Cell Therapy News/Articles, page-4311

A bit of a Sunday read to see what's up in Israel medical world in relation to covid while stem cells get a mention, I maybe looking through rose coloured glasses but looks like they're still testing with animals and preclinical studies while MSB is waiting for the final nod while people are still dying

Full article
https://www.israel21c.org/13-promising-covid-treatments-emerging-from-israel/

Snippet

Bonus BioGroup

In April, Bonus BioGroup initiated a preclinical study of MesenCure, its unique drug for treating acute and life-threatening respiratory distress in coronavirus and pneumonia patients.

MesenCure consists of activated mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells from healthy adult donors. The activation of these MSCs is intended to boost their ability to reduce lung inflammation, promote regeneration of the diseased lung tissue, and alleviate respiratory and other symptoms in the lungs.

The development of MesenCure relies on more than a decade of related experience and technologies that Bonus BioGroup has used in developing its lead product, a tissue-engineered bone graft also based on MSCs.

“With the current coronavirus outbreak, Bonus BioGroup has started tissue culture studies into the potential of these MSCs, further activated, to alleviate inflammation, including in the lungs, and possibly attenuate the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients,” the company explained.

The preclinical study in several animal models is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2020. The company said preliminary results indicate that “following the treatment with MesenCure, the microscopic appearance of the treated lungs was similar to a healthy lung, and a significant improvement in additional related parameters was achieved.”

Bonus BioGroup presented these results to 1,800 scientists, physicians, and public opinion leaders at the virtual conference of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy in May.

NanoGhost

Technion-Israel Institute of Technology Prof. Marcelle Machluf developed a drug-delivery technology that uses reconstructed mesenchymal stem cells as nano-vesicles to transport medicine directly to a target.

NanoGhost is the startup she established to commercialize the technology, which has proven successful in treating pancreatic, lung, breast, prostate, and brain cancer in mice. The NanoGhost technology has been patented in the United States and Europe, with additional patents pending in India and China.

Now, Machluf is adapting her technology to create decoy NanoGhosts that attract and entrap the coronavirus, making for a less severe infection. She explains it in the video below.