Date: 2013-04-10
Type of information: R&D agreement
Compound: cell therapy
Company: Cell Therapy Catapult (UK) the UK Stem Cell Foundation (UK)
Therapeutic area: Regenerative medicine - Ophtalmological diseases - Cardiovascular diseases - Hepatic diseases - Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: R&D
collaboration
Action mechanism: cell therapy
Disease:
Details: The Cell Therapy Catapult (CT Catapult), which is focused on the development of the UK cell therapy industry, and the UK Stem Cell Foundation (UKSCF), a charity focused on the advancement of stem cell treatments towards the clinic will be working together to progress promising stemcell-based therapies in the UK. The two organisations, which have entered into a memorandum of understanding to cover their co-operation, are both focused on translational activities, moving potential therapeutic approaches on from early-stage research to the later stages of development. The two partners aim to build a pipeline of projects that meet their criteria for support and funding on the route to commercialisation.
Since 2005 the UKSCF has supported projects in a range of indications from spinal cord repair, ophthalmic, liver and cardiac disease, and tendon repair. Building on the UK\'s early stage research base, the CT Catapult is working on building a similarly broad pipeline. The two organisations will meet regularly to discuss projects and potential support packages, including other partners, contributing to the growth of the UK\'s emerging cell therapy industry.
Catapult centres have been established by the UK's innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to stimulate and support business-led innovation. Based in London at Guy\'s Hospital, the Cell Therapy Catapult plans to take products into early clinical trials, providing clinical, technical, manufacturing and regulatory expertise and access to the NHS. Last January, the centre has published its database of ongoing cell therapy clinical trials in the UK. It details 21 studies and 75 % of these studies are sponsored by a research institution (Queen Mary University of London, University College London, Imperial College London, Cambridge University, Birmingham University, Edinburgh University, Newcastle University...). Three companies, Azellon Cell Therapeutics, Cell Medica and Reneuron are currently involved in cell therapy clinical trials in the UK. The majority of the cell therapies are in phase 1/2 or 2 trials and transplant and oncology are the main indications.
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