion and major histocompatibility complex-matched bone marrow transplantation, scientists report that transfusion of RBC products induced bone marrow transplant rejection across minor histocompatibility antigen barriers. [Blood]

INDUSTRY NEWS

Connexon Creative Launches Mesenchymal Cell News
Mesenchymal Cell News is a free, weekly e-newsletter that keeps the mesenchymal cell community informed by providing the latest news from all areas of the field, including its science, policy, and business.

CaridianBCT Recieves Grant Funding From US Department of Defense
CaridianBCT has announced it has been awarded a $5.6 million grant from the US Department of Defense (DoD) Deployment Related Medical Research Program (DRMRP), for the development of Mirasol® PRT System, designed for improving the safety of whole blood for transfusions in trauma cases.

Qatar Health Bank Nearing Conclusion of Cord-Blood Pilot Program
A partnership between Qatar Foundation and U.K.'s Virgin Health Bank is nearing the end of a pilot program for the collection, processing and storage of umbilical cord-blood stem cells.

The Coleman Foundation Awards $2 Million Matching Grant for Loyala's Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
Loyola University Medical Center has received a $2 million matching grant from The Coleman Foundation to renovate the hospital's nationally known bone marrow transplant unit. Intended to encourage private donations for the project, the grant will match gifts up to $2 million on a dollar-for-dollar basis, through August 2010.

Haemonetics Signs Comprehensive Agreement with Blood Centers of America
The contract provides multiple incentives for Blood Centers of America member blood centers to use Haemonetics' suite of innovative blood management software products.

POLICY NEWS

Obama Gives Proponents Hope for Medical Malpractice Reform
Following President Barack Obama's offer of compromise on an issue that has long divided Washington, congressional health care negotiators are considering proposals to foster alternatives to medical malpractice lawsuits.

Senate's 10-Year Health Fix Would Cost $856B
The bill by Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, would make major changes to the nation's $2.5 trillion health care system, including requiring all individuals to purchase health care or pay a fine, and language prohibiting insurance company practices like charging more to people with more serious health problems.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting

MEDICINES AND HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS REGULATORY AGENCY (United Kingdom)

The Better Regulation of Medicines Initiative (BROMI) publishes its fourth progress report

EVENTS

51st ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 9-12, 2009
New Orleans, LA

2010 BMT Tandem Meetings
February 24-28, 2010
Orlando, Florida

The European Group for Blood & Marrow Transplantation Annual Meeting
March 21-24, 2010
Vienna, Austria

Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium Annual Meeting
April 7-10, 2010
Vancouver, BC

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy Meeting
May 22-26, 2010
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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