HemaCare and Cellero are ringing in the New Year with the aspiration to be bigger and better!
Both cell supply companies are joining forces under the umbrella of Massachusetts-based Charles River Laboratories. The new coalition is a major part of Charles River’s strategy to expand its research and development capacity, by acquiring the expertise needed to bring cellular therapies all the way from sourcing starting materials through to commercialization.
Recent studies suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) of the maternal decidua may prove to be an effective treatment for patients suffering from preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is one of the most common causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, affecting as high as 8% of pregnant women worldwide. It is a severe cardiovascular disorder that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy and is characterized by a sudden onset of hypertension, swelling of the limbs and face, proteinuria, and adverse effects on various organs, including the kidneys and liver. If left untreated, maternal organ damage can occur, and the fetus can be deprived of sufficient blood flow and oxygen. Eclampsia (seizures) and HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count) may also ensue.
As the fight against COVID-19 continues, the use of CAR-T or TCR-T therapies may be able to help treat patients infected, but more research is needed.
The last decade of research has provided significant advances in anti-cancer immunotherapies. Particularly, the development of genetically modified T-cells has been successful in treating various types of cancers. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapy are major examples of highly studied immunotherapies. CAR-T cells recognize proteins or antigens expressed on the surface of cancer cells, whereas TCR-T cells recognize tumor antigens inside the cells.
A newly developed single-treatment approach, uses autologous gene therapy and CD34 stem cells to improve erythrocyte function in SSD patients.
Sickle cell disease (SSD) refers to a group of inherited erythrocyte disorders. Hemoglobin in people with SSD becomes defective leading to abnormal shaping of erythrocytes. The defective hemoglobin form, hemoglobin S, replaces the normal hemoglobin A. The abnormally crescent or sickle-shaped erythrocytes cause a number of illnesses associated with the clogging of vessels, poor oxygen flow to organs, and associated damage.
A cord blood-derived CAR NK-cell therapy targeting CD19 showed promising results for patients with NHL and CLL.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T–cell therapy has been used with some success for certain types of hematological malignancies. The medical scientific community considers the possibility of using this approach for a wider spectrum of B-cell malignancies. However, there are a few significant limitations that affect the widespread successful use of CAR T for these forms of cancer.