ThermoGenesis Corp. a supplier of products and services that process and store adult stem cells, has announced that its MarrowXpress™ (MXP™) device is now being used in two new regenerative medicine programs.

According to a press release, the programs include use of the MXP, which is used to concentrate stem cells from bone marrow, in an ongoing Phase II clinical trial being conducted at the University of Naples in Italy to study the effect of bone marrow derived mononuclear cells on patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). ThermoGenesis also announced the launch of its distribution agreement with Autin, TX based Celling Technologies, an orthopedics company focusing on the cell therapy market.

The University of Naples trial of 30 patients has as lead investigators Dr. Gilda Cobellis and Professor Vincenzo Sica, who has been treating CLI patients with mononuclear cells derived from bone marrow for several years. ThermoGenesis says the early results from Prof. Sica's efforts indicate the treatment has resulted in significant improvement in patients' clinical status. The trial in Naples will be the first human use of the ThermoGenesis MXP System for the treatment of CLI patients.

"We are pleased that our new MXP System has been selected for this CLI trial with the University of Naples, which has pioneered the study of using bone marrow stem cells as therapy. Patients with CLI are often faced with the prospect of amputation and suffer high rates of morbidity and mortality. We are optimistic that our MXP technology will ultimately enable clinicians to achieve more successful outcomes for these patients," said Matthew Plavan, Chief Executive Officer of ThermoGenesis.

The MXP System is derived from ThermoGenesis' AXP™ AutoXpress technology platform, which ThermoGenesis says is routinely used in cord blood banking processing by both private and public cord blood banks throughout the world. According to ThermoGenesis, the MXP features "a microprocessor controlled device and a dedicated single-use disposable set for isolating stem cells present in bone marrow aspirates." The offering represents first to market technology allowing clinicians to automate the volume reduction steps and cryopreservation of processed bone marrow aspirates. ThermoGenesis' press release states that the output of the MXP is compatible for stem cell cryopreservation using the ThermoGenesis BioArchive® System. A second initiative involves the use of the MXP in performing clinical research on bone marrow stem cell separation in point-of-care orthopedic procedures.

"This partnership with Celling Technologies, a true innovator in the orthopedics industry, portends a significant opportunity for ThermoGenesis. We are in the process of completing our training and market introduction programs with them and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship," Plavan noted.

"With the recent change in administrations in Washington, it is likely that there will be increased funding and support for stem cell research. We are hopeful that a more favorable climate can lead to expanded applications for our stem cell separation and cryopreservation technology platforms," Plavan added.

Source: www.thermogenesis.com

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