Global Stem Cells Group Subsidiary Adimarket Announces Progenikine™ SVF Closed System Now Available to Purchase Online
Global Stem Cells Group subsidiary Adimarket announces that Progenikine™, is now available to purchase through the Adimarket website. Progenikine is the new SVF closed system kit utilizing EmCyte technology and containing all the elements necessary to process adipose tissue and obtain stromal vascular fraction in a sterile environment for stem cell therapies.
MIAMI, July 30, 2016–Adimarket, a subsidiary of Global Stem Cells Group, Inc., has announced that Progenikine™, the new and approved SVF closed system kit using EmCyte technology, is now available to purchase online through the Adimarket website. The Progenikine kit contains all the elements necessary to process adipose tissue and obtain stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in a closed environment.
A growing number of physicians are switching to the Progenikine kit system, as it provides the perfect preparation for virtually all clinical applications.
Built with EmCyte Technology, the kit has been independently reviewed and proven in various critical performance points that make a difference in patient outcomes. The Progenikine system allows entire procedures to be performed in a sterile closed system. Currently, the Progenikine kit is being used in topical procedures such as intra-articular injection for osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, cosmetic surgery and acne scarring, dermal injection, stem cell enriched fat transfer, wounds, chronic ulcers, and other chronic conditions.
Adipose derived stem cells (ASCs) are used by physicians for a variety of indications. Most commonly, ASCs are isolated at the point of care from lipoaspirate (derived from liposuction) tissue as the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), harvested from the patient and immediately administered to the patient as an injection, or used to enrich fat grafts. Isolation of ASCs from adipose tissue is a relatively simple process performed routinely in cell biology laboratories, but isolation at the point of care for immediate clinical administration requires special methodology to prevent contamination, ensure integrity of the clinical procedure, and comply with regulatory requirements.
Developed in conjunction with Patrick Pennie, EmCyte CEO, Progenikine fuses elements from EmCyte systems with the Global Stem Cells Group SVF protocols. The kit can provide a low cost, rapid and simple alternative to traditional methods of isolating ASCs, particularly when smaller quantities are needed.
To learn more about the Progenikine kit, visit the Adimarket website, email bnovas(at)stemcellsgroup(dot)com, or call 305-560-5337.
About Global Stem Cells Group:
Global Stem Cells Group is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions.
With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.
Global Stem Cells Groups corporate mission is to make the promise of stem cell medicine a reality for patients around the world. With each of GSCGs six operating companies focused on a separate research-based mission, the result is a global network of state-of-the-art stem cell treatments.
About Adimarket:
Adimarket, Inc., a division of the Global Stem Cells Group, is a cost-competitive online marketplace for quality regenerative medicine equipment and supplies for physicians and health care professionals.
Adimarket was founded to provide physicians and other health care professionals the tools they need to practice regenerative medicine in a medical office setting. Motivated by a firm belief in the impact the practice of stem cell medicine can have when dispensed in a doctor’s office, Adimarket provides physicians with the tools they need to provide patients with cutting edge treatments.
Adimarket’s experienced customer service representatives provide valuable guidance and advice regarding products relevant to individual practices.
About EmCyte:
Fort Myers, Florida-based EmCyte Corporation is a leader in autologous cellular biologics with the GenesisCS Component Concentrating Systems. These systems provide patients with the best opportunity for rapid recovery and provide practitioners with the most advanced clinical point of care experience. EmCyte systems are developed to meet every clinical requirement, giving the physician better clinical choices. EmCyte devices have been independently reviewed and show to produce buffycoat concentrations of 6x to greater than 10x baseline in 7mLs, with yields ranging from 70 percent to greater than 90 percent.
EmCyte technology allows for the safe extraction of concentrated platelets and other regenerative cell types from the patient’s own blood. These cells are then re-suspended in a small volume of the patient’s blood plasma and then applied to the treatment site.
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Global Stem Cells Announces Formal Inaugural for Clinica Biomaster in Costa Rica
Global Stem Cells Group has launched Clinica Biomaster Costa Rica with an inauguration and symposium at Clinica Biomaster, the company’s new stem cell center in Escazú, Costa Rica.
Global Stem Cells Group hosted a symposium and formal inauguration of Clinica Biomaster Costa Rica, the company’s new stem cell center in Escazú, Costa Rica. Joseph Purita, M.D., head of the Global Stem Cells Group Scientific Advisory Board, was the keynote speaker at the event, held July 15 and 16, 2016.
Purita also presented lectures to medical staff at Hospital CIMA and Hospital Metropolitano in San Jose during the inaugural weekend.
