|
Hi
A new method of protecting transplanted tissue from immune rejection is
currently under investigation in Dr. Poznansky’s laboratory. Dr. Tao Chen has
developed a novel encapsulant incorporating the chemokine CXCL12 which repels
T-cells, preventing their infiltration into and destruction of the
transplanted tissue. This has been shown to decrease transplanted islet
rejection in mice. This method of protecting islets can also be applied to
other transplanted tissues. Currently, Dr. Chen and Dr. Poznansky are working
to develop this technology for use in human trials. This work is supported by
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
SVA is working with Dr. Poznansky to put the CXCL12 into microcapsules with
islets which then will go into our Cell Pouch(TM) for testing. The CXCL12
helps to protect the islets within the microcapsules from the immune system
attack and is believed to have some other benefits such as stabilizing islets
and encouraging angiogenesis. Dr. Poznansky has already published a journal
article showing the significant improvement in long term graft function with
this approach but in the kidney capsule which is a good test but the Cell
Pouch(TM) testing would make the product clinically relevant.
Below is Sernova’s latest news release re the collaboration with Dr. Mark
Poznansky.
Pretty exciting stuff!
Rick
Sernova Corp. Announces Collaboration with Massachusetts General
Hospital to Develop Novel Diabetes Treatment with Funding Support from JDRF
Sernova Corp. has entered a research collaboration with Massachusetts
General Hospital, supported with funding from JDRF to develop a novel
treatment for diabetes.
Sernova and Dr. Mark Poznansky, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of
Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Vaccine and
Immunotherapy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital will collaborate on
the project, with JDRF providing $150,000 USD in funding support. The
collaboration will incorporate a proprietary local immune protectant
technology within Sernova's novel Cell Pouch as a potential new treatment for
patients with insulin-dependent diabetes.
"Sernova is pleased to be working with Dr. Poznansky, a world
renowned expert in understanding and modulating molecular processes of the
immune system for therapeutic uses, whose laboratory discovered the novel
protectant technology and we are similarly pleased to be working with JDRF
and to receive shared support for this work," said Dr. Philip Toleikis,
President and CEO of Sernova Corp.
Islet transplantation represents a potentially durable cure for type 1
diabetes (T1D) by replacing the lost beta islet cells with new, functional
insulin producing cells. Application of islet transplantation as a treatment
for T1D is currently limited by a number of significant obstacles: a very
limited availability of transplantable islets derived from human cadaveric
donors, the immune destruction of the islets following transplantation and
the need for an implantable, scalable and retrievable device for delivering
therapeutic cells.
Sernova's patented Cell Pouch uses biocompatible polymers to develop,
highly vascularized subcutaneous tissue chambers for the placement, survival
and long term function of islets and other therapeutic cells. Over the past
six years, Sernova's Cell Pouch has demonstrated an excellent safety profile
and efficacy benefit in small and large animal models of disease and
importantly, in humans with severe diabetes, islets transplanted into the
Cell Pouch have been shown to become highly vascularized and able to produce
their therapeutic product.
"Sernova's goal for the treatment of diabetes is to develop a product
consisting of our prevascularized, human scaled Cell Pouch which creates an
ideal environment for locally immune-protected therapeutic cells from a
virtually unlimited source to treat all patients with insulin-dependent
diabetes," added Dr. Toleikis.
"Our collaboration with Sernova is designed to address the obstacles
of current portal vein islet transplantation by combining a proprietary local
immune protectant for transplanted cells from a virtually unlimited source,
within a biocompatible device that enhances microvessel formation and thereby
oxygen supply to the graft," said Dr. Poznansky. He continued,
"This combination is designed to unlock the potential of advanced
therapeutic cell treatment that could meet the needs of the growing
population of patients with diabetes."
"We see Sernova's approach to treating diabetes with its
prevascularized implantable Cell Pouch? using virtually unlimited cell
sources that are locally protected from the immune system as being directly
aligned with the research emphasis of JDRF and look forward to the results
from the collaboration with Dr. Poznansky," said Dr. Albert Hwa, JDRF's
Director of Discovery Research.
sernova.com
|
