Grant Award Details
File an IND application for a clinical trial using allogeneic placental MSC to augment fetal myelomeningocele repair.
Grant Application Details
- Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cell Augmentation of Fetal Myelomeningocele Repair
Therapeutic Candidate or Device
Allogeneic Placenta-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Seeded on Cook Biodesign® Dural Graft Extracellular Matrix (PMSC-ECM)
Indication
Myelomeningocele (MMC) -or Spina Bifida -diagnosed prenataly
Therapeutic Mechanism
Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) act by a paracrine mechanism, secreting a variety of growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles. This secretory profile is unique to PMSCs and is responsible for protecting motor neurons from apoptosis, which occurs due to chemical and mechanical trauma when motor neurons are exposed to the intrauterine environment. PMSC treatment increases the density of motor neurons in the spinal cord, leading to improved motor function.
Unmet Medical Need
The current standard of care in utero surgery, while promising, still leaves 58% of patients unable to walk independently. There is an extraordinary need for a therapy that prevents or lessens the severity of the devastating and costly lifelong disabilities associated with the disease.
Project Objective
IND filing, Phase 1/2 trial start-up activities
Major Proposed Activities
- Manufacture product to supply the proposed studies and clinical trial
- Assess safety of the therapeutic PMSC product
- Assess efficacy using clinical-grade product
There is a high incidence of MMC in CA with 39.1% of the population being of Hispanic or Latino descent, a demographic that is affected by MMC at a disproportionately high rate. The cost to CA is approximately $532,000 per child, but for many, the cost may be several million dollars due to ongoing treatment. Indirect costs include pain and suffering, specialized childcare, and lost time of unpaid caregivers. A therapy for MMC would relieve the tremendous emotional and economic cost burden to CA.
Publications
- Fetal Diagn Ther (2020) Surviving Lambs with Myelomeningocele Repaired in utero with Placental Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for 6 Months: A Pilot Study. (PubMed: 33166951)
- World J Stem Cells (2020) Clonal isolation of endothelial colony-forming cells from early gestation chorionic villi of human placenta for fetal tissue regeneration. (PubMed: 32184937)
- Fetal Diagn Ther (2020) A Decade of Experience with the Ovine Model of Myelomeningocele: Risk Factors for Fetal Loss. (PubMed: 32097922)
- J Pediatr Surg (2019) In Utero Treatment of Myelomeningocele with Placental Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - Selection of an Optimal Cell Line in Preparation for Clinical Trials. (PubMed: 31672407)
- Fetal Diagn Ther (2019) Spinal Angulation: A Limitation of the Fetal Lamb Model of Myelomeningocele. (PubMed: 30970373)
- FASEB J (2019) Neuroprotective effect of placenta-derived mesenchymal stromal cells: role of exosomes. (PubMed: 30753093)