The two-day symposium officially launched Global Stem Cells Group’s Costa Rica operations, which includes plans for four stem cell training courses for physicians and a regenerative medicine symposium in early 2017.
Clinica Biomaster is headed by neurologist and anti-aging specialist Dra. Mariella Tanzi, founder of BIOMEN S.A. Tanzi and Biomaster have formed an alliance with GSCG to be the exclusive representative for the Miami-based biomedical company’s products and services in the Costa Rica market.
The symposium included sessions on clinical advances in stem cell research; molecular biology; models of treatment in surgical and cosmetic applications, and in clinical conditions; application of minimally manipulated stem cells in the physician’s office; stem cells, regenerative medicine and its application in anti-aging medicine and medical legal issues. It also included a full day, hands-on training session to provide participating physicians and qualified medical professionals with state-of-the-art techniques for isolating and re-integrating adipose- and bone marrow-derived stem cells for in office patient treatments, along with clinical protocols.
This popular training course is part of the Global Stem Cells Group’s commitment to the growing network of world-class stem cell researchers, treatment practitioners and investors committed to advancing stem cell medicine, and helping physicians bring treatments into the office for the benefit of patients.
To learn more, visit the Global Stem Cells Group website, or the Stem Cell Training website, email bnovas(at)regenestem(dot)com, or call +1 305 560 5337.
About Global Stem Cell Group:
Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions. With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.
To review this press release live online, click here
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- Published in Press Releases
Global Stem Cells Group Announces Stem Cell Training Course in South Korea
(Pictured: bone marrow stem cells)
Global Stem Cells Group will host a stem cell training course in SVF and bone marrow aspiration techniques July 28-29, 2016.
MIAMI, July 28, 2016–Global Stem Cells Group, in collaboration with South Korean biomedical company N-Biotek will host a course in stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and bone marrow aspiration techniques for physicians at the N-Biotek headquarters in Gyeonggi-do Province of South Korea July 29 and 29, 2016.
The training course is part of a collaborative agreement between GSCG’s Adimarket division and N-Biotek, a worldwide biomedical and lab equipment manufacturer, to promote and distribute their stem cell technology equipment throughout Latin America.
The two-day, hands-on training covers the latest technology and procedures in SVF and bone marrow stem cell techniques. Practitioners learn skills that can be used to treat patients in their practices, and for career advancement. The SVF and bone marrow aspiration course was developed for physicians and high-level practitioners to learn techniques in harvesting and reintegrating stem cells derived from adipose tissue and bone marrow. The objective of the training teach effective, in-office regenerative medicine techniques.
N-Biotek develops a range of custom lab products including the Esfomi cosmetic line, and the Stem Cell Total Solution for emerging stem cell businesses.
N-Biotek is the only company that builds the whole stem cell processing system for partners ready to begin work in the stem cell industry. N-Biotek meets every need for stem cell clinicians, including biological clean room construction, equipment installation and stem cell processing consulting.
N-Biotek currently distributes medical equipment and services to facilities and professionals in more than 100 countries.
For more information, visit the Global Stem Cells Group website, email bnovas@stemcellsgroup(dot)com, or call +1 305 560 5337.
About Global Stem Cells Group:
Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions. With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.
About Adimarket:
Adimarket, Inc., a division of the Global Stem Cells Group, is a cost-competitive online marketplace for quality regenerative medicine equipment and supplies for physicians and health care professionals.
Adimarket was founded to provide physicians and other health care professionals the tools they need to practice regenerative medicine in a medical office setting. Motivated by a firm belief in the impact the practice of stem cell medicine can have when dispensed in a doctor’s office, Adimarket provides physicians with the tools they need to provide patients with cutting edge treatments.
Adimarket’s experienced customer service representatives provide valuable guidance and advice regarding products relevant to individual practices.
About N-Biotek:
N-Biotek, Inc., founded in 2000 and located in the Gyeonggi-do Province of South Korea, is a leading manufacturer and supplier of bio-technology-related laboratory equipment. N-Biotek delivers high quality biomedical equipment to more than 100 countries.
To view this press release live online, click here
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- Published in Press Releases
Regenerating and Restoring Brain Cells in the Aged With Donor Neural Stem Cells
The human brain, as it turns out, is far more malleable than we once thought. Even adult brains. But they are subject to age-related diseases and disorders, such as dementia and diminished cognitive function.
