Celulas Genetica to patent breakthrough
stem cell treatment for liver disease
21 Dec 2010
Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (EHSI) has announced that
its newly acquired biotechnology division Celulas Genetica will submit
an international patent application for the Rutherford Procedure, a
revolutionary new stem-cell treatment for liver disease.
Celulas Genetica has engaged a patent specialist to file the
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PTC) application with a receiving office
in China. The biotech company licensed the procedure from Chinese
firm, BBFITCL, and plans to conduct the treatment’s clinical trials
in China, as well.
“We believe that the Rutherford Procedure could very well
revolutionize the treatment of liver disease worldwide,” said EHSI
President and CEO Cindy Morrissey. “Filing a PTC application is a
necessary step to protect the value of this crucial asset.”
The Rutherford Procedure is a groundbreaking organ regeneration
treatment intended to utilize proton-beam technology to destroy
diseased organ tissue for regeneration using adult stem cells.
Celulas Genetica is currently exploring the possibility of working
with a Chinese proton therapy facility to develop the new treatment
for use around the globe.
Morrissey announced earlier this week that she plans to travel to
China soon to meet with stem-cell researchers and potentially help
open a Celulas Genetica business office there. Extending its reach
into the R&D hotbed of China would build on EHSI’s rapidly expanding
global footprint: Celulas Genetica is headquartered in Panama, and
EHSI opened business offices in Poland and Germany last month.
Last week, EHSI announced its acquisition of a Rotary Cell
Culture System, or bioreactor, developed using revolutionary NASA
research in the field of microgravity. Cell cultures, including stem
cells, grown inside the bioreactor look and function much closer to
human cells grown within the body than cell cultures grown in Petri
dishes.
During the Rutherford Procedure, proton therapy will be used to
destroy scar-tissue cells in the liver using high-energy proton
beams, a non-invasive treatment proven to minimize damage to healthy
tissues and to eliminate the side effects (including nausea) of
traditional radiation therapy.
As the scar tissue is systematically destroyed by the proton
therapy, a catheter will deliver the patient’s own cultured stem
cells directly to his or her liver through the bloodstream. As more
and more diseased tissue is destroyed, these cultured stem cells
could help regenerate the patient’s damaged, cirrhotic liver into a
healthy, functioning organ once more.
EHSI invests in technology developed to compete in the stem-cell
research industry alongside Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN), Acorda
Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACOR), Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG) and
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN).