The stocks of Magenta Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MGTA) and Molecular Templates (NASDAQ:MTEM) bolted skywards last week, to the tune of 39% and 28% respectively.

Cutting-edge gene-editing therapies, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) treatments, and stem cell transplants all require priming or conditioning regimens. Doctors today utilize older chemotherapy drugs or radiation, which often lead to infection or hospitalization. Magenta Therapeutics and Molecular Templates are among the companies seeking to develop less toxic, non-chemotherapy options for patients.

Image source: Getty Images.

On Nov. 18, Molecular Templates and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRTX) forged a discovery and development collaboration to create novel targeted conditioning regimens applicable to gene-editing, CAR-T, and stem cell transplants. Vertex shelled out $38 million of up-front cash and an equity investment in Molecular Templates. The stock barely flinched, losing $0.03 from the prior day's closing price.

The next day, Nov. 19, Vertex and its collaborator CRISPR Therapeutics announced positive safety and efficacy data for the gene-editing therapy CTX001 in its first two patients. One patient had severe sickle cell disease; the other had beta thalassemia. These interventions edit a patient's genome, potentially allowing for a one-time curative treatment. Both patients received the chemotherapy busulfan prior to CTX001.

Revisiting the prior day's collaboration announcement, biotech investors focused on comments made by Vertex about how Molecular Templates could benefit the CTX001 program.

Vertex's Chief Scientific Officer David Altshuler said,

"We believe that gene editing holds significant promise in the treatment of severe hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, and Molecular Templates' unique technology platform could play an important role in creating a targeted conditioning regimen that could replace chemotherapy currently required in conditioning regimens and thus enhance the overall future treatment experience for patients."

Investors jumped on the message from Vertex, one of the biotech industry's stalwarts: Non-chemotherapy conditioning approaches are the future for gene and cell therapies.

In response, the stocks of other companies focused on achieving that goal (like Magenta) shot up. In fact, Magenta's nearly 40% gain in share price came during a week when it didn't release any news.

Magenta plans to present data on Dec. 6 at the American Society of Hematology's Annual Meeting for its lead program CD117-ADC. Targeting a protein on hematopoietic stem cells called CD117, the treatment eliminated mutated cells without the need for chemotherapy or radiation. Magenta believes CD117-ADC can potentially be used for genetic diseases like sickle cell disease, prior to either gene therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Magenta and Molecular Templates are not the only players in the field. Forty Seven and bluebird bio paired up earlier this month to develop antibody-based conditioning regimens for HSCT. According to the World Health Organization, 50,000 HSCT procedures are performed annually worldwide.

Furthermore, recently approved CAR-T for cancer, such as Kymriah from Novartis or Yescarta from Gilead Sciences, require three days of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. Developers of these and next-generation CAR-T treatments also seek to eliminate chemotherapy or radiation.

Patients greatly need less toxic methods to prepare them for gene- and cell-based therapies, or stem cell and bone marrow transplants. Many patients, particularly the elderly, are deemed ineligible for these interventions because the toxicity could be too severe. Any success could have broad implications for the treatment of cancers and genetic diseases.

While a variety of successful approaches may ultimately emerge, Magenta has taken an early lead with CD117-ADC. Molecular Templates, with Vertex as a seasoned partner by its side, may soon leap onto the scene with a targeted approach derived from its "engineered toxin bodies" platform.

The investor takeaway is clear: New treatment modalities will be dependent on non-chemotherapy conditioning. Investors in biotech companies that can figure out that piece of the puzzle should be richly rewarded.

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2 Small-Cap Biotechs That Soared Last Week - Motley Fool

Nicolene Moonsamy. Sheena Dhunlal and Stephanie Berry encourage people to attend the blood stem cell donor drive.

THE number of patients diagnosed with blood diseases is on the rise, with 75 per cent of those diagnosed under the age of 25 years.

For most of these patients, a blood stem cell transplant is their only hope of cure.

Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre is partnering with The Sunflower Fund to host a blood stem cell donor drive on 27 November at 9.30am to recruit well informed and committed donors onto The Sunflower Fund Registry, The drive will take place in the auditorium on the fourth floor until 3pm.

Leukaemia, aplastic anaemia and immune deficiencies are among the few blood conditions that we treat in our practise and can be managed with a blood stem cell transplant. Stem cells make up the component that your immune system needs to function. During the transplant your body is rescued with an infusion of healthy blood stem cells, explained Dr Keshnie Moodley, treating specialist paediatrician and haematologist at KIDZCAN based at Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre.

ALSO READ: Girls celebrate with The Sunflower Fund

The chances of finding this match is 1:100 000 and the best chance of a match is within your same ethnic background. There is only a 25 per cent chance that a sibling will be a match. The remaining 75 per cent chance depends on an unrelated matching donor being found. Patients of colour and mixed ethnicity around the world are at a disadvantage due to the under-representation of Black, Coloured, Indian and Asian donors in the global donor pool.