There is hope that medical science may be able to replace brain cells and restore memory in aging patients thanks to new discoveries in neural stem cell techniques. Researchers at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine recently published new findings in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine that suggests a new technique for preparing donor neural stem cells and grafting them into an aged brain can regenerate tissue that has succumbed to structural, chemical, and functional changes, as well as a host of neurocognitive changes that can be attributed to aging.
The study, titled “Grafted Subventricular Zone Neural Stem Cells Display Robust Engraftment and Similar Differentiation Properties and Form New Neurogenic Niches in the Young and Aged Hippocampus,” was led by Ashok K. Shetty, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine. associate director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and research career scientist at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.
Shetty and his team at Texas A&M focus on the aged hippocampus, which plays an important role in making new memories and connecting them to emotions. They took healthy donor neural stem cells and implanted them into the hippocampus of an animal model, essentially enabling them to regenerate tissue.
The hippocampus in the aging brain
“We chose the hippocampus because it’s so important in learning, memory and mood function,” Shetty said. “We’re interested in understanding aging in the brain, especially in the hippocampus, which seems particularly vulnerable to age-related changes.”
The volume of this part of the brain seems to decrease during the aging process, and this decrease may be related to age-related decline in neurogenesis (production of new neurons) and the memory deficits some people experience as they grow older.
The aged hippocampus also exhibits signs of age-related degenerative changes in the brain, such chronic low-grade inflammation and increased reactive oxygen species.
Bharathi Hattiangady, assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine and co-first author of the study said his team was excited to discover that the aged hippocampus can accept grafted neural stem cells as well as the young hippocampus does, a discovery that has significant implications for treating age-related neurodegenerative disorders.
“It’s interesting that even neural stem cell niches can be formed in the aged hippocampus,” Hattiangady says.
Shetty’s previous research focused on the benefits of resveratrol (an antioxidant that is famously found in red wine and the skin of red grapes, as well as in peanuts and some berries) to the hippocampus. Although the results indicated important benefits for preventing memory loss in aging brains, his newest work demonstrates a way to affect the function of the hippocampus more directly.
Neural stem cell grafting
In this new study, the team found that the neural stem cells engrafted well onto the hippocampus in the young animal models (which was expected) as well as the older ones that would be, in human terms, about 70 years old. Not only did these implanted cells survive, they divided several times to make new cells.
“They had at least three divisions after transplantation,” Shetty said. “So the total yield of graft-derived neurons and glia (a type of brain cell that supports neurons) were much higher than the number of implanted cells, and we found that in both the young and aged hippocampus, without much difference between the two.”
In both old and young brains, a small percentage of the grafted cells retained their stemness feature—an essential characteristic of a stem cell that distinguishes it from ordinary cells—and continuously produced new neurons. This is called creating a new ‘niche’ of neural stem cells, and these niches seemed to be functioning well. They were still producing new neurons at least three months after implantation, and these neurons are capable of migrating to different parts of the brain.
Past efforts to rejuvenate brains using fetal neurons in this way weren’t nearly as successful. Immature cells, such as neural stem cells, seem to do a better job because they can tolerate the hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and trauma of the brain grafting procedure better than post-mitotic or relatively mature neurons. When researchers tried in the past to implant these partially differentiated cells into the aged hippocampus, they didn’t do nearly as well. The research team used a new technique of preparing the donor neural stem cells, which Shetty says is why this result has never been seen before.
Brain marrow
The researchers used donor cells from the sub-ventricular zone of the brain, an area called the “brain marrow,” because it is analogous to bone marrow in that it holds a number of neural stem cells that persist throughout life. These neural stem cells continuously produce new neurons that migrate to the olfactory system. They also respond to injury signals in conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury and replace some of the lost cerebral cortical neurons.
Induced pluripotent cells from skin
Even a small stem cell sample is good enough to expand in culture, so the procedure isn’t terribly invasive. However, in the future, a single skin cell might suffice, as similar neural stem cells can be obtained in large numbers from skin. In fact, it is well known in medical science that a number of cells in the body—including skin cells—can be modified in such a way to create induced pluripotent stem cells.
With these cells, scientists can do any number of things, such as making neural stem cells that will make both more of themselves, and make new neurons. It’s not necessary to get the cells from the brain, just take a skin biopsy and push them into neural stem cells, according to Shetty.
Although the way the grafted cells thrived is promising, there is still a good deal of work to be done to determine if the extra grey matter actually improves cognition.
“Next, we want to test what impact, if any, the implanted cells have on behavior and determine if implanting neural stem cells can actually reverse age-related learning and memory deficits,” Shetty said. “That’s an area that we’d like to study in the future.
