Category Archives: Cell Therapy

Biotechs may be flush with cash, thanks to the ol bullish IPO market and an uptick in venture funding. But startups remainon the lookout for alternative funding models with crowdsourcing front and center.

This makes British biotech startup Cell Therapyparticularly interesting,itjustraised 689,246 or a bit over$1 million to launch a stem cell therapy for heart failure. This is one of the highest life sciences-related crowdfunding efforts topped only by Scanadu, whose handheld consumer diagnostic tool raised $1.6 million in Indiegogo.

Cell Therapy, which was founded by 2007 Nobel Prize winner Martin Evans, raised the funding on thesite Crowdcube exceeding its goal of 250,000 with backing from nearly 300 investors. It ceded a mere 0.39% in equity to the backers thatinclude investment bankers, hedge fund employees and scientists, CEO Ajan Reginald said.

It was very fast and very efficient, Reginaldtold Reuters. We have spent 5 percent of our time on fundraising, which enables me to spend 95 percent of my time on the business.

Crowdfunding is increasingly becoming an option for early stage biotechs that want to sidestep the traditional venture-backed approach. On one hand, its a relatively simple means to raise a large amount of seed capital but on the other, there are many more (potentially irate) investors to answer to when a companys in its nascence.

New York-based Poliwoggs entire premise is on bringing crowdfunding to healthcare with aims to help companies raise fundsfrom accredited investors beyond the seed stage, with rounds ranging from $2 million to $10 million mark.Notably, ithas its own regenerative medicine fund.

Part of the idea here is that people want to invest in the things they care about, but they havent always had the opportunity to invest in them, CEO Greg Simon told MedCity News.Were giving people the opportunity to put their money where their passion is.

Thats all fine and good to have a passion for a cause, but the traditional accredited investor whos enmeshed in a crowdfunding effort may still not understand the intricacies of what it takes to get results or a return in a tricky field like regenerative medicine.

John Carroll over atFierce Biotechopined that crowdfunding wont make a significant dent in the approach to life sciences crowdfunding. Stem cell therapy, after all, generated tons of media pomp and flair a decade ago, but has yet to deliver on many of its curative promises from back then. VCs are often burnt and reticent, and investors on crowdfunding sites will likely be, as well. Carroll says:

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Cell Therapy may have just raised $1M, but will crowdfunding have a lasting place in biotech?

LONDON: A British biotech company founded by a Nobel prize winner has raised what it says is a record 691,000 (US$1 million) via crowdfunding to help launch a stem cell-based regenerative medicine for use following heart trauma.

Cell Therapy, based in the Welsh capital Cardiff, says the medicine has the potential to reduce scarring of the heart muscle caused by a heart attack or failure.

Chief Executive Ajan Reginald, previously at Roche, said crowd funding was a quick way to raise money for final stage trials or commercial launches. "It was very fast and very efficient," he told Reuters on Monday. "We have spent 5 per cent of our time on fundraising, which enables me to spend 95 per cent of my time on the business."

The company, whose founder Martin Evans shared the 2007 Nobel Prize for medicine for groundbreaking stem cell research, used website Crowdcube to raise nearly three times its original target from more than 300 investors.

Reginald said the backers included investment bankers, hedge fund employees and scientists. "Crowd funding allows investors to look in detail at a company in their own time," he said, adding that some 10,000 investors had seen the pitch.

The company would publish data from clinical trials of the drug, called Heartcel, next month, before final stage trials with a view to a launch in 2016.

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British biotech firm sets crowdfunding record with heart drug

Knee arthritis; 2 years after stem cell therapy by Harry Adelson, N.D.

By: Harry Adelson, N.D.

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Knee arthritis; 2 years after stem cell therapy by Harry Adelson, N.D. - Video

Neck and Shoulder arthritis two years after stem cell therapy by Harry Adelson, N.D.
Steve describes his outcome two years after stem cell therapy for his arthritic neck and shoulder by Dr Harry Adelson http://www.docereclinics.com.

By: Harry Adelson, N.D.

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Neck and Shoulder arthritis two years after stem cell therapy by Harry Adelson, N.D. - Video

Nicholasville, KY (PRWEB) February 04, 2015

Rescued when he was only 4 weeks old, Nakiia, a 15-year-old Panther, has been living in severe pain after a jumping incident. Jan Hall, Nakiias owner has dedicated her life to rescuing animals. Nakiia, the namesake of her rescue foundation The Nakiia Foundation is the love of her life. Witnessing this fabulous animal in such pain was too much for Jan to bear. The Doctors treating Nakiia decided to undertake a revolutionary medical procedure, which centers on regenerative medicine.

