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Sernova Announces First Transplantation of Therapeutic Cells in Cell Pouch for the Company's Phase I/II U.S. Clinical Study for Diabetes
(via TheNewswire) LONDON, ONTARIO / TheNewswire / April 11, 2019 - Sernov...
About this update from Sernova Biotherapeutics Inc
[{"type":"text","content":"Sernova Announces First Transplantation of Therapeutic Cells in Cell Pouch for the Company's Phase I/II U.S. Clinical Study for Diabetes(via TheNewswire)\n \n \nLONDON, ONTARIO / TheNewswire / April 11, 2019 - Sernova Corp. (TSX-V: SVA) (OTCQB: SEOVF), a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company today announced the first Cell Pouch(TM) transplant of insulin-producing cells in its U.S. Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Cell Pouch for Clinical Islet Transplantation in type 1 diabetes. \n\n\n \n\"Sernova's Cell Pouch technologies are positioned to provide the most severe patients with improved, long-term options to manage their diabetes, said Dr. Piotr Witkowski, Clinical Trial Principal Investigator and Director of the Pancreatic Islet Transplant Program at the University of Chicago. \"The current standard of care, involves islet transplants into the portal vein which has significant limitations including the development of an immediate blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBRM), limited supply of donor organs and the challenges in isolating and obtaining a consistent quality of islet preparations.\"\n\n\n \nIn accordance with the study protocol, the Cell Pouch was implanted prior to transplant of purified islets. This procedure enables the development of vascularized tissue chambers and provides an interval for patient stabilization on standard immune protection medications. Prior to transplantation, the Cell Pouch was assessed for safety. A Sentinel Pouch, a small monitoring device, was also transplanted with islets. In accordance with the protocol the Sentinel Pouch will be removed approximately 90 days post-transplant to assess islet survival as an interim indicator of efficacy.\n\n\n \n\"Sernova's Cell Pouch provides a non-fibrosing, vascularized environment for the transplantation of therapeutic cells, to enhance the curative potential of islet transplantation and other cell therapies,\" said Dr. Philip Toleikis, President and CEO of Sernova. \"We are thrilled with Dr. Witkowski's progress as well as his decision to move forward with transplantation based on his analysis of the safety and vascularization of the Cell Pouch.\" \n\n\n \n\"This important clinical milestone advances our Cell Pouch technologies as a valuable enabling foundation for cell therapies across a range of indications ...