As such The Sunflower Fund proactively creates awareness and education about blood diseases as well as the process involved in becoming a blood stem cell donor. We remain a registry of donors that is representative of the people groups in our rainbow nation, who are willing to help anyone for whom they might be a match, said Stephanie Berry from The Sunflower Fund.

To attend the drive on 27 November, contact Xolani Hlongwane on 079 261 2664 or email: [emailprotected]

To become a blood stem cell donor, visit: http://www.sunflowerfund.org.

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Join the stem cell registry - Berea Mail

OBJECTIVES:

Stem cell therapy is a promising approach in the treatment of acutemyocardial infarction(AMI). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from bone marrow (BM-MSC) and adipose tissue (AT-MSC) are attractive and feasible for preclinical and clinical trials. In this study, we compared the therapeutic potential of BM-MSC and AT-MSC in repairing the hearts of rats with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced AMI.

Forty-two female rats were assigned into two groups; the optimization and the experimental group. The optimization groups were further subdivided into control group and the AMI induced group (using ISO). The experimental group was subdivided into AMI+cell-free media injected in the tail vein, AMI+BM-MSC, and AMI+AT-MSC groups treated with the intravenous injection of their respective cell types. Twenty-eight days after induction, electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed, and heart tissue samples were collected for histological assessment and cells tracing.

MSC therapy repaired cardiac functions shown by the restoration of ST segment, QT and QRS intervals in the ECG when compared to the AMI group. Infarct area was significantly decreased, and cardiac tissue regeneration signs were shown on histopathological examination.

Both MSC sources proved to be equally efficient in the assessed parameters.

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Comparative Study of the Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow on Acute Myocardial Infarction...

New York, Nov. 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the recent years, interest of biotechnology companies and scientists in cancer and stem cell research has increased. Advanced cell isolation products deliver improved separation of biological molecules including proteins, nucleic acids, chromatin and protein complexes for further analysis. In addition to this, there has been an increase in demand for personalized medicine. This has further helped this market grow.

According to the current analysis of Reports and Data, The global cell isolation market was valued at USD 4.9 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach USD 18.28 billion by the year 2026, at a CAGR of 17.7%. Cell isolation is the process of extracting a specialized cell from a heterogeneous mixture and then process it to identify its properties and replicate it to develop new therapies. For the determination of appropriate separation technique, an exhaustive analysis of the cell size, cell behavior, density, antigen status, and hydrophobic surface properties are done.

Cell isolation plays a very vital role in the diagnostics and research of chronic diseases. It helps in drug discovery by studying the behaviour of the cells and their response to disease and drugs. This technique of drug discovery helps to generate medicines that can be used for the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases. With incidents of chronic diseases on the rise across the world, the research, drug development, and clinical trials on various cell-based therapies also need to be increased. Therefore, the demand for cell isolation market will also have a boost.

This will be a significant factor fuelling the growth of the cell isolation market. The cell separation techniques play a vital role in personalized medicines, which are used for early detection of disease, selection of appropriate treatment, and determining the prognosis of the therapy. All these factors have contributed towards a positive dynamic growth curve of this market, and it is expected to keep growing in the coming years.

Request free sample of this research report at: https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/2237

Further key findings from the report suggest:

To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/cell-isolation-market

Segments covered in the report:

For the purpose of this study, Reports and Data have segmented the cell isolation market on the basis of product, cell type, technique, application, end use and region:

Product (Revenue in USD Billion, 2018 - 2026)

Consumables

Reagents, kits, media, and sera

Beads

Disposables

Instruments

Centrifuges

Flow cytometers

Filtration systems

Magnetic-activated cell separator systems

Delivery Mode Type (Revenue, USD Million; 20162026)

Human cells

Differentiated Cells

Stem Cells

Animal Cells

Technique (Revenue in USD Billion, 2018 - 2026)

Application (Revenue in USD Billion, 2018 - 2026)

End Use (Revenue in USD Billion, 2018 - 2026)

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Regional Outlook (Revenue in USD Million; 20162026)

North America

o U.S.

o Canada

Europe

o Germany

o France

o UK

o Spain

o Italy

o Rest of the Europe

Asia Pacific

o China

o India

o Japan

o Rest of Asia-Pacific

Middle East & Africa

o Latin America

Brazil

About Reports and Data

Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries and help clients make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Power, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware about the latest trends existent in the market. Reports and Data has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise.

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Cell Isolation Market To Reach USD 18.26 Billion By 2026 | Reports And Data - GlobeNewswire

JERSEY CITY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Jersey is home to some of the worlds most accomplished innovators in applied science. Three of them who are pioneering research and solutions in antibacterial therapies, genetics, human life extension, and food production are being honored by Liberty Science Center at its inaugural The Genius of NJ celebration on Monday, December 2.

