Patent for Stem Cells and MS
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 3:01 pm
This looks really good. It has to go via the mice first.
http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.a ... NEWSML.xml
BrainStorm Files Patent Application for Stem Cell Procedure with Potential for Multiple Sclerosis Therapy
1/26/2006 8:30:00 AM EST
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTCBB:BCLI), the developer of NurOwn(TM) bone marrow derived stem cell therapeutic products
for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that a patent application has been filed with the
US Patent and Trademark Office for a new procedure to derive oligodendrocyte-like cells.
The invention involves inducing oligodendrocyte-like cells using the company's proprietary bone marrow derived human
mesenchymal stem cell technology.
The patent application was filed by the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University, Ramot, on the basis of
research funded by Brainstorm . Worldwide rights to the development and commercialization of the new technology are
exclusively licensed to BrainStorm.
"Developing the capability to derive oligodendrocyte-like cells is a major step forward because of the important role
that oligodendrocyte cells are believed to have in restoring cell function in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis
and other demyelinating diseases," said Yoram Drucker, Principal Executive Officer of BrainStorm.
"Now that we have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells can be induced to differentiate in vitro to oligodendrocyte
lineage and form functional cells, our next goal will be to test the oligodendrocyte-like cells in animal models of
Multiple Sclerosis," said Dr. Daniel Offen, BrainStorm's Chief Scientist.
Brainstorm's success in deriving olgodendrocyte-like cells follows several other major technological achievements made
by the company during the past year using the company's proprietary bone marrow derived stem cell technology.
In other studies, Brainstorm successfully used bone marrow stem cells to produce dopaminergic-like cells shown to be
capable of dopamine secretion and to benefit animal models of Parkinson's disease.
Brainstorm also used its bone marrow stem cell technology to produce astrocyte-like cells with the capacity of producing
glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), the most potent neurotrophic factor known for dopaminergic neurons . Transplanted
dopamine- and GDNF producing-cells, acting on their own or in combination, hold great promise for replacement and
preservation of neurons in Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is an emerging company developing neural-like stem cell therapeutic products, NurOwn(TM),
based on autologous bone marrow derived stromal cells, for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. NurOwn(TM) patent pending
technology is based on discoveries made by the team of prominent neurologist, Prof. Eldad Melamed, Head of Neurology at
Rabin Medical Center, and expert cell biologist Dr. Daniel Offen, at the Felsenstein Medical Research Center of
Tel-Aviv University, enabling the differentiation of bone marrow derived stem cells into functional neurons and astrocytes,
as demonstrated in animal models. The company holds rights to develop and commercialize the technology through an
exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., the technology transfer company of
Tel Aviv University. The company's initial focus is on developing treatments for Parkinson's Disease.
About Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are non-specialized cells with a remarkable potential for both self-renewal and differentiation into cell
ypes with a specialized function, such as muscle, blood or brain cells. Stem cells may be sourced from fetal or
embryonic tissue or from adult tissue reservoirs such as bone marrow. Use of embryonic stem cells, has become the
center of significant ethical and moral debate. In contrast, use of adult stem cells does not face the same moral
or legal controversy. Stem cell therapy aims to "cure" disease by replacing the "diseased" cells with "healthy"
cells derived from stem cells. This approach has the potential to revolutionize medicine and, if successful, the
implied commercial opportunities are great. Currently, both embryonic stem cells (ESC) and adult stem cells (ASC) are
being explored as the potential basis for multiple cell therapy products.
http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.a ... NEWSML.xml
BrainStorm Files Patent Application for Stem Cell Procedure with Potential for Multiple Sclerosis Therapy
1/26/2006 8:30:00 AM EST
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTCBB:BCLI), the developer of NurOwn(TM) bone marrow derived stem cell therapeutic products
for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, announced today that a patent application has been filed with the
US Patent and Trademark Office for a new procedure to derive oligodendrocyte-like cells.
The invention involves inducing oligodendrocyte-like cells using the company's proprietary bone marrow derived human
mesenchymal stem cell technology.
The patent application was filed by the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University, Ramot, on the basis of
research funded by Brainstorm . Worldwide rights to the development and commercialization of the new technology are
exclusively licensed to BrainStorm.
"Developing the capability to derive oligodendrocyte-like cells is a major step forward because of the important role
that oligodendrocyte cells are believed to have in restoring cell function in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis
and other demyelinating diseases," said Yoram Drucker, Principal Executive Officer of BrainStorm.
"Now that we have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells can be induced to differentiate in vitro to oligodendrocyte
lineage and form functional cells, our next goal will be to test the oligodendrocyte-like cells in animal models of
Multiple Sclerosis," said Dr. Daniel Offen, BrainStorm's Chief Scientist.
Brainstorm's success in deriving olgodendrocyte-like cells follows several other major technological achievements made
by the company during the past year using the company's proprietary bone marrow derived stem cell technology.
In other studies, Brainstorm successfully used bone marrow stem cells to produce dopaminergic-like cells shown to be
capable of dopamine secretion and to benefit animal models of Parkinson's disease.
Brainstorm also used its bone marrow stem cell technology to produce astrocyte-like cells with the capacity of producing
glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), the most potent neurotrophic factor known for dopaminergic neurons . Transplanted
dopamine- and GDNF producing-cells, acting on their own or in combination, hold great promise for replacement and
preservation of neurons in Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is an emerging company developing neural-like stem cell therapeutic products, NurOwn(TM),
based on autologous bone marrow derived stromal cells, for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. NurOwn(TM) patent pending
technology is based on discoveries made by the team of prominent neurologist, Prof. Eldad Melamed, Head of Neurology at
Rabin Medical Center, and expert cell biologist Dr. Daniel Offen, at the Felsenstein Medical Research Center of
Tel-Aviv University, enabling the differentiation of bone marrow derived stem cells into functional neurons and astrocytes,
as demonstrated in animal models. The company holds rights to develop and commercialize the technology through an
exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., the technology transfer company of
Tel Aviv University. The company's initial focus is on developing treatments for Parkinson's Disease.
About Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are non-specialized cells with a remarkable potential for both self-renewal and differentiation into cell
ypes with a specialized function, such as muscle, blood or brain cells. Stem cells may be sourced from fetal or
embryonic tissue or from adult tissue reservoirs such as bone marrow. Use of embryonic stem cells, has become the
center of significant ethical and moral debate. In contrast, use of adult stem cells does not face the same moral
or legal controversy. Stem cell therapy aims to "cure" disease by replacing the "diseased" cells with "healthy"
cells derived from stem cells. This approach has the potential to revolutionize medicine and, if successful, the
implied commercial opportunities are great. Currently, both embryonic stem cells (ESC) and adult stem cells (ASC) are
being explored as the potential basis for multiple cell therapy products.