TEL AVIV, Israel, May 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cellect Biomed Ltd. (TASE:CLBD) (“Cellect” or the “Company”), a developer of innovative technology that enables the functional selection of stem cells, announced today that it has been granted a patent for its technology platform for cell selection from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.
The patent protects the usage of apoptosis-inducing materials for the destruction of cells that inhibit the receipt of bone marrow grafts. With patents already issued in the United States, Europe, India and Israel, this Canadian patent expands Cellect’s already formidable intellectual property estate.
Dr. Shai Yarkoni, the Company's CEO, noted: "Our business model is based not only on our internal development of new products for various medical needs, but also on collaborations and out-licenses of our technology to companies and research institutions in the field. Accordingly, as awareness and acceptance of our ground-breaking technology platform continues to grow amongst physicians, patients, researchers and potential partners, it is vital this opportunity is well protected.”
Cellect is making final preparations for the planned launch of its first clinical trial in leukemia patients, following the receipt of IRB approval from the Rambam Hospital. The trial will be conducted in the bone marrow transplantation (“BMT”) unit and led by Clinical Assistant Professor Zila Zuckerman, the Director of the unit, subject to the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Health.
The trial is a first of its kind in leukemia patients in need of bone marrow transplantation. In the clinical trial, the BMT process will be performed at the Rambam Hospital in leukemia patients using Cellect's cell selection technology, "Cellect InsideTM".
The cell selection process, performed by the Company in the graft intended for transplantation, is designed to prevent severe adverse effects resulting from mature cells, including death. These adverse effects occur due to a collision between the different donor's and recipient's immune systems. Cellect's technology enables controlled destruction of those mature immune system cells, thereby preventing the adverse effects.
This game-changing approach constitutes a worldwide breakthrough in the ability to cause selective destruction of mature cell populations, thus offering an improvement of all applications in the BMT field.
In addition, the Company recently announced a collaboration agreement with Accellta as a step towards Cellect’s first out-licensing agreement for its technology.
About Cellect
Cellect develops an innovative technology, which enables the functional selection of stem cells based on their sensitivity to apoptosis. This functional-based selection is an international breakthrough in the ability to isolate stem cells from mature cells, thereby improving a variety of stem cells applications.
The Company’s first product line will include unique containers for cell selection in an apoptosis-inducing microenvironment. Cellect has proved in extensive lab studies that the use of apoptosis can largely increase the stem cell concentration in samples taken from bone marrow donors, as well as umbilical cord blood. The first commercial product of the company is a medical kit designed for the cancer treatment bone marrow transplantations market, as well as other markets that require cell selection. The company estimates that in the future its technology will be integrated in many production procedures of stem cell-based product.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Cellect's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time to time, Cellect or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by Cellect with the TASE, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of Cellect's authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Cellect's actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause Cellect's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors summarized in Cellect's filings with the TASE. In addition, Cellect operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. Cellect does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.