LIFE SCIENCES
The term “regenerative medicine” was coined in the 1990s to describe the scientific process of creating healthy living tissue to replace damaged or malfunctioning tissues or organs. It is seen as key to addressing a wide array of chronic illnesses, including cancer, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, liver diseases, central nervous system disorders, macula degeneration and muscular dystrophy. The market potential is huge. Bigger still is the potential improvement in the quality of life for millions, once regenerative therapeutics reach the market.
SWEDEN: The Other Cell Industry
In Sweden there are more than 30 groups involved in stem cell research. Facilitated by government support, the legal, academic and industrial infrastructure in Sweden is in place for the emergence of regenerative medicine clusters. Activity in Sweden runs the entire gamut of the industry from basic and clinical research to stem cell culturing, the development of new therapies and transplant procedures.
The Karolinska Institute (www.ki.se), the Sahlgrenska Academy (www.sahlgrenska.gu.se), Lund University Stem Cell Centre (www.med.lu.se), Chalmers University of Technology (www.chalmers.se), and Uppsala University (www.genpat.uu.se) are among the institutions engaged in stem cell research.
At the Karolinska Institute, researchers recently demonstrated how stem cells working with other cells can repair spinal cord damage in mice. A breakthrough in stem cell culturing for clinical use of embryonic stem cells was also announced in the past months.
Several companies specializing in stem cell products and therapies have emerged. Established in 2001, Cellartis (www.cellartis.com) deals with developing the building blocks of stem cell R&D. It is considered the single largest commercial source of ethically derived human embryonic cells (hES) in the world. In addition, the company is involved in some 10 pan-European R&D projects under the EU Framework Programme.
VitroLife (www.vitrolife.com) supplies the tools of stem cell research. It is a medical device company specializing in technology and systems for the preparation, cultivation and storage of cells and organs. It launched its stem cell division in 2004, marketing high quality media, instruments and reagents to facilitate stem cell therapeutic products.
N euroNova AB (www.neuronova.com) is a drug discovery company specializing in neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease and ALS. It is currently conducting clinical trials on two drugs treating these diseases.
Emerging from the Karolinska Institute, the company is dedicated to developing stem cell-based therapies for neurological disorders. Its affiliated scientific team at Karolinska recently discovered that regenerating brain cells could potentially be used to generate cells for other organs.
Denmark - Insulating Cells
Stem cell research has been conducted in Denmark for several years through a loose network of 9 research groups. In 2010 a new kid moved into the block. Danstem (www.danstem.ku.dk), the Danish Stem Cell Centre, is being established at the University of Copenhagen, thanks to two grants from the Novo Nordisk Foundation (www.novonordiskfonden.dk) and the Danish Council for Strategic Research (www.en.fi.dk).
The centre will have two divisions: one focusing on basic research and the other on the clinical translation of promising results emerging from basic research. The focus of the centre is to develop cell-based therapies for cancer and diabetes.
Novo Nordisk’s (www.novonordisk.com) role in stem cell research goes beyond being benefactor for the new Stem Cell Centre and is actively involved in both national and international projects involving stem cells. The transplantation of insulin-producing cells may well be the key to the treatment of diabetes. In 2008 Novo Nordisk teamed up with Lund University and Cellartis to develop insulin-producing cells from human stem cells.
Novo Nordisk is not the only industrial group involved in stem cell research. NsGene (www.nsgene.dk) is a Danish biotech company which develops cell and gene-based biologics for the treatment of neurological disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, neuropathic pain and Parkinson’s Disease. The company has developed a bio-delivery platform technology in which cell-derived substances are implanted in the patient to improve brain function. It is currently conducting clinical trials on several therapeutics, of which the most of advanced is its Alzheimer’s disease implant.
Finland - Face Lift
In Finland the Tampere region has emerged as an important centre for regenerative medicine. The Institute of Biomedical Technology, (formerly the Regea Institute for Regenerative Medicine) (www.regea.fi) at Tampere University, focuses on tissue engineering for clinical applications. It seeks to develop cell-based treatments and diagnostics for eye, nervous system, heart, bone, cartilage and soft tissue related diseases.
Regea’s GMP facilities are among the first in the world to engineer bone and tissue transplants derived from stem cells and biomaterials for clinical use in humans. Some 30 patients have undergone bone tissue reconstruction, notably critical facial reconstruction, at the Institute based on stem cells extracted from the patients’ own fat tissue.
Stem cell technology at Finnish EvoStem (www.evostem.com) applies cell-based reconstructive technology to veterinary medicine. Its TendoStem treatment, based on stem cells from fat tissue, repairs tendon and ligament injuries in horses.
ISRAEL - Cellular Start-ups
In Israel regenerative medicine is distinguished not only by top tier research (see Business Briefs), but in the array and diversity of start-ups currently developing cell-based therapeutics and technologies.
The transition from basic research to commercialization is facilitated by technology incubators affiliated with major research institutes such as the Technion and the Hadassah Medical Centre. Gamida Cell (www.gamida-cell.com) is a Hadasit (www.hadasit.co.il) incubator baby.
In a joint venture with Teva Pharmaceuticals, it has developed an alternative to bone marrow transplants for patients with advanced blood cancers and no suitable donors. In June 2010 the FDA granted “fast track” designation for its product, which is currently undergoing an international Phase III clinical trial.
Sharing a zip code with Gamida Cell, Cellcure Neurosciences (www.cellcureneurosciences.com) specializes in cell therapies for retinal and neural degenerative diseases. It has developed a product for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and has recently concluded an exclusive option agreement with Teva Pharmaceuticals for the final development and marketing.
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (www.brainstorm-cell.com) is another start-up with a product well on its way to market. The company has developed an adult stem cell-based therapy for ALS patients and last October received approval to commence with Phase I/II clinical trials at the Hadassah Medical Centre.
Engendered from technology developed at the Technion and based at the NGT Technology Incubator (www.ngtnazareth.com) in Nazareth, CartiCure Ltd. (www.carticure.com) has developed technology to generate hyaline cartilage-producing cells for transplantation in damaged joints.
Yet another start-up, Core Dynamics (www.coredynamics.com) is developing new preservation technology to safely and effectively freeze dry cells and tissue.
