Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : CRIS, Curis (formerly CBMI) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SemiBull who wrote (359)	1/31/2001 12:17:40 PM
From: nigel bates	Respond to of 668

Jan. 31, 2001--Researchers have demonstrated for the first time the key role of two protein families known as sonic hedgehog and bone morphogenic protein in the expansion of human blood stem cells that retain the capacity to differentiate into any one of the body's different blood cells. Proprietary technology related to the sonic hedgehog and bone morphogenic proteins is under development by Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS - news). This research finding may permit the development of a universal hematopoietic (blood and immune system) stem cell product that could be used with differentiation factors such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) and erythropoietin (EPO) to treat a broad variety of disorders, including infections, malignancies and anemia. Published in Nature Immunology (February 2001), this finding shows that the signaling pathway that causes human blood stem cells to proliferate involves an interplay between sonic hedgehog and a target gene identified as bone morphogenic protein-4. ``The retention of differentiation capabilities, even after the induced expansion of these stem cells, marks an exciting point of departure for new therapies in regenerative medicine and cell replacement therapy,'' said Doros Platika, M.D, president and chief executive officer of Curis. ``The two protein families identified in this study interact to control one of the critical functions of the human body known as hematopoiesis, or the formation of the blood and immune system. Both families are central elements in the Curis intellectual property and technology portfolio. Curis is uniquely positioned, therefore, to develop and commercialize products based on discoveries related to these proteins.'' Dr. Mick Bhatia of The John P. Robarts Research Institute and the University of Western Ontario, is the senior author of the paper. Dr. Bhatia's team showed that the interaction of sonic hedgehog and bone morphogenic protein-4, in combination with the effect of cytokines (proteins involved in cell communication), causes stem cells to divide, with the resulting cells retaining their unique ability to develop into any one of the body's different blood cells. Previously, the application of cytokines to human blood stem cells was shown to cause the cells to differentiate into specialized cells such as red blood cells, used to treat anemia, and white blood cells to treat infections. These specialized cells, however, no longer have the potential to form multiple blood cell types, a critical feature of human blood stem cells.