Clinical Practice – VJRegenMed

The advantages and applications of CRISPR-Cas 9

Simon Ng — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 11:16:26 +0000

Nina Bauer, PhD, MBA, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, describes CRISPR-Cas 9 technology and its uses in advanced therapies. The enzymes utilized in CRISPR-Cas 9 is an efficient method of genome editing and is quicker and simpler than viral vectors. The technology can be applied in off-the-shelf therapies for solid tumors, where genome editing is necessary to reduce immunogenicity and to integrate the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) onto the cell. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

Overcoming issues associated with autologous therapies

Simon Ng — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 15:00:53 +0000

Cate Dyer, CEO & Founder, StemExpress, Folsom, CA, describes strategies to solve problems relating to manufacturing autologous therapies, which are harder to mass produce compared to allogeneic therapies. Collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and hospitals have led to on-site facilities that collect patient cells, which has enabled easier access to allogeneic therapies for patients. She additionally emphasizes the need for collaborators to provide the necessary infrastructure for hospitals to ensure reliable patients cell collection. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

Enhancing the therapeutic capacity of MSCs

Simon Ng — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:59:08 +0000

Despite numerous clinical trials featuring mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies, only a select few have reached clinical approval. Tony Ting, PhD, Bone Therapeutics SA, Gosselies, Belgium, describes strategies to professionalize MSCs. Expansion culture and differentiation of MSCs to promote bone healing in the ALLOB platform will hopefully unleash the full potential of MSCs. Dr Ting additionally comments on genetic manipulation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to professionalize MSCs, where iSPC-derived MSCs will lead to therapies with a consistent quality. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

Evaluating the development of iSPC-derived MSCs

Simon Ng — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:59:05 +0000

Tony Ting, PhD, Bone Therapeutics SA, Gosselies, Belgium, provides an overview of the collaboration between Bone Therapeutics and Implant Therapeutics to research the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as well as develop genetically engineered iPSC-derived MSCs. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

The changing landscape of hospital-based cell and gene therapy manufacturing

Simon Ng — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:00:58 +0000

Greg Roumeliotis, MSc, Orgenesis, Germantown, MD, discusses the evolving space of hospital-based cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing. Cell and gene therapies are being developed very quickly to meet the growing demand in healthcare and there are ongoing efforts to make these therapies more accessible and affordable for patients. Mr Roumeliotis talks on the breadth of the CGT space, as well as promising non-viral vector and allogeneic cell therapies. He additionally highlights the role of Orgenesis in accelerating the manufacturing process of cell and gene therapies, increasing the availability of know-how and technology to stakeholders. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

The advantages of the CABA™ platform for treating B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases

Simon Ng — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:00:58 +0000

Samik Basu, MD, Cabaletta Bio, Philadelphia, PA, comments on the benefits of the Cabaletta Approach to selective B cell Ablation (CABA) platform over standard of care treatments for B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases such as rituximab or steroids, which result in broad immunosuppression which may be dangerous for patients. The CABA platform selectively eliminates specific autoantibody-producing B cells, minimizing adverse events and avoiding immunosuppression. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

Progress in creating degradable materials for medical devices

Simon Ng — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 17:55:02 +0000

Aylvin Dias, PhD, DSM, Geleen, The Netherlands, comments on the development of degradable materials in the field of regenerative medicine, which can be applied as a drug delivery device in patients, and will not interfere with the healing response. Dr Dias additionally highlights steps that need to be taken for successful clinical adoption of degradable materials, including initially focusing on one indication, and on the pharmacokinetics of the final products. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).

Nerve regeneration with polyhydroxyalkanoate-based conduits

Simon Ng — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 17:55:00 +0000

Ipsita Roy, PhD, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, provides an overview of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based nerve guidance conduits for peripheral nerve regeneration. Changes in the PHA formulation resulted in the creation of a stiff, but elastic tubular structure and in vivo studies demonstrated that the scaffold regenerated damaged nerves after a 10 week period as effectively as autologously transplanted nerves. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).

The advantages of polyhydroxyalkanoate-based scaffolds

Simon Ng — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 17:54:59 +0000

Ipsita Roy, PhD, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, comments on the benefits of using polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) over alternative materials as scaffolds in regenerative medicine. Compared to other biocompatible polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), PHA is a sustainable polymer and produces natural metabolites when it degrades, unlike PLLA which degrades to lactic acid. PHA is additionally more stable than hydrogels such as alginate, and can be manipulated to have different properties, allowing it to have multiple functions. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).

Collagen grafts for tympanic membrane regeneration

Simon Ng — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 13:01:34 +0000

Juan Pablo Aguilar Alemán, PhD, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico, provides an overview of repairing damaged eardrums with allogeneic collagen grafts. Type I collagen derived from various sources including tendons can provide a tissue-engineered solution for patients with holes in their eardrums, as tendons have properties suited to the environment around the inner ear. Dr Aguilar Alemán additionally highlights the non-invasive nature of the procedure, as well as other advantages. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).