TheraVitae to present stem cell treatment interim clinical results of its first trial at the American Heart Association Meeting in November.
Ness Ziona, Israel and Bangkok, Thailand (PRWEB) October 21, 2005 -- TheraVitae researchers will present encouraging interim results from a clinical study of the use of VesCell™ for the treatment of patients with severe angina pectoris at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions meeting to be held November 13-15 in Dallas.
The study, conducted at Siriraj Hospital -- the largest and most reputable academic hospital in Thailand -- will assess the treatment in twenty-four patients with severe chronic angina. The trial was conducted in order to study the safety and efficacy of the intracoronary administration of VesCell™, an autologous cellular product consisting of angiogenic cell precursors (ACPs) to patients with severe angina pectoris.
The interim results of this study have encouraged two leading hospitals in Thailand -- Chaophya Hospital and Bangkok Heart Hospital -- to use VesCell for off trial, compassionate treatment of no-option heart patients suffering from ischemic heart disease and congestive heart failure.
TheraVitae’s proprietary technology allows the isolation, expansion and differentiation of ACPs to an amount sufficient to induce blood vessel formation in the heart. Cells are isolated from the blood, processed outside the body and then administered to the patient during standard catheterization to areas of the heart suffering from reduced blood supply.
Commenting on the results, David Czeiger MD, Medical Director at TheraVitae said, "The promising results we have observed so far are very encouraging. We are looking forward to the completion of this study and accumulating the full follow-up data that we believe will prove the safety and efficacy of our novel treatment."
Suphachai Chaithiraphan, MD, President of the Heart Association of Thailand and President of the Thai Atherosclerosis Society and a member of the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board added, "The results seen so far support our view that autologous ACP therapy has the potential to significantly change our treatment strategies towards heart diseases. The benefit to patients' quality of life is a particularly positive aspect of the results we have seen. These results place us one step closer to realizing the potential of adult stem cell therapy."
About VesCell
VesCell consists of a patient’s own adult stem cells harvested from approximately ½ pint of the patient’s own blood and is used to treat heart disorders. Once harvested, the cells are differentiated and expanded in vitro at the TheraVitae laboratories in Israel and are ready for implantation in about one week. The cellular product is a viable alternative for patients who either cannot undergo or choose not to undergo the standard revascularization treatments such as Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG).
http://www.vescell.com
About TheraVitae
TheraVitae is a private, multinational company focused on using stem cells from the patient's own blood in order to treat a variety of disorders, especially cardiovascular diseases. The company has developed a proprietary stem cell technology called VesCell that is currently being used by hospitals in Thailand to treat patients with heart disease. TheraVitae is based in Bangkok, Thailand, Kiryat Weizmann, Israel, and Hong Kong.
http://www.theravitae.com
TheraVitae Thailand
36/72 PS Tower, 21/Fl., Sukhumvit 21,
Klongtoey Nua,
Bangkok 10110
Thailand
Phone: 02-664-4290/3
Fax: 02-664-42-89
Theravitae Israel
7 Pinhas Sapir Street
P.O. Box 4049,
Ness Ziona 74140,
Israel
Phone: +972-8-9409170
Fax: +972-8-9409167
http://www.theravitae.com
http://www.VesCell.com
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