Pluristem's PLX Cells Demonstrate Potential to Treat Parkinson's Disease
BUSINESS WIRE
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)----Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:PLRS) (DAX:PJT), a bio-therapeutics Company dedicated to the commercialization of products for a variety of malignant, degenerative and auto-immune indications, announced today that Pluristem's PLacenta eXpanded (PLX) cells have been demonstrated in vitro to have properties that the Company believes gives these cells the potential to treat Parkinson's Disease (PD). PLX cells are Pluristem's placental-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been expanded in the Company's proprietary PluriX(TM) 3-D bioreactor.
Pluristem Chairman and CEO, Mr. Zami Aberman commented, "These preliminary results are encouraging. We intend to pursue further in vitro and in vivo studies with our PLX cells in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease as well as other disorders of the central nervous system. As a cellular therapy for PD and other neurodegenerative diseases, our PLX cells could be a readily available source of important enzymes, neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors." Pluristem believes their future products will participate in the approximate $30 billion therapeutic and regenerative cellular market.
The in vitro assay demonstrated that Pluristem's PLX cells can be differentiated into dopaminergic neurons. These neurons were found to have properties favorable to cells, which are known to be helpful in treating PD. These properties include the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, and the finding of elevated nurr1 mRNA levels. Additionally, these neurons were found to secrete favorable neurotrophic factors such as GDNF, BDNF, IGF-1, and astrocytes markers such as S-100-b, GLUL, and GFAP.
About Parkinson's Disease
PD is a well characterized degenerative neurological disease whose symptoms are felt to be related to damage to dopamine-producing cells in the Central Nervous System (CNS). PD is felt to currently afflict approximately four million people in the western world which represents a multi-billion dollar market annually.
About Pluristem
Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. is a Company dedicated to the commercialization of non-personalized (allogeneic) stem cell therapy products for the treatment of numerous severe degenerative, malignant and autoimmune disorders. The Company's first planned product, PLX-I, targets a $2 billion market and is intended to resolve the global shortfall of matched tissue for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) by improving the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) contained in umbilical cord blood (CB).
Pluristem's products are derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from the placenta and expanded in the Company's proprietary PluriX(TM) 3D bioreactor that imitates the natural microstructure of bone marrow and does not require supplemental growth factors, cytokines or other exogenous materials. Pluristem believes the resultant expanded cells, termed PLX cells, are multipotent and able to differentiate into a variety of cell types as well as being immune-privileged to protect the recipient from immunological reactions that often accompanies transplantation. Pluristem believes their future products will participate in the approximate $30 billion therapeutic and regenerative cellular market.
Pluristem has offices and is incorporated in the USA with research and manufacturing facilities in Israel.
www.pluristem.com |