Newman Veterinary Center in DeLand Florida performed MediVets Adipose (fat)-derived stem cell therapy. The male Florida panther underwent this procedure, more commonly performed on domestic animal such as dogs, cats and horses. The procedure is an effort to ease the pain from severe arthritis in his joints. This was a last stage effort for the panther that can no longer continue to live in such pain.

Though stem cell treatments have been performed in exotic animals before, it is still a rare and exciting undertaking. Utilizing MediVet Biologics procedure, Dr. Ted Oliver was able to ensure the process will produce the best possible results. MediVets procedure is completed in one day and in-clinic.

Stem Cell treatments in the past have often been controversial when embryonic cells where involved, with adipose or fat tissue Nakiias own adult stem cells could be easily concentrated and activated with minimal risk. Until recently Veterinarians only had the option of utilizing outside labs for processing of autologous cells, with the one step surgical treatment available from MediVet Biologics, Veterinarians all around the country can eliminate the costs and variability in shipping by utilizing an onsite simple procedure.

During the procedure, Dr. Oliver removed about four tablespoons of belly fat from the panther. The fat was then processed in-clinic by a trained technician. The cells are incubated, isolated and activated by a patented process. Dr. Oliver carefully re-administered the cells directly back into Nakiia. Nakiias excess cells will be stored for future use eliminating the need to surgically re-harvest additional tissue.

MediVets primary mission and goal is to help all animals live a pain free life. In regenerative medicine and biologic intervention age is not a disease rather a challenge that presents us many opportunities to develop cutting edge treatments to combat issues related to the aging process. Our partnerships with progressive Veterinarians such as Newman Veterinary Centers allow us to extend affordable cutting edge treatments to animals who otherwise potentially have limited treatments available. We look forward to following Nakiias progress." - Jeremy Delk, CEO of MediVet Biologics.

Newman Veterinary Center was honored to be a part of Nakiias stem cell procedure. The excitement that this 146-lb. cat brought to our clinic was unparalleled. We have very high hopes that Nakiia will be feeling much better very soon. - Erica Kent Director of Operations at Newman Veterinary Centers.

Nakiias story will air on Wednesday, February 4th on CBS WKMG (local 6) with Mike Holfeld, Investigative Reporter.

About MediVet Biologics MediVet Biologics is the Worlds leading provider of Veterinary regenerative medicine. The central Kentucky based company was founded in 2009 and quickly gained favor in the Veterinary industry with the advent of in-clinic adipose derived stem cell and platelet rich plasma treatments. Since gaining wide appeal in the small and large veterinary market MediVet Biologics has developed a strong biologic pipeline that includes, among other cutting edge treatment options, patient specific immunotherapy services.

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Florida Panther Receives Cutting Edge Stem Cell Procedure from MediVet Biologics

Peek the American black bear (Courtesy: Topeka Zoo)

Peek the bear is shown undergoing a CT scan at St. Francis Health Center in this photo from the Topeka Zoo.

St. Francis Health Center staff watch as a CT scan is performed on Peek the black bear. (Courtesy: Topeka Zoo)

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - An American black bear at the Topeka Zoo may be the first bear ever to undergo stem cell treatment for a spinal problem.

Zoo Director Brendan Wiley says Peek, who is 20-years old, started losing control of her hind legs two weeks ago. The condition worsened and zoo staff says pain medication was not having any impact on the situation.

One of the unique things about this scenario is that Peek hasnt acted like anything is hurting her. It is like the front half of her body can no longer communicate with the back half, said Animal Care Supervisor Shanna Simpson.

The zoo worked with St. Francis Health Center to perform a CT scan. Peek was tranquilized and transported to St. Francis' imaging facilities.

"Our first priority is human patient safety and access," says Brent Wilkins, director of Imaging Services at St. Francis Health. "We work with the Topeka Zoo to accommodate animals that need CT scans in off hours when one of our CT scanners is available. We made sure the bear was separated from any other patients and performed a high-level decontamination and cleaning of the area, called a terminal cleaning, after the bears visit."

The scan revealed an area of Peek's spine with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of her spinal column, causing pressure on the spinal cord.

In anticipation of future treatment, Dr. Larry Snyder and Dr. Travis Gratton, veterinarians from Topeka's University Small Animal Hospital were contacted. Before Peek was transported for the CT scan, the two harvested fat cells, which they converted to stem cells to inject back into her. The theory behind the treatment is that the stem cells can stimulate damaged area to repair and heal itself.

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Topeka Zoo Black Bear Undergoes Stem Cell Therapy