“I’m always interested in ways to rejuvenate the aged brain to promote successful aging, which we see when elderly persons exhibit normal cognitive function and the ability to make memories.”
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- Published in Corporate News / Blog
Stem Cell-stimulating Fillings Help Regenerate Teeth Damaged by Disease, Decay
Researchers from Harvard University and the University of Nottingham have developed a new filling that stimulates stem cells in dental pulp to regenerate and even regrow teeth damaged by disease and decay. According to Newsweek Magazine, the discovery earned a prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry after judges described it as a “new paradigm for dental treatments.”
The treatment is believed to potentially eliminate the need for root canals.
Filling materials stimulate stem cells to encourage dentin growth
The filling works by stimulating the body’s natural store of stem cells to encourage the growth of dentin—the bony material that makes up the majority of the tooth—allowing patients to effectively regrow teeth that are damaged through dental disease. The filling’s synthetic biomaterials are used similarly to dental fillings, placed in direct contact with pulp tissue in the damaged tooth. This stimulates the tissue’s native stem cell population to repair and regenerate pulp tissue and the surrounding dentin.
The discovery is a significant step forward from current methods to treat cavities, which involve drilling out decay and putting in a filling made of gold; porcelain; silver amalgam (which consists of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper); or tooth-colored plastic or composite resin. When these fillings fail to halt the tooth’s decay, a root canal is needed to remove the pulp of the tooth, damaging it even further.
Alternative to traditional fillings in teeth
Researchers hope to develop the technique with industry partners in order to make it available for dental patients as an alternative to traditional fillings. Marie Curie research fellow Adam Celiz says that existing dental fillings are toxic to cells and are therefore incompatible with pulp tissue inside the tooth.
“In cases of dental pulp disease and injury, a root canal is typically performed to remove the infected tissues,” Celiz says.
The promise of using therapeutic biomaterials to bring stem cell medicine to restorative dentistry could significantly impact millions of dental patients each year. In fact, the approach is so promising it won second prize in the materials category of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technology Competition for 2016.
Competition entries were judged on the degree of innovation of the technology, its potential impact, and the quality of the science behind it. Increasing innovation in the chemical sciences is a key element of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s industry strategy.
Effective and practical approach to regenerating teeth
The stem cell stimulating filling promises to change the future of dentistry, according to David Mooney, Pinkas Family Professor of Bioengineering at the John Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering.
“’These materials may provide an effective and practical approach to allow a patient to regenerate components of their own teeth,’ Pinkas says.
Stem cells can induce regenerative, self-healing qualities in any tissue found in the body and can, as a result, provide unlimited potential for medical applications. Current studies are underway worldwide to learn how stem cells may be used to prevent or cure diseases and injuries such as Parkinson’s disease, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, burns, osteoarthritis, vision and hearing loss, and more. Stem cells may also be used to replace or repair tissue damaged by disease or injury.
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New Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Therapies Aim to Protect Patients from Charlatan Quackery
Stem cell research has never been more advanced, and as a result many different types of treatments are currently offered on the market. Unfortunate
ly, some providers are practicing quackery in stem cell therapies, and an abundance of well-intentioned scientific and medical personnel are prematurely publicizing their work. These providers and publishers have cast an unfair shadow of mistrust on this very important branch of medical research and potential treatments.
On the other hand, the contributions of professional medical and stem cell societies and other organizations require self-regulation through accreditation and certification, development of standards, and creation of a platform for collaboration among stakeholders.
Professional Guidelines for responsible Stem Cell Research
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is the largest professional organization of stem cell scientists. In 2007, ISSCR impaneled a broad international taskforce to develop a set of professional guidelines for responsible translational stem cell research. Their principles include high standards of preclinical evidence, peer review, scrupulous review of clinical protocol by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), rigorous informed consent, and publication of results whether positive or negative.
The general scientific consensus is that most stem cell therapies are not ready for marketing or commercialization. But the industries that are providing these treatments are increasingly sophisticated and organized, and are challenging established regulatory frameworks.
The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) has an interest in the promotion of stem cell research and development, but it also is interested in a broader range of cell-based interventions such as immune cell interventions, reproductive medicine, and gene therapy. The ISCT taskforce has working groups on definitions, scientific evidence and biological rationale, laboratory cell processing, clinical practice, regulation, commercial implications, communications, and policy.
Develop terminology, define levels of scientific evidence in new guidelines for stem cell research
The key goals are to develop an appropriate terminology, define the levels of scientific evidence needed to justify routine use or commercialization of a stem cell therapy, address questions of “experimental” and “innovative” use, and understand the global regulatory landscape in order to identify gaps and contradictions.
