Musculoskeletal Disorder – VJRegenMed

SCUlpTOR: CYP-004 in osteoarthritis

Simon Ng — Tue, 03 May 2022 16:17:06 +0000

Ross Macdonald, PhD, Cynata Therapeutics, Melbourne, Australia, discusses the Phase III SCUlpTOR trial (ACTRN12620000870954) assessing CYP-004, a novel mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs)-based cell therapy for patients with osteoarthritis. Whilst previous studies investigating autologous stem cell therapies have shown promise, there is an unmet need for curative therapies. The randomized double blind trial will assess the investigational therapy in 440 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. The interview was conducted during Meeting on the Mediterranean 2022.

The future of omentum-based autologous tissue engineering

Simon Ng — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:01:23 +0000

Advances in autologous tissue regeneration in the form of an omentum-derived hydrogel and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived tissue have led to promising therapies for spinal cord injury and cardiac infarction. Asaf Toker, MD, Matricelf, Ness Ziona, Israel, provides an overview of the future of this novel technology. Whilst currently only being assessed in two indications, this method of autologous tissue engineering can theoretically be applied to any type of damaged tissue. Potential indications include Parkinson’s Disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other musculoskeletal disorders. This interview was conducted during Meeting on the Mediterranean 2022.

Autologous tissue-engineered solutions for spinal cord injuries

Simon Ng — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:43:27 +0000

Asaf Toker, MD, Matricelf, Ness Ziona, Israel, discusses autologous neural implants for patients with spinal cord injuries, which consists of the implant itself and a scaffold. Omental tissue extracted from the patient via a biopsy is decellularized, resulting in the formation of thermo-responsive hydrogel that serves as the scaffold for the tissue-engineered product. Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from the patient’s mature cells within the thermo-responsive hydrogel results in the formation of neural cells that can connect damaged spinal tissue. First-in-man clinical trials for the product are planned in 2025 in patients with spinal cord injuries. This interview was conducted during Meeting on the Mediterranean 2022.

Challenges in manufacturing viral vectors for the clinic

Simon Ng — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 17:56:23 +0000

Nathalie Clement, PhD, Unicorn Consultations, Gainesville, FL, describes challenges in the development and production of clinically effective viral vectors. Manufacturing larger doses on a bigger scale has been a barrier for companies, and difficulties in purification has led to issues in potency and safety. Finding a standard method for purifying viral vectors is especially difficult when there are numerous varieties of viral vectors including adeno-associated viruses and lentiviruses. Whilst the demand for viral vector gene therapies have increased in certain disease areas such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, safety concerns possibly relating to impurities in the product must be addressed. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.

Addressing issues associated with bringing iSPC-derived MSCs to the clinic

Simon Ng — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 12:25:13 +0000

Tony Ting, PhD, Bone Therapeutics SA, Gosselies, Belgium, discusses challenges associated with developing cell therapies for clinical use. Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) remains a major barrier for many manufacturers, which lead to the creation of genetically engineered induced pluripotent stem cell-(iPSC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Dr Ting additionally highlights how genetically engineered therapies can overcome regulatory issues relating to potency assays. 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.

Exploring stem cell-based therapies in osteoarthritis

Simon Ng — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 11:14:51 +0000

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic illness currently with no cure, and patients with OA often have comorbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Jiao Jiao Li, PhD, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, provides an overview of the influence on stem cells in osteoarthritis and how stem cell-based therapies have not been effective in OA. Research investigating the interactions between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and arthritic cells revealed that MSCs had a short-term effect on arthritic cells, but arthritic cells induced inflammatory markers in MSCs and prevented them from differentiating into cartilage tissue. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).

Tackling issues in regenerating cartilage and tendons

Simon Ng — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 13:01:31 +0000

Jiao Jiao Li, PhD, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, comments on difficulties in regenerating cartilage, tendons and ligaments. As the aforementioned tissues are interface tissue connecting bone to muscles and other tissues, the complex structure makes regenerating cartilage and tendons difficult compared to bone. The tissues are additionally avascular and have no neural links unlike bones, which limit their regenerative capacity. Dr Li also emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach and the adoption of novel technologies such as artificial intelligence to optimize the conditions to regrow cartilage and tendons. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).

Treating volumetric muscle loss with tissue-engineered products

Simon Ng — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 18:10:29 +0000

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is the loss of skeletal muscle and associated tissue and may result in amputation. Suradip Das, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, describes the role of neurons in providing tissue-engineered therapies for volumetric muscle loss (VML). Aligned nanofiber sheets cultured with myocytes and motor neurons have demonstrated efficacy in mouse models. Innervation of the engineered tissue enhanced muscle stem cell proliferation and further research is required to successfully implement the findings on a larger scale. This interview took place at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS 2021).