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Pluristem's PLX-BMT Product Featured in the Journal ''Expert Opinion on
Biological Therapy''
Thursday July 17, 10:00 am
ET
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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pluristem
Therapeutics Inc. (NasdaqCM:PSTI) (DAX:PJT),
a bio-therapeutics company dedicated to the
commercialization of non-personalized (allogeneic)
cell therapy products for a variety of
degenerative, ischemic and autoimmune
indications, announced today that the
Company’s
product, PLX-BMT, is featured in the August
issue of the peer-reviewed Journal Expert
Opinion on Biological Therapy1.
PLX-BMT utilizes the Company’s
proprietary PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cells
as an alternative to bone marrow
transplantation (BMT). PLX cells are
mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) obtained
from human placenta and expanded using
Pluristem’s
proprietary 3D PluriX™
technology.
The nine page article
entitled “Placental-derived
and expanded mesenchymal stromal cells (PLX-I)
to enhance the engraftment of hematopoietic
stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood”
and authored by William R Prather RPh MD,
Amir Toren PhD & Moran Meiron PhD of
Pluristem contains the following abstract:
“For
the past 40 years, bone marrow
transplantation (BMT) has become standard
therapy to re-establish marrow function in
patients with damaged or defective bone
marrow. A human leukocyte antigen-matched
sibling is the donor of choice for patients
needing transplantation of allogeneic
hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). As most
patients do not have an acceptable matched,
related donor, the National Marrow Donor
Program has been established to match
volunteer bone marrow donors with potential
recipients who require BMT. Although
transplantation of HSCs from an unrelated
donor can be an effective therapy for a
variety of malignant and non-malignant
diseases, it remains complicated because of
treatment-related morbidity and mortality,
which has led to the investigation of
alternative sources of HSCs such as
umbilical cord blood (UCB). This review
highlights the advantages and disadvantages
of UCB and recent developments that address
its disadvantages. This includes the use of
a placenta-expanded mesenchymal stromal cell
product (PLX-I) being developed by Pluristem
Therapeutics Inc. and our opinion about the
potential of this product.”
PLX-I is currently named
PLX-BMT.
Zami Aberman, Pluristem’s
President and CEO, said:
“We are pleased that our PLX-BMT
product has been chosen to be showcased in
this prestigious peer-reviewed journal.
Pluristem believes the acceptance of this
article by the scientific and medical
communities lends tremendous credibility to
our technology of transforming the miracle
of birth into therapeutics for all and its
potential to benefit thousands of patients
annually.”
About the Journal
Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy
Published by Informa
Healthcare (publisher of
Scrip,
Biotechniques and the
Taylor & Francis journals), the
Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy is
an essential source of peer-reviewed
articles focusing on emerging biotherapeutic
drugs and technologies.
Through systematic review
and evaluation, Expert Opinion on
Biological Therapy covers all aspects of
biological therapy, from therapeutic
peptides and proteins to gene transfer
technologies and drug delivery systems,
placing new advances in the context of
current therapeutic practice and providing
an expert opinion on the scope for future
development.
About Pluristem
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.
is a bio-therapeutics company dedicated to
the commercialization of non-personalized
(allogeneic) cell therapy products for the
treatment of several severe degenerative,
ischemic and autoimmune disorders. The
Company is developing a pipeline of
products, stored ready-to-use, that are
derived from human placenta, a
non-controversial, non-embryonic, adult stem
cell source.
These placental mesenchymal
stromal cells (MSCs) are expanded in the
Company's proprietary PluriXTM
3D bioreactor, which imitates the natural
microstructure of bone marrow and does not
require supplemental growth factors or other
exogenous materials. Pluristem believes that
the resultant PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells
are multi-potent and able to differentiate
into a variety of cell types. Recent
evidence also suggests their efficacy may be
related to the secretion of cytokines or
other potent immune modulators. Furthermore,
PLX cells are immune privileged and have
immunomodulatory properties, thus protecting
the recipient from immunological reactions
that often accompany transplantations.
Pluristem's first product in
development, PLX-PAD, is intended to improve
the quality of life of millions of people
suffering from peripheral artery disease
(PAD). The Company's products in development
also include PLX-BMT, targeting the global
shortfall of matched tissue for bone marrow
transplantation (BMT) by improving the
engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells
(HSCs) contained in umbilical cord blood;
PLX-STROKE, targeting ischemic stroke;
PLX-MS, targeting Multiple Sclerosis; and
PLX-IBD, targeting Inflammatory Bowel
Disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s
disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Pluristem has offices in the
USA with research and manufacturing
facilities in Israel.
See our product animation on
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFhWXyJT6Us
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains
forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 and federal securities laws. For
example, when we say that Pluristem believes
the acceptance of this article by the
scientific and medical communities lends
tremendous credibility to our technology of
transforming the miracle of birth into
therapeutics for all and its potential to
benefit thousands of patients annually, we
are using forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based on the
current expectations of the management of
Pluristem only, and are subject to a number
of factors and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking
statements. The following factors, among
others, could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements: changes in
technology and market requirements; our
technology may not be validated as we
progress further and our methods may not be
accepted by the scientific community; we may
be unable to retain or attract key employees
whose knowledge is essential to the
development of our products; unforeseen
scientific difficulties may develop with our
process; results in the laboratory may not
translate to equally good results in real
surgical settings; our patents may not be
sufficient; our products may harm
recipients; changes in legislation;
inability to timely develop and introduce
new technologies, products and applications;
loss of market share and pressure on pricing
resulting from competition, which could
cause the actual results or performance of
Pluristem to differ materially from those
contemplated in such forward-looking
statements. Except as otherwise required by
law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to
publicly release any revisions to these
forward-looking statements to reflect events
or circumstances after the date hereof or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events. For a more detailed description of
the risk and uncertainties affecting
Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem's
reports filed from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information visit
our website at
www.pluristem.com, the content of which
is not part of this press release.
1
William R Prather RPh MD, Amir Toren PhD &
Moran Meiron PhD. Placental-derived and
expanded mesenchymal stromal cells (PLX-I)
to enhance the engraftment of hematopoietic
stem cells derived from umbilical cord
blood. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2008
Aug;8(8):1241-50
Contact:
Pluristem
William Prather RPh, MD, 303-883-4954
Sr. VP Corporate Development
bill@pluristem.com
Source:
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.
Contact:
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.
William Prather RPh, MD
Sr. VP Corporate Development
303-883-4954
bill@pluristem.com
Source: Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.
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