The ISSCR published revised guidelines for research and clinical translation involving stem cells on May 12, 2016. These new guidelines update and combine guidelines on stem cell research and clinical translation previously issued in 2006 and 2008 Jonathan Kimmelman, Associate Professor of Biomedical Ethics at McGill University, chaired the ISSCR Guidelines Update Task Force. The task force was made up of 25 experts in basic research, clinical research, and bioethics, and received feedback from 85 external individuals and organizations.
2016 guidelines: covering new ground in stem cell research
The 2016 guidelines cover new ground in areas such as gene editing and induced pluripotent stem cells. They introduce a new focus on the communication of results. The task force recognizes that results and potential applications can be exaggerated, leading to distorted understandings of research outcomes in the scientific community, popular press, and among potential patients. The “14-day rule” limiting experimentation on human embryos or embryo-like structures is upheld in these guidelines, although one task-force member has suggested that this may soon be open to revision.
In May, 2016 ISSCR released the following list of all of the new topics addressed in the revised guidelines as part of the announcement of its report:
- Define an Embryo Research Oversight (EMRO) process to encompass both human embryonic stem cell research and human embryo research that may not explicitly pertain to stem cells or generating new stem cell lines;
- Exclude the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) from specific stem cell research oversight, and instead call on the existing human subjects review processes to oversee donor cell recruitment (iPS cells behave like embryonic stem cells but are derived by reprogramming more differentiated tissue cells);
- Support laboratory-based research that entails gene editing of the nuclear genomes of human sperm, egg, or embryos, when performed under rigorous review, but hold that any attempt to apply this clinically would be premature and should be prohibited at this time;
- Define principles for evaluating both basic and clinically applied research on mitochondrial replacement therapy, in concordance with recent deliberations in the U.K., U.S., and elsewhere;
- Determine that where there is no undue financial inducement to participate, it may be acceptable to compensate women who donate eggs for research;
- Recognize that the development of increasingly complex in vitro models of early stages of human development should undergo specialized review;
- Highlight opportunities to strengthen preclinical studies in stem cell research, including reproducibility and stringent standards for experimental design;
- Call for robust standards for preclinical and clinical research evidence as clinical trials progress and rigorous evaluation for safety and efficacy before marketing approval;
- Address the valuable contributions made by patients or patient groups to support clinical research and a framework to ensure this is achieved without compromising the integrity of the research;
- Highlight the responsibility of all groups communicating stem cell science and medicine—scientists, clinicians, industry, science communicators, and media—to present accurate, balanced reports of progress and setbacks.
The good news is that stem cell research is evolving into a highly respected and in-demand branch of healing that many consider to be the future of medicine. Since pluripotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into any type of cell, they are used in the development of medical treatments for a wide range of conditions including physical trauma, degenerative conditions, and genetic diseases (in combination with gene therapy). Further treatments using stem cells are being developed due to stem cells’ ability to repair extensive tissue damage.
Great levels of success and potential have been achieved from research using adult stem cells. In early 2009, the FDA approved the first human clinical trials using embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means they can become any cell type of the body, with the exception of placental cells. More and more is being discovered about the plasticity of adult stem cells, increasing the potential number of cell types an adult stem cell can become.
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- Published in Corporate News / Blog
Stem Cell Myths, Busted
The term stem cell research gleans different reactions from people, both in the medical community and the wider public. Still an emerging science, stem cell research is shrouded by many myths and misconceptions. Here, we take on some of the most predominant myths to discuss the misconceptions and clarify the facts regarding this fast-growing branch of medicine.
Stem cell myths
Myth #1: Stem cells only come from embryos.
FACT: False. Stem cells exist in all bodies, from embryos to adults.
Embryonic stem cells come from the early embryo, and have the potential to produce all the specialized cells of the body. Because of this, they hold great promise for studying and potentially treating disease and injuries. Tissue or “adult” stem cells are found in the body throughout our lives. These cells maintain and repair many tissues in the body. Examples of these cells include blood stem cells, muscle stem cells, bone marrow stem cells, adipose tissue (fat) stem cells and skin stem cells. Some of these adult stem cells are used in established medical and aesthetic treatments.
Myth #2: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) eliminate the need for embryonic cells
FACT: False. Research is needed on all types of cells because it is not clear which cells will be most useful for which types of application. For the foreseeable future, side-by-side research on both embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells is needed. Global Stem Cell Group’s research and treatment products use no embryonic stem cells.
