TreeFrog Therapeutics opens technological hub in Kobe, Japan, to drive partnerships opportunities in the field of iPSC-derived cell therapies

April 8^th, 2022, Kobe, Japan – TreeFrog Therapeutics, a French-based biotech company aimed at making safer, more efficient and more affordable cell therapies based on iPSCs, announced the incorporation of its Japanese subsidiary (KK) TreeFrog Therapeutics Japan and the establishment of a lab in Kobe, at the Creative Lab for Innovation Kobe (CLIK). Incorporated in Bordeaux, France, in 2018, TreeFrog Therapeutics introduces a breakthrough technology for the development and bioproduction of iPSC-derived cell therapies: C-Stem^TM. 

Overcoming major challenges in cardiac drug discovery using human induced pluripotent stem cell technology

The biggest opportunity for success in cardiac drug discovery and development is to make these processes more efficient and affordable, since they carry relatively higher risk of clinical trial failure compared to other disciplines. Human iPSC technology is increasingly utilized to develop disease models that reliably mimic the diversity of patient pathogenicity and disease severity in vitro. Phenotypic screening based on iPSC-derived disease models is making cardiac drug discovery more time and cost effective by enabling target-agnostic studies and increasing the translational power of early drug discovery outcomes.

FDA Approves Direct Biologics to Proceed with a Landmark Phase 3 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Trial

AUSTIN, Texas, April 21, 2022 – Direct Biologics, a regenerative biotechnology company with a groundbreaking extracellular vesicle (EV) platform technology, announced that the FDA has approved the company to proceed with its Phase 3 clinical trial using its investigational EV drug, ExoFlo, to treat Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) due to Covid-19. Direct Biologics is the first and only EV company to receive FDA Phase 3 approval for an Investigational New Drug (IND) indication to date.

denovoMATRIX Launches Novel Microcarrier to Advance Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing

DRESDEN, Germany, May. 04, 2022 — denovoMATRIX GmbH, an innovator in cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing, announced the launch of a novel microcarrier for increasing access to high-quality mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for stem cell-based therapies. The product, termed beadMATRIX, is designed to enable MSC proliferation and harvest in xeno-/serum-free media with high efficiency and stemness.

Avery Therapeutics, Inc Announces a Publication in Nature Scientific Reports Outlining Methods of Acquiring Cardiac MRI Endpoints in High Value Pre-Clinical Models of Heart Failure from University of Arizona Study

TUCSON, Ariz., – April 11, 2022 – Avery Therapeutics, Inc. (Avery), a privately held, pre-clinical stage therapeutics company, today announced a publication in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, Nature Scientific Reports, outlining a novel technique in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) data acquisition utilizing smart-signal gradient recalled echo (GRE)-based array sequences, entitled, “Free-breathing gradient recalled echo-based CMR in a swine heart failure model,” (Morris, el al. (2022). Scientific Reports, 12(1). 

Organicell Regenerative Medicine: Advances of Exosome-Based Therapeutics in the Clinic

Regenerative Medicine is a rapidly expanding sector of biotechnology with numerous innovative therapeutics. Regenerative medicine encompasses a multitude of specialties such as orthopedics, immunology, and cardiology, while following common trends within the fields of tissue and cell engineering. In contrast to common symptom-targeting therapeutics, which temporarily relieve and subdue conditions, regenerative medicine is designed to reprogram damaged or diseased tissues back to a healthy state. Through reprogramming, regenerative medicine has the potential to provide long-term effects in chronic and reoccurring symptomatic diseases.

PeptiGrowth Inc. is launching a novel synthetic TrkB agonist peptide (BDNF alternative)

April 4, 2022, Tokyo, Japan — PeptiGrowth Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Jiro Sugimoto) has successfully developed a novel TrkB agonist peptide which has the equivalent functions to recombinant Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF). We will be marketing this product (BDNF alternative) from the beginning of April, 2022.

I Peace triples GMP cell manufacturing by expanding CDMO facility

March 7, 2022, Palo Alto, California — I Peace, Inc. (CEO: Koji Tanabe), a Palo Alto-based biotech start-up, announced that the company had tripled its capacity to manufacture GMP grade iPS cells and iPSC-derived differentiated cells by expanding its facility. The facility’s expansion, designed to conform to GMP standard, is now almost complete and is expected to start manufacturing cGMP grade cells in April this year after going through a regulatory review and FDA registration update. With this CDMO facility expansion, I Peace will be able to meet the growing needs for GMP iPS cells from pharmaceutical companies and cell therapy developers, and better serve individuals with increased personal iPS cell banking service capacity.

The USPTO Issues a Patent to Cellular Engineering Technologies For Producing Safer Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Cellular Engineering Technologies (CET) has received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its virus-free and oncogene-free iPSC technology. The iPSC technology which was previously published in Future Science Open Access and Regenerative Medicine was developed in collaboration with the John Paul II Medical Research Institute (JP2MRI). The National Institutes of Health also awarded CET a SBIR grant to commercialize the technology to provide reproducible iPSC and differentiated neural stem cells that maintain pluripotency and genetic stability during large scale production.

Ncardia Launches Cellistic™, the Only iPSC-based Cell Therapy Process Development & Manufacturing Partner Purpose-built to Make Large-scale Allogeneic Cell Therapy Production a Reality Today

GOSSELIES, Belgium, April 19, 2022 – Ncardia has launched a new business, Cellistic™, to focus Ncardia’s induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) expertise on the cell therapy development and manufacturing sector. This strategy expands on Ncardia’s existing drug discovery solutions business and capitalizes on the company’s deep expertise in iPSC differentiation and expansion to focus dedicated resources and capabilities to address the growing need for iPSC cell therapy solutions, including the development of robust cell-specific manufacturing platforms.

