Clinical Applications

Immune Reconstitution

Cell Medica’s first application involves protecting immunosuppressed patients at high risk of infection from cytomegalovirus (CMV) following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell (bone marrow) transplant. These are typically leukaemia patients not responding to drug therapies.

These patients undergo high dose chemotherapy and whole body irradiation to kill the cancerous leukaemia cells, but this procedure destroys the patient’s natural bone marrow function which is necessary for generating red blood cells and white blood cells (immune cells).

Following the bone marrow transplant the new stem cells can take 6-9 months to fully re-populate the patient’s new immune system. During this time the patient can be very susceptible to many pathogens that an immune competent person would usually be able to control. One virus which is a particular problem is called cytomegalovirus (see Science)

CMV-specific T cells can be purified from a blood sample of the bone marrow donor and given to the patient. This strategy specifically reconstitutes the patient’s immunity to CMV and several academic research studies have provided initial indications that this technique is both safe and effective.

Cell Therapy

Cell therapy is an exciting new area of medical science which involves using either patient-derived or donor-derived cells to restore damaged or deficient cells which cause many forms of human diseases. Cell therapies are being developed to treat patients with such diverse problems as infections, diabetes, spinal injury, cardiac damage and cancer.

Cell Medica is focused on the applications of cell therapies within the context of the immune system. Research has shown that a properly functioning immune system will not only target and eliminate cells infected by pathogens but also aberrant cells which cause cancer and autoimmunity (diabetes, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis).