Pluristem files patent for PLX-1 for bone-marrow therapy

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., May 8 - Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. has filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its stem-cell therapy product known as PLX-1, intended to improve engraftment during bone-marrow transplant procedures that use umbilical cord blood.

PLX-1, which consists of propagated (adjuvant engineered) mesenchymal stem cells that can be co-transplanted along with the hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), is expected to significantly improve the engraftment rate of the HSCs, the company said in a news release.

"PLX-1 represents the broadening of Pluristem's previously granted patents and pending patents that have already revolutionized HSC expansion through the use of Pluristem's unique 'human-like' bone-marrow micro-environment," chief executive officer Zami Aberman said in the release.

"Until now, the field of bone-marrow transplantation has been limited to procedures and technologies that expand hematopoietic stem cells only. PLX-1's novel approach creates a new playing field in which cells of mesenchymal origin play a central role. As such, PLX-I could become a mandatory adjuvant therapy to any methodology used in bone marrow transplants, either through standard clinical transplantation of cord blood or through the use of manipulated HSCs.

"This opens the door for Pluristem to reach an annual market of approximately 100,000 clinical procedures," he added.

Haifa, Israel-based Pluristem is a cell-therapy company dedicated to the commercialization of stem-cell products.

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