FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Cellular Engineering Technologies, the John Paul II Medical Research Institute and the University of Iowa Create the First Virus-Free and Oncogene-Free Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Technology to Produce Safer Pluripotent Stem Cells from Cord Blood and Peripheral Blood
Coralville, IA, USA – November 30, 2018
Cellular Engineering Technologies (CET), a biotechnology company located in Coralville, Iowa, and the John Paul II Medical Research Institute (JP2MRI), a Coralville, Iowa based non-profit organization, and the University of Iowa announce a new milestone in regenerative medicine to create safer and non-controversial pluripotent stem cells from cord blood and peripheral blood obtained from donors. The organizations, which were founded by Dr. Alan Moy, published their research findings in an ahead of publication notification in the scientific journal Regenerative Medicine. The study is entitled "Virus-free and oncogene-free induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming in cord blood and peripheral blood in patients with lung disease." The study shows for the first time a new approach to create induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) without the need to use viruses and, more importantly, the standard oncogenes (cancer genes) used to produce iPSC.
The study creates new opportunities to extend the diversity and lifelong utility of cord blood. Parents currently bank their child's cord blood for presumed future private use. However, private cord blood storage has several shortcomings, which include rare and limited therapeutic indications during childhood; and insufficient number and diversity of stem cells to treat chronic disease as they approach adulthood.
The study also reports the creation of iPSC from peripheral blood in patients with Cystic Fibrosis and alpha one antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The production of safer pluripotent stem cells from peripheral blood offer more predictive patient models of disease for drug development without untoward influences from viral and oncogenic effects. Also, the approach provides a safer autologous (patient's own) pluripotent stem cell therapy for future use. The technology advances personalized and regenerative medicine, drug discovery and bio-banking. Virus-free and oncogene-free iPSC offers broader utility than the direct use of cord blood for a diverse spectrum of diseases that include neurodegenerative, cardiopulmonary, retinal, arthritic, metabolic and autoimmune disorders and cancer.
In response to this scientific breakthrough, JP2MRI and CET are creating a joint venture to establish a commercial private iPSC bio-bank from a donor's peripheral blood or samples derived from a donor's privately banked cord blood. The benefits for the consumer include offering a lifetime personalized iPSC for personalized diagnostics; personalized medicine; more efficient drug development for clinical trials; and future autologous stem cell therapies. Individuals can learn more about the private iPSC banking by going to CET's website (www.celleng-tech.com).
For more information, contact: info@celleng-tech.com or phone: (319) 688-7367 at the John Paul II Medical Research Institute.
About Cellular Engineering Technologies (CET): CET is a biopharmaceutical company located in Coralville, IA that manufactures human stem cells and proteins for academia, industry and government research organizations. CET also offers personalized stem cell bio-banking service for the consumer market.
About the John Paul II Medical Research Institute (JP2MRI): JP2MRI is a non-profit medical research organization whose mission is to conduct adult stem cell research for its therapeutic priorities which includes: 1) Neurodegenerative Diseases; 2) Rare Diseases; 3) Cancer; and 4) Chronic Diseases that are unmet and underperformed by the biopharmaceutical industry. The Institute conducts ethical medical research consistent within the frame work of Catholic moral teaching, which includes avoiding the use of human embryos and aborted fetal tissue in medical research.