| Researchers from the Hebrew University of | | | | bone marrow sample by using a specific antibody. It |
| Jerusalem have developed a new stem cell | | | | was proven that this technique made it possible to |
| technology to aid in the better and faster healing of | | | | immediately use the cells to create new bone tissue |
| complicated bone fractures. This technology, which | | | | in lab animals. After this discovery, several scientists |
| involves the isolation of stem cells from the bone | | | | from different interested parties joined forces to |
| marrow, has been already used successfully in the | | | | establish a clinical-grade protocol for the use of |
| treatment of severe fractures in seven patients at | | | | immuno-isolated MSC's. |
| the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem. | | | | The head of orthopedics at Hadassah University |
| Up to today, the standard treatment in clinical | | | | Hospital, the Good Manufacturing Practice facility at |
| orthopedics for serious bone loss has encompassed | | | | Hadassah, and the Gazit group at the Faculty of |
| basically two options: amputation or long periods of | | | | Dental Medicine, conducted a clinical trial in order to |
| disability. Equally, prosthetic implants have proven | | | | establish the foundation for the use of |
| inefficient in the long term. When there is too much | | | | immuno-isolated MSC's in orthopedic surgery. |
| loss of bone, the fracture may not heal, and this is | | | | Seven patients have benefited so far from the |
| the case of more than a million people per year, just | | | | treatment of combining their own immuno-isolated |
| in the United States. | | | | MSC's and blood products. The procedure lasted a |
| In the last years, there have been promising | | | | few hours and didn't require the growing of cells in a |
| advances for biological therapy to treat complicated | | | | lab. |
| fractures and skeleton disorders, specifically by using | | | | This success is expected to touch other skeleton |
| mesenchymal or multipotent stem cells (MSC's), which | | | | injuries, like degenerated intervertebral disks and torn |
| can differentiate between various cell types. These | | | | tendons. It is expected that this treatment will help |
| cells are unique adult stem cells that can be rapidly | | | | tackle morbidity in patients with skeletal fractures and |
| isolated from various places in the body, mainly bone | | | | diseases, and will help re-establish function and quality |
| marrow and fat tissues, and used to repair different | | | | of life for many people. |
| injured tissues like bone, cartilage, tendons, | | | | In hopes of making this technology available to many |
| intervertebral discs, and even heart muscle. | | | | more, the university has licensed the immuno-isolation |
| The way in which MSC isolation is normally conducted | | | | technology to TheraCell Inc. in California since July |
| is lengthy, expensive, and also harmful to the healing | | | | 2009. This organization will develop and commercialize |
| quality of the cells, because it requires long periods of | | | | this technology thoroughly for advanced regenerative |
| growth inside incubators. It was urgent to find a way | | | | medical purposes, like spinal fusion. |
| that would allow for the immediate use of stem cells; | | | | The mission of life sciences consulting firms is to help |
| the regenerative medicine field was begging for one, | | | | pharmaceutical companies land opportunities like this |
| and the Hebrew University heard them. | | | | one, where they are able to change lives for the |
| The technology this group developed is called | | | | better, showing care and respect for patients in |
| immuno-isolation. Basically, MSC's are sorted out in a | | | | need, while staying at the head of innovation. |