Medistem announces initiation of critical limb ischemia study

Medistem and Shanghai Jia Fu Medical Apparatus have announced the initiation of critical limb ischemia study by treating first two patients with Endometrial Regenerative Cell (ERC) universal donor stem cells.

No treatment-associated adverse events were observed in either of the patients in the study during the ERC dosing procedure, which involves a series of intramuscular injections in the ischemic limb.

Medistem CEO Thomas Ichim said the ERC is amongst clinical grade stem cells in that the cell is derived from the endometrium (lining of the uterus).

“We believe the ERC plays a critical role in forming new blood vessels, which is supported by numerous experiments we have conducted,” Ichim added.

“Since the biological role of the ERC is to produce new blood vessels, it is our desire to use these cells to produce new blood vessels in the legs of patients with critical limb ischemia.”

The study is going on in collaboration with Shanghai Jia Fu Medical Apparatus, which intends to expand its clinical cellular therapy portfolio that is based on DC-CIK, an autologous immunotherapy for cancer patients.

Medistem and Shanghai Jia Fu aim to develop the ERC product in China by performing a series of trials to obtain marketing approval.