Myth #3: Stem cell research leads to cloning humans.
FACT: False. Most countries prohibit this type of cloning.
In most countries, even attempting to clone a human being is illegal. Some countries do allow something called “therapeutic cloning” for the purposes of studying a disease. In this procedure, scientists isolate embryonic stem cells from a cloned blastocyst (early stage embryo) but do not transfer the blastocyst into a womb. In therapeutic cloning, the blastocyst is not transferred to a womb. Instead, embryonic stem cells are isolated from the cloned blastocyst. These stem cells are genetically matched to the donor organism for studying genetic disease. For example, stem cells could be generated using the nuclear transfer process described above, with the donor adult cell coming from a patient with diabetes or Alzheimer’s. The stem cells could be studied in the laboratory to help researchers understand what goes wrong in diseases like these.
Therapeutic cloning also could be used to generate cells that are genetically identical to a patient’s. A patient transplanted with these cells would not suffer the problems associated with transplant rejection. To date, no human embryonic stem cell lines have been derived using therapeutic cloning.
Myth #4: Adult stem cells are only found in adults
FACT: False. There are three different types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and tissue specific stem cells. It’s the tissue stem cells that are often called “adult” stem cells, but these “adult” stem cells are found in people of all ages. (See myth #1).
Stem cell myths: research
Myth #5: Embryonic stem cell research is banned in Europe.
FACT: False. The laws vary across the EU.
EU member states have diverging regulatory positions on human embryonic stem cell research. For instance, in Germany, the use of embryos for research is heavily restricted under the Embryo Protection Act (Embryonenschutzgesetz) of 1991, which makes the derivation
of embryonic stem cell lines a criminal offense. But in the UK, embryonic stem cell research is allowed, subject to licensing from the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Click here for country by country overviews for more details. Under the previous two European Framework programs (FP6 and F7), as well as the current program, Horizon 2020, human embryonic stem cell research can be funded, provided that the work is permitted by law in the country where it is to take place.
Myth #6: Stem cell research and treatment is against the law in the US.
FACT: False. The FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine, but rather drugs and medical devices and which of these can be marketed in the US. Under federal law, cultured (grown) stem cell products are considered a drug, but are not illegal. Adult stem cells, however, are not cultured—they exist in our bodies throughout our organs, blood, skin, teeth, fat, bone marrow and other places.
Adult stem cell therapy is currently used in the United States to treat conditions such as leukemia and other illnesses. Bone marrow consists of stem cells which have been transplanted for years in the US.
Global Stem Cells Group offers stem cell treatments in countries where stem cell therapy is approved and regulated with no appreciable difference in safety record.. Stem cell therapy technology is still under review by the FDA.
Stem cell myths: therapies
Myth #7: Bone marrow is the best source of stem cells.
FACT: False. Bone marrow is just one source of stem cells. Bone marrow stem cells have been studied for decades, and have been used to treat certain types of cancer. A great deal of research has been dedicated to understanding this source of stem cells and their potential. Bone marrow contains a number of different kinds of stem cells, one of which is mesenchymal stem cells. However, mesanchymal stem cells can also be found in adipose (fat) tissue at nearly 2000 times the frequency of bone marrow.
Mesenchymal cells have the capability to become different types of tissues (blood vessels, muscle tissue, etc.) and are capable of communicating with other cells. In combination with other proteins, molecules and regenerative cells found in adipose tissue, they also have the ability to reduce inflammation, regenerate damaged tissue, and grow new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. Stem cells from adipose tissue are more accessible and abundant. They can be processed immediately and reintroduced into the body right away.
Myth #8: There is a risk of rejection with stem cell therapy.
FACT: False. When a patient’s stem cells are derived from his or her own body (such as fat tissue), there is no risk of rejection. In fact, studies thus far have indicated no safety issues with fat-derived autologous (from self) stem cells. Since these stem cells come from your own body, the risk of rejection is eliminated.
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- Published in Corporate News / Blog
Global Stem Cells Group Launches Two Stem Cell Treatment Centers in Arica and Iquique, Chile
Global Stem Cells Group announces the launch of two new stem cell treatment clinics in the cities of Arica and Iquique in northern Chile. The facilities are part of the international biotech company’s expanding presence in Latin America.
MIAMI, May 31, 2016—Global Stem Cells Group, a leading international biotechnology company, announces the launch of operations at two new GSCG clinics in the cities of Arica and Iquique in northern Chile. The facilities are part of GSCG’s expanding presence in Latin America.
