Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine (Co-Principal Investigator: Prof. Takashi Hamazaki) and Celaid Therapeutics Inc. (President and CEO: Nobuyuki Arakawa) have entered into a joint research agreement to investigate the efficacy of Ex Vivo expansioned human hematopoietic stem cells in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy（HIE） to develop new treatment methods.
Research Background:
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a condition known as severe pseudodeath, a condition in which a baby is born with weak breathing and pulse. It is known to be caused by the hypoxic and hypoglycemic state of cranial nerve cells due to the blockage of blood flow to the baby's brain caused by some factor at birth. Even today, this condition is reported to occur in a certain percentage of babies, and it is one of the conditions for which effective treatment is long awaited.
The joint research by Osaka Metropolitan University and Celaid Therapeutics will be used to develop a treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy by Ex Vivo expanding human hematopoietic stem cells, using Celaid's technology, from umbilical cord blood and transplanting them in model animals to verify their efficacy.
Research Achievements of Osaka Metropolitan University:
The research group in the Department of Developmental Pediatrics at Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine has been conducting research on autologous cord blood stem cell therapy for critically-ill infants born with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The safety verification of the Phase I study was completed in October 2017, passed the subsequent review by the Independent Case Review Committee, received a determination of continuability from the Specified Accredited Committee for Regenerative Medicine, and began Phase II studies in November 2020.
Osaka Metropolitan University Web Site
Nobuyuki Arakawa, President and CEO, Celaid Therapeutics：
"We are very pleased to start this joint research project, as it will pave the way for us to utilize our hematopoietic stem cell expansion technology in the research of autologous cord blood transplantation for HIE being conducted by the Graduate School of Medicine of Osaka Metropolitan University. We continue to develop activities to implement this excellent technology in society."