Pluristem’s PLX Cells could be used for the Prevention and Treatment of Radiation Exposure April 28, 2011 by Ray Dirks
April 28, 2011
By Ray Dirks
In following up Pluristem’s press release on April 6, 2011, I attended a presentation by Pluristem’s CEO Zami Aberman. I left that meeting believing that Pluristem’s PLX cells could not only treat the adverse bone-marrow related effects of radiation exposure but potentially prevent those effects from happening in the first place. For example, if a population of people who had been exposed to radiation (such as what recently happened in Japan) receives PLX cells promptly after exposure, patients could potentially be protected from illnesses such as leukemia, which is known to occur as a long term side effect of radiation exposure. Additionally, for that population exposed but unable receive PLX cells shortly after exposure, they could receive PLX cells later to help reconstitute their bone marrow. This belief is, in part, based on research the company has already completed that indicated that animals subjected to radiation and the, injected with PLX cells had a significant recovery of bone marrow. Additionally, the Company also found that PLX cells are cytoprotective and could protect the bone marrow from being harmed after exposure. The Company will also initiate studies to see if PLX cells can prevent the near-term symptoms of radiation sickness, like the GI side effects of Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, ect.
Ray Dirks Research could reasonably see where societies would want to stockpile Cryopreserved PLX cells, maybe even while continued research is conducted on PLX cells for this indication.
In yesterday’s article published on Seeking alpha by Jason Napodano entitled “ Competition Between Aastrom Bio and Pluristem Heating Up” he makes a totally irrelevant point, Pluristem and Aastrom are not comparable. Aastrom’s is pursuing an autologous, bone marrow-derived cell therapy strategy and therefore, by definition, has to pursue a business strategy of personalized medicine. Pluristem is pursuing an allogeneic, placental-derived cell therapy strategy that is intended to supply cells to the general population as an “off-the-shelf” product in as close a manner as possible as tablets and capsules are supplied today. We hope Aastrom is successful with their strategy as it will help validate to the market that cell therapy works and is here to stay.
I pointed out in my report dated March 8, 2011 the value discrepancy between Pluristem and Mesoblast, which is considered a comparable company. And see our full report issued on Jan 24, 2011 also available on CPReports.com, Reports Blog section. To contact Ray directly email rdirks@nyc.rr.com |
