TOP STORIES

Umbilical Cord Blood as a Readily Available Source for Off-the-shelf, Patient-specific Stem Cells
Umbilical cord blood cells can successfully be reprogrammed to function like embryonic stem cells, setting the basis for the creation of a comprehensive bank of tissue-matched, cord blood-derived induced pluripotent stem cells for off-the-shelf applications. [Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla]

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SCIENCE NEWS

Pluristem Therapeutics Doses First Patient in U.S. With Placenta-Derived Stem Cell Product PLX-PAD in a Phase I Clinical Trial for Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. recently announced the dosing of the first patient in the U.S. with its placenta-derived stem cell product, PLX-PAD, in a Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of critical limb ischemia. [Pluristem Therapeutics, Haifa]

Excellent Stem Cell Mobilization and Safety Profile for TG-0054
TaiGen Biotechnology Co., Ltd. announced today that in a phase 1 study in healthy volunteers TG-0054, a chemokine receptor CXCR4 antagonist, was well tolerated and rapidly mobilized stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells from bone marrow into peripheral blood. [TaiGen Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Taipei]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Carlecortemcel-l: An ex-Vivo Expanded Umbilical Cord Blood Cell Graft for Allogeneic Transplantation
The result of a Phase I study of carlecortemcel-l, a product derived from ex vivo expansion of umbilical cord blood progenitors in the presence of a copper chelator and early-acting cytokines, and the study design for the current pivotal study are presented. [Expert Opin Biol Ther]

Donor, Recipient, and Transplant Characteristics as Risk Factors After Unrelated Donor PBSC Transplantation: Beneficial Effects of Higher CD34+ Cell Dose
This paper reports the outcomes of 932 recipients of unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell hematopoietic cell transplantation (URD-PBSC HCT) for acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome. [Blood]

Auto-SCT for AML in Second Remission: CALGB Study 9620
Here in this study, the researchers studied the feasibility and efficacy of a two-step approach to Auto-SCT for patients with AML in second remission. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

Overcoming Various Comorbidities by G-CSF-primed Unmanipulated Bone Marrow SCT in Adult Patients with AML
This paper examined whether the use of G-CSF-primed unmanipulated bone marrow permits successful transplantation in patients with adverse comorbid pretransplantation conditions. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

Biological Differences Between Neonatal and Adult Human Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells
Herein, our current understanding, at the cellular and molecular levels, of the biological differences between neonatal and adult hematopoietic cells and its relevance are described. [Stem Cells Dev]

Evaluation of Quality Parameters for Cord Blood Donations
In order to find out whether the conditions for collection and storage before processing might have an impact on the quality of CB preparations, viability and the clonogenic potential were assessed. [Transfus Med Hemother]

Impact of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Reactivation After Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
This study investigated the impact of pre-transplant CMV serostatus and post-transplant CMV reactivation and disease on umbilical cord blood transplant outcomes. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant]

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Stem Cell Therapy International, Inc. Announces Merger With Histostem and Launching of AmStem International, Inc.
Terms of the deal called for Stem Cell Therapy to acquire a 90 percent controlling interest in the securities of Histostem, and for Histostem to acquire a 60% controlling interest in the securities of Stem Cell Therapy.

China Biologic Allies with Chinese Institute to Improve Production of Plasma-Based Products
China Biologic Products inked an agreement with the Institute of Blood Transfusion to strengthen its R&D and manufacturing capabilities.

New England Cord Blood Bank Reports Increased Use of Banked Stem Cells
New England Cord Blood Bank, Inc. announced today that the company has seen a consistent and robust increase in the cord blood units being used for transplants within the past few years.

POLICY NEWS

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (United States)

Von Eschenbach Takes New Job - Trying to Overhaul FDA
Former FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach has joined Newt Gingrich's health think tank, the Center for Health Transformation, as an adviser.

FDA Public Health Notification: Vista Cord, LLC

Blood Products Advisory Committee, 49880-49881 [E9-23434]

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (United States)

NIH Clinical Center Testing Automated Cell Expansion System
The ease and security of automation is coming to bone marrow stromal cell expansion in a new machine in the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center's Department of Transfusion Medicine.

THERAPEUTICS GOODS ADMINISTRATION (Australia)

Compliance with Current Standards Applicable to Haematopoietic Progenitor Cells

Presentations About the Regulation of Blood and Tissues

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

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