ShiftBio Partners with RoosterBio to Accelerate Development of a Novel Genetically Engineered Exosome, SBI-102 for Rare Diseases and Cancer

Seoul, South Korea and Frederick, MD, April 26, 2022 – ShiftBio, a leader in the development of innovative exosome platform technologies, announced today a strategic partnership with RoosterBio Inc., a leading supplier of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), highly engineered media, and bioprocess development services. This partnership will accelerate ShiftBio’s therapeutic candidates, starting with SBI-102 (Stem cell-derived exosomes expressing a therapeutic ligand), into the clinic.

I Peace accelerates allogeneic iPSC-derived cell therapies with a high throughput method to identify a large number of donors with specific HLA haplotypes

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 11, 2022 – I Peace, Inc. (CEO: Koji Tanabe), a Palo Alto-based biotech start-up in the field of GMP cell manufacturing CDMO, announced that the company, in collaboration with Genequest Inc., a Tokyo-based direct-to-consumer genetic testing service provider, established a data-driven method to identify potential cell donors with specific haplotypes. With this high-throughput method, the company has already succeeded in identifying 1,547 HLA-homozygous potential donors and has already generated iPSCs.

StemCyte Requests BLA from U.S. FDA for Allogeneic Cord Blood Product

BALDWIN PARK, Calif., March 22, 2022 —The BLA (Biologics License Application) for the “HPC-Cord Blood” product, was submitted to FDA on January 7th, 2022, and StemCyte was officially notified on March 8th, 2022, that the submission was acceptable to enter the biologics license quality review process. The “HPC-Cord Blood” is an umbilical cord blood HSC product intended for unrelated donor hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation procedures in conjunction with an appropriate preparative regimen for hematopoietic and immunologic reconstitution.

TreeFrog Therapeutics Launches a $100,000 Research Grant in Regenerative Medicine

Bordeaux, France, April 19th, 2022 – TreeFrog Therapeutics, a biotechnology company aimed at making safer, more efficient and more affordable cell therapies based on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), has announced the launch of The Stem Cell SpaceShot Grant, a $100,000 research funding in the field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

AASCP is Proud to Add Dr. Scheffer Tseng, Accalimed Opthamologist and Founder of Bio-Tissue Products, to Its Speaker Roster

MIAMI, April 27, 2022 – The American Academy of Stem Cell Physicians (AASCP) is proud to welcome the acclaimed Ophthalmologist Dr. Scheffer Tseng as a Guest Speaker for its upcoming conference on June 17-19, 2022 in Miami, Florida. At this event, the AASCP will host expert speakers from across the country lecturing on the innovations in stem cell research and how they can be safely and effectively applied to patient populations in accordance with current regulations. Hands on workshops will also be offered.

PolarityTE Announces FDA RMAT Awarded to Its Designation Granted to SkinTE®

SALT LAKE CITY, May 13, 2022 – PolarityTE, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTE) announced that the U.S. FDA granted a RMAT designation to SkinTE under the Company’s open IND. Richard Hague, CEO, commented “FDA granting our request for an RMAT designation for SkinTE validates not only the strength of the preliminary clinical evidence, but also demonstrates the seriousness of the conditions that we seek to treat and the substantial nature of the unmet needs among the patient populations that we aim to serve."

Global Cord Blood Corporation Announces Entry into Cell Therapy Market by Acquiring Cellenkos and Its Products Rights

HONG KONG, April 29, 2022 — Global Cord Blood Corporation (NYSE: CO, “GCBC” or the “Company”), China’s leading provider of cord blood collection, laboratory testing, hematopoietic stem cell processing and stem cell storage services, announced that the Company will acquire 100% of Cellenkos, Inc (“CLNK”) and the rights to develop and commercialize all of its existing and future products worldwide except those related to CLNK’s existing collaboration with Incyte Corporation (Nasdaq: INCY, “Incyte”).

Distinguished Physician, Dr. Warren J. Bleiweiss, Fellow of the AASCP, Will Present at the AASCP Conference on June 17-19, 2022

Dr. Warren J. Bleiweiss, a guest speaker for the American Academy of Stem Cell Physicians (AASCP) and Fellow graduate of the AASCP, will provide a talk on innovative regenerative medicine treatments. Dr. Bleiweiss is a national leader in the use of PRP injection treatments for herniated discs, joint and muscle pain, and injuries. He pioneered the outpatient PRP disc injection procedure in the U.S. and remains a leading expert in North America for treating disc herniation. He is also a triple board-certified physician with extensive expertise in regenerative therapies and 30+ years of experience.

Global Database of CAR-T Cell Companies, 2022 (50% Off)

Since the first historic CAR-T approvals in 2017, Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel), Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel), Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel), Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel), and Relma-cel (relmacabtagene autoleucel) have reached commercialization. To track the competitors who compose this rapidly expanding marketplace, BioInformant has released a global database of all known CAR-T cell therapy companies—currently 161 worldwide. For a limited-time, you can claim this database for an unusual 50% off.

[NEW] The Global Exosome Market - Market Size, Forecasts, Trials, and Trends, 2022

Exosome technologies have been developing rapidly over the past few years and substantial growth is expected for the market as they get integrated into the fields of liquid biopsy, precision medicine and regenerative medicine. To characterize the rapidly expanding exosome market, BioInformant has released a 312-page global market report that explores growing demand for exosome therapeutics, diagnostics, research tools, and manufacturing technologies. The report reveals trend rate data for exosome patents, grants, scientific publications, and clinical trials, as well as market size figures with projections through 2030.

To access other market insights about CAR-T cell therapy, MSCs, iPSCs, cord blood, and beyond, explore the BioInformant Shop.

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