Both the Arica and Iquique clinics offer the most advanced protocols and techniques in stem cell medicine to patients from around the world.
The clinics are headed by stem cell specialists Victor Perez, M.D., and Duval Aguirre, M.D., and will offer treatments in chronic degenerative conditions, Type 2 diabetes, COPD, traumatology and sports medicine.
Global Stem Cells Group, has been expanding its clinical presence throughout Latin America and worldwide by partnering with qualified physicians experienced in stem cell therapies to open new clinics. The new Arica and Iquique clinics are certified for the medical tourism market.
Global Stem Cells Group is committed to the highest standards in service and technology, expert and compassionate care, and a philosophy of exceeding the expectations of their international patients.
For more information, visit the Global Stem Cells Group website, Email bnovas@stemcellsgroup.com, or call 305-560-5337.
About the Global Stem Cells Group:
Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions.
With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.
Global Stem Cells Groups corporate mission is to make the promise of stem cell medicine a reality for patients around the world. With each of GSCGs six operating companies focused on a separate research-based mission, the result is a global network of state-of-the-art stem cell treatments.
To view this press release live online, click here
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Global Stem Cells Group Subsidiary Adimarket to Launch Progenikine™ SVF Closed System
Global Stem Cells Group subsidiary Adimarket is preparing to launch Progenikine™, a new SVF closed system kit utilizing EmCyte technology, containing all the elements necessary to process adipose tissue and obtain stromal vascular fraction in a sterile environment.
MIAMI, May 31—Adimarket, a subsidiary of Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is preparing to launch Progenikine™, its new and approved SVF closed system kit using EmCyte technology, and is expected to be available to physicians in July, 2016. The Progenikine kit contains all the elements necessary to process adipose tissue and obtain stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in a closed environment.
Adipose derived stem cells (ASCs) are used by physicians for a variety of indications. Most commonly, ASCs are isolated at the point of care from lipoaspirate (derived from liposuction) tissue as the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), harvested from the patient and immediately administered to the patient as an injection, or used to enrich fat grafts. Isolation of ASCs from adipose tissue is a relatively simple process performed routinely in cell biology laboratories, but isolation at the point of care for immediate clinical administration requires special methodology to prevent contamination, ensure integrity of the clinical procedure, and comply with regulatory requirements.
Developed in conjunction with Patrick Pennie, Emcyte CEO, and Maritza Novas Director of Research and Development for Global Stem Cells Group, Progenikine fuses elements from Emcyte systems with the Global Stem cells Group SVF protocols. The kit can provide a low cost, rapid and
simple alternative to traditional methods of isolating ASCs, particularly when smaller quantities are needed.
“We’re excited to launch the Progenikine kit, the newest product designed to help Global Stem Cells Group’s fulfill its m
ission to provide accessible products to our member clients,” says Benito Novas, CEO of Global Stem Cells Group. “These are the milestones that bring us closer to ensuring that more patients will be able to gain access to stem cell therapies.”
To learn more about the Progenikine kit, visit the Global Stem Cells Group website, email bnovas@stemcellsgroup.com, or call 305-560-5337.
About Global Stem Cells Group:
Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions.
With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.
Global Stem Cells Groups corporate mission is to make the promise of stem cell medicine a reality for patients around the world. With each of GSCGs six operating companies focused on a separate research-based mission, the result is a global network of state-of-the-art stem cell treatments.
About Adimarket:
Adimarket, Inc., a division of the Global Stem Cells Group, is a cost-competitive online marketplace for quality regenerative medicine equipment and supplies for physicians and health care professionals.
Adimarket was founded to provide physicians and other health care professionals the tools they need to practice regenerative medicine in a medical office setting. Motivated by a firm belief in the impact the practice of stem cell medicine can have when dispensed in a doctor’s office, Adimarket provides physicians with the tools they need to provide patients with cutting edge treatments.
Adimarket’s experienced customer service representatives provide valuable guidance and advice regarding products relevant to individual practices.
About Emcyte:
Fort Myers, Florida-based EmCyte Corporation is a leader in autologous cellular biologics with the GenesisCS Component Concentrating Systems. These systems provide patients with the best opportunity for rapid recovery an
d provide practitioners with the most advanced clinical point of care experience. EmCyte systems are developed to meet every clinical requirement, giving the physician better clinical choices. EmCyte devices have been independently reviewed and show to produce buffycoat concentrations of 6x to greater than 10x baseline in 7mLs, with yields ranging from 70 percent to greater than 90 percent
EmCyte technology allows for the safe extraction of concentrated platelets and other regenerative cell types from the patient’s own blood. These cells are then re-suspended in a small volume of the patient’s blood plasma and then applied to the treatment site.
