Israel-based
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.
(
PSTI
) recently announced that partner
United Therapeutics Corporation
(
UTHR
) intends to commence a phase I study in Australia using
Pluristem's PLacental eXpanded (PLX-PAD) cells following
favorable preclinical studies.
PLX-PAD cells will be injected intravenously (IV) to humans
for the first time in the proposed study. The trial will be
conducted on patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial
hypertension (PAH) following approval by the Australian
regulatory authorities.
The patients suffering from PAH experience an increase in
blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. The increase in
pressure leads to an increased workload on the right side of the
heart.
The trial will span more than a year and will evaluate the
safety of three different dose levels of PLX-PAD. The study will
also examine other effects of PLX-PAD on PAH patients such as
changes in the ability to exercise and on other tests, which are
used to measure the disease severity.
Pluristem develops placenta-based cell therapies. The cells
from placenta are derived using the company's proprietary PluriX
therapy and are known as PLacental eXpanded cells.
We note that United Therapeutics and Pluristem had entered
into a licensing agreement in Jun 2011 as per which United
Therapeutics develops, markets and sells Pluristem's PLX-PAD
cells for PAH. Pluristem develops and manufactures cell therapy
products in collaboration with companies like United Therapeutics
or through research and clinical institutions.
Pluristem expects that the clinical trial on humans will open
up potential new fields for PLX cells in future.
Meanwhile,
Celgene Corporation
(
CELG
) is also carrying out research on stem cells derived from the
human placenta as well as from the umbilical cord for the
treatment of different diseases.
Pluristem carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Pharma stocks, such
as
Medivation Inc.
(
MDVN
), currently appear to be attractive with a Zacks Rank #2
(Buy).
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