MediStem Laboratories is a biotechnology company involved in the discovery, development, and commercialization of adult stem cell products that address serious medical conditions. We continuously evaluate our pipeline products to determine which candidates have the most promise and move those candidates towards clinical testing. Our development pipeline continues to grow, now numbering more than 8 projects for two therapeutic focus areas: vascular, and autoimmune diseases.
Endometrial Regenerative Cell Platform
The company’s lead product, the endometrial regenerative cell (ERC), is a “universal donor” stem cell derived from the menstrual blood that possesses the ability to differentiate into nine tissue types, produce large quantities of growth factors, and a large proliferative capacity. A peer reviewed publication describing this novel cell type may be found at http://www.translational-medicine.com/content/5/1/57. The company is currently focusing on use of endometrial regenerative cells for treatment of critical limb ischemia, an advanced form of peripheral artery disease.
Angiostem Platform
Cord blood stem cells display potent ability to generate new blood vessels. At present, the only acceptable methodology for using non-autologous cord blood cells involves immune suppression, which is associated with risks of cancer and infection. The Angiostem technology allows the selective depletion of components of cord blood that have the potential to cause immunologic rejection without depleting the cells that make new blood vessels. Since the Angiostem technology uses components that have already been approved by the FDA for other indications, we believe regulatory hurdles are markedly diminished in comparison to other cellular therapy approaches.
Angiostem derivative product candidates are being developed for the treatment of peripheral artery disease (8 million patients1), coronary artery disease (13 million patients), post stroke (15 million patients), and acceleration of wound healing (10 million patients).
Tolerostem Platform
Diseases of immune deregulation, called autoimmune diseases, are the third most common type of disease behind heart disease and cancer in the United States; affecting 14-22 million people. Tolerostem is a cell therapy platform that leverages naturally occurring processes to bring the immune system back into balance. The approach involves activating stem cells through specific means to upregulate their ability to generate a special type of cell called the T regulatory cell. These cells when activated are then capable of multiplying and instructing the patient’s immune system to specifically stop various pathological inflammatory responses.
Tolerostem derivative product candidates are being developed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (350,000 patients), organ rejection (250,000 patients), and rheumatoid arthritis (2.1 million patients).
1 Patients in the US based on AHA 2003 statistics