The celebration starts at 5:30 pm with cocktails and unique technology demonstrations: a full-body 3D scanner from Lenscloud that can scan a person in half a second with 120 cameras and create a realistic 3D avatar; bomb-disposing robots and an autonomous fighting robot from Picatinny Arsenal; and Flyer, a personal aerial vehicle from Kitty Hawk, headquartered in Mountain View, CA.

The New Jersey honorees are Bonnie Bassler, Chair of Molecular Biology at Princeton University, who is developing novel antimicrobial therapies to render pathogenic bacteria harmless; Dr. Robert J. Hariri, Chairman, Founder & CEO of Celularity, Inc. who is pioneering the use of stem cells to cure disease and slow aging; and David Rosenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of AeroFarms, the worlds leader in mass-scale vertical indoor farming.

Our inaugural Genius of NJ Award Winners represent the best this state and the world have to offer in harnessing science for the betterment of humanity, said Liberty Science Center President and CEO Paul Hoffman. Each is using his or her exceptional intellect and creative abilities to disrupt and innovate both in their respective fields and in their commitment to making the world healthier and safer.

Bonnie Bassler is the Squibb Professor of Molecular Biology and Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University, as well as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. Professor Bassler deciphered the chemical language bacteria cells use to communicate by studying a harmless marine bacterium called Vibrio fischeri, known to bioluminesce, or make light, like fireflies do. She is a winner of the MacArthur Genius Grant and is now developing therapies that disrupt communication among harmful bacteria and strengthen communication among helpful bacteria. At a time when an increasing number of bacteria are resistant to traditional kinds of antibiotics, Dr. Bassler offers a promising new approach to antimicrobial therapy.

The Chairman, Founder and CEO of Celularity, Inc., in Warren, NJ, and Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Human Longevity, Inc., Dr. Robert Hariri is the quintessential renaissance man. Hes a neurosurgeon, a medical researcher, and a serial entrepreneur in two technology sectors: aerospace and biomedicine. Dr. Hariri has advised the Vatican on genetics, and in 2018, Pope Francis bestowed on him the Pontifical Key Award for Innovation. Dr. Hariris path to discovering that the placenta, a temporary organ discarded after birth, was a potent source of stem cells began in the 80s when he viewed a first trimester ultrasound of his oldest daughter and wondered why the placenta was so large. Today Dr. Hariri is working to use placental stem cells to cure disease, slow aging, and augment healthy human lifespan.

Prominent entrepreneur David Rosenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of AeroFarms, set out to reinvent one of the most basic aspects of food production, farming. AeroFarms has grown 800 species of plants indoors and can grow them 365 days a year without sun or soil, achieving yields 130 times greater than conventional farming. His system uses 95 percent less water than field farming and no pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Rosenbergs adoption of cutting-edge technology has been a cornerstone of AeroFarms, which set up its first indoor vertical farms in abandoned warehouses in Newark. He employs plant biologists, microbiologists, geneticists, systems engineers, and data scientists. AeroFarms innovations in indoor vertical farming have improved not just plant yields but also taste, texture, nutritional density, and shelf life.

Additionally, LSC will honor non-New Jersian Sebastian Thrun, CEO of Kitty Hawk, a company spun off from a Google moonshot effort to free the world from traffic. Kitty Hawk is developing all-electric, vertical take-off flying machines for everyday use. Known as the godfather of self-driving cars, as a Stanford professor in 2005, Thrun led a team that won the $2-million Defense Department Grand Challenge to build an autonomous vehicle which drove itself unassisted on a 132-mile course across the Mojave Desert. His winning entry, Stanley, is now on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. While at Stanford, in 2011 he and colleague Peter Norvig offered their Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course online to anyone, for free. Over 160,000 students in more than 190 countries enrolled! The MOOC (which stands for Massive Open Online Course) was born, and Thrun founded the online education company Udacity, with the goal of democratizing education. Thrun relinquished his tenured Stanford professorship to join Google and founded the companys semi-secret R&D division called Google X (now called simply X) to develop breakthrough technologies, such as self-driving cars, that make the world a radically better place.

Ticket prices for The Genius of NJ start at $750 per guest with options for table sponsorship from $12,500 to $50,000. For more details, please visit The Genius of NJ online. All proceeds from this event will support LSCs mission to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

About Liberty Science Center

Liberty Science Center (LSC.org) is a 300,000-square-foot nonprofit learning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and bringing the power, promise, and pure fun of science and technology to learners of all ages, Liberty Science Center houses the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, a tornado-force wind simulator, K-12 classrooms and labs, and teacher-development programs. More than 250,000 students visit the Science Center each year, and tens of thousands more participate in the Centers off-site and online programs. Welcoming more than 750,000 visitors annually, LSC is the largest interactive science center in the NYC-NJ metropolitan area.

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Liberty Science Center's Inaugural Genius of New Jersey to Honor Innovators Who Make the State a World Leader in Cutting-Edge Applied Science -...