The MSC technology has also been employed to treat patients with severe Crohn鈥檚 disease, an inflammatory autoimmune condition that affects the gut. The disease can develop into very difficult-to-manage and treat forms, including refractory Crohn鈥檚, in which patients experience persistent uncontrolled flare-ups, and fistulising Crohn鈥檚, in which patients develop an open wound from a gut flare-up out to the skin.
鈥楴SB鈥檚 acquisition of Isopogen will allow our StemSmart technology to be progressed for the benefit of vulnerable patients with limited treatment options.鈥橬euroScientific Biopharmaceuticals incoming chairman Robert McKenzie
In a phase two trial targeting refractory Crohn鈥檚 disease, a condition that no longer responds to standard treatments, of 18 patients treated with StemSmart MSC, 78 per cent of patients experienced clinical improvement and 44 per cent achieved full remission. That level of efficacy is considered impressive in the MSC field, particularly for refractory Crohn鈥檚.
With the global market for refractory Crohn鈥檚 treatment alone estimated to be worth about US$7.5 billion, it鈥檚 no wonder StemSmart鈥檚 new owner quickly hailed the system as a potential game-changer.
StemSmart technology offers a step up from traditional MSC manufacturing in that the cells are grown in a special media, becoming activated in the process. The platform technology was developed at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) and manufactured using RPH鈥檚 processes.