Pluristem says PLX-1 added to stromal cells improves engraftment in bone marrow transplants

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., July 5 - Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. said initial results from an animal model study using the adjuvant cell therapy product PLX-1 suggest that the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in combination with umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived hematopoeitic stem cells (HSC) can improve the treatment of blood disorders.

PLX-1, added to MSC during bone marrow transplant procedures that use UCB samples, is intended to improve engraftment of blood-producing (HSC), according to a company news release.

In the studies, when human UCB samples were transplanted together with PLX 1 into immune-deficient NOD SCID mice, the amount of engrafted cells was from up to four times greater than when transplants were carried out with UCB samples alone.

Engraftment was evidenced in the nine treated mice by the presence of 2% to 13% human CD45 cells.

The five NOD SCID mice in the control group that received UCB without the PLX 1 showed only a 1% to 3% presence of human CD45 cells.

"We believe that the advantages in use of umbilical cord blood hematopoeitic stem cells, combined with our PLX 1 products could have the potential to change the way bone marrow transplants are conducted in the future," chief executive officer Zami Aberman said in the release.

Pluristem, based in Haifa, Israel, commercializes stem cell therapy products for the treatment of severe blood disorders.

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