Press release Communiqué de presse
Press release Communiqué de presse
October 25, 2011 25 October, 2011
Sernova Enters Into Collaboration With Edmonton's Clinical Islet Transplant Program To Expand Cell Pouch(tm) Applications For Diabetes Treatment
Source: Sernova Corp
LONDON, ONTARIO - (Marketwire - October 25,
2011) -
Sernova Corp. (TSX-V: SVA), is pleased to
announce it
has entered into a collaboration with The Clinical
Islet
Transplant Program at the University of Alberta
Hospital.
The Program is headed by Dr. James Shapiro,
MD, Ph.D.
FRCS (Eng) FRCSC, the leader of the team that
developed
the Edmonton Protocol, the current standard of
care for
islet transplantation. In September 2010,
following review
of Sernova's preclinical data, Dr. Shapiro joined
the
Corporation's Scientific Advisory Board.
"Dr. Shapiro's contributions to date position us to
enter
into this important collaboration which is targeted
to
expand access to islet transplantation for the
treatment of
diabetes to a much wider base of patients using
Sernova's
Cell Pouch(tm)," said Dr. Philip Toleikis, Ph.D.,
President
and CEO of Sernova.
The current procedure for islet transplantation to
treat
diabetes, commonly known as the "Edmonton
Protocol"
involves transplanting islets directly into a blood
vessel
(portal vein) of the liver. The Cell Pouch(tm) is
expected to
solve a number of issues arising from portal vein
delivery.
For example, the Cell Pouch(tm) provides a
natural setting
where blood vessels grow adjacent to the islets
rather
than being bathed in blood which can result in
the death of
up to 75% of the islets through an instant blood
mediated
inflammatory response (IBMIR). Use of the Cell
Pouch(tm)
would eliminate portal vein hypertension and
thrombosis
associated with portal vein islet delivery and
potentially
reduce the cost of the procedure as the
catheterization
laboratory is not required for implantation of the
Cell
Pouch(tm) or islet transplantation. Importantly,
preclinical
studies of the Cell Pouch(tm) have consistently
shown
excellent safety and efficacy profiles with
significantly
fewer islets than for portal vein delivery, which
could
increase the number of recipients treated with
the current
donor pool. Furthermore, implantation of the Cell
Pouch(tm) just under the skin allows for imaging
of the
islets and microvessels and for local
immunoprotection of
therapeutic cells.
Sernova's Cell Pouch(tm) is a scalable medical
device
providing a natural "organ-like" environment for
therapeutic cells. Once implanted under the skin,
the Cell
Pouch(tm) develops pancreas-like function when
infused
with islets, controlling blood sugar levels as
shown by
published preclinical data which also suggests
that the
natural environment promotes cell survival
reducing the
number of islets required for therapy.
Sernova is currently pursuing upcoming human
testing of
the Cell Pouch(tm) based on the strong
preclinical safety
and efficacy data generated to date.
This collaboration will further seek to position the
Cell
Pouch(tm) through next generation
improvements to the
Edmonton Protocol to expand access to cell
transplant to a
much wider patient population. The collaboration
will
include work related to:
Assessment of islet protective agents that could
further
reduce the islet mass required for each
transplant using
the Cell Pouch(tm)
Assessment of locally administered anti-rejection
strategies within the Cell Pouch(tm) with the goal
of
reducing or eliminating systemic antirejection
regimens
Assessment of a proprietary, ethically derived
insulin-
producing stem cell technology within the Cell
Pouch(tm)
as an enabling technology which could
significantly
expand the number of patients treated
Development of high resolution imaging systems
to enable
physicians to better assess and optimize long-
term islet
function
A video describing the Edmonton Protocol and
the
collaboration of Sernova with Dr. Shapiro may
be viewed
on Sernova's website at www.sernova.com
"The safety and efficacy of the Cell Pouch(tm) in
preclinical
studies is impressive. We are excited to be
working with
Sernova in both preparing for its upcoming
clinical trial and
in this collaboration. We are hopeful that
Sernova's Cell
Pouch(tm) will significantly increase the number
of diabetic
patients that can be treated with islet
transplantation," said
Dr. Shapiro, Director of the Clinical Islet
Transplant
Program, at the University of Alberta and
member of
Sernova's Scientific Advisory Board.
About Sernova
Sernova Corp. is a Canadian-based health
sciences
company focused on product development and
commercialization of innovative proprietary
platform
medical technologies in the cell therapy arena
such as the
Cell Pouch System(TM) to provide a safe and
efficacious
environment for therapeutic cells and
Sertolin(TM), a
technology which, when combined with cell
therapy, may
protect therapeutic cells without the need for
patients to
take anti-rejection drugs.
For further information contact:
Philip Toleikis, Ph.D., President and CEO
Tel: (604) 961-2939
info@sernova.com
www.sernova.com
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