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- Published in Press Releases
Gordie Howe’s Stem Cells Treatments Support a Growing Appeal for These Therapies Among Athletes and Baby Boomers
In October, 2014, legendary hockey player Gordie Howe, then 86, was on death’s door after suffering a debilitating acute hemorrhagic, left thalamus stroke. Upon returning home from the hospital, Howe needed someone to lift him from his bed to a wheelchair and back. He couldn’t remember the names of his four children, Marty, Mark, Cathy, and Murray, and his condition continued to grow worse in subsequent weeks. According to an article in New York Magazine, when Mark took his father to get an epidural to relieve his back pain, the attending physician took one look at Gordie and asked Mark if it might be better to just let his father go. On the rare occasion when Gordie did manage to speak, he would tell his children, “Just take me out back and shoot me.”
The man for whom the term “hat trick” was coined, Howe retired from hockey at age 52 after four decades of professional play, having scored more goals than any other NHL player. But over the past 10 years, his health declined dramatically—heart disease, dementia, and spinal stenosis—despite his family’s and physician’s best efforts to find medical solutions. After his stroke, Keith Olbermann aired a preemptive obituary on ESPN. The family made funeral plans. Murray, his youngest son, wrote a eulogy.
Experimental stem cell treatment
Around Thanksgiving, 2015, Howe’s family learned about an experimental stem cell treatment that could save his life. The plan was to inject up to 100 million neural stem cells into his spinal column in the hopes that the stem cells would migrate to his brain and help his body repair itself. Howe could improve within 24 hours, and receive the treatment anytime—just not in the United States. The procedure wasn’t FDA-approved, and Howe would have to receive the treatment at a clinic in Tijuana.
Howe’s son Murray, a radiologist, looked into the treatment and thought it was promising. The real concern was transporting the immobile Howe to Mexico. Daughter Cathy worried that he might die during the treatment, but Mark responded bluntly: “If he does die, what’s the difference? He’s going to be gone soon no matter what.”
While the family weighed the stem cell treatment idea, Howe was admitted to the hospital with severe dehydration, caused by his unwillingness to swallow. When he returned home, he still had no use of his right side, and the family assumed he would never walk again. The Howe children decided to give the stem cell treatments a try.
Two days later, the Howes flew their Dad to San Diego. In the air, Gordie grew agitated and got the attention of a flight attendant, who spent 10 minutes kneeling by his seat trying to understand something he wanted to tell her. Due to his profound memory loss, Howe didn’t know he had suffered a stroke, why he was on a plane, or where he was going. But he remembered one thing, which he managed to whisper to the fight attendant: “I was a pro hockey player.”
The next morning, Marty and Murray drove with their father across the border to Clínica Santa Clarita, where Gordie bent over a table to expose his lower back so that a needle could be inserted into his spinal canal to inject the stem cells. Howe was given two types of stem cells – neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells. The second type, derived from bone marrow, has anti-inflammatory properties and secretes chemicals that promote healing.
The procedure then required Howe to lie prone for eight hours. After the eight hours passed, Gordie told Murray he needed to use the bathroom and that he intended to walk there in order to do so. Since the stroke, Gordie had only managed to walk one time—10 steps, with a walker. Murray reminded his Dad that he couldn’t walk.
Recovery milestone after stem cell treatment
Howe stood up, and with Murray’s support, walked for the first time in more than a month—to the bathroom. This milestone became an oft-repeated story among the Howe family, and Gordie’s revival became an irresistible story for the sports pages. Back home, Gordie returned to something resembling the normal life of an 86-year-old. He pushed the grocery cart, helped with the dishes, and could go fishing so long as one of his sons reminded him that a tug on the line meant he needed to start reeling. The family released a video of Gordie standing stationary, firing a puck, five-hole, past his 8-year-old great-grandson. Keith Olbermann apologized for his premature obituary.
Howe’s children now had to figure out how to share his apparent recovery—a debate that proved just as contentious as their decision to fly him to Mexico for the treatment in the first place—with the world. Both Marty and Mark had played in the NHL alongside their father, but now Murray, the doctor, was giving interviews in his hospital scrubs, endorsing his father’s place in medical “miracle” history. He began referring to the stem-cell treatment as the “Gordie Howe Protocol,” and said that his Toledo-based hospital was looking into conducting an FDA-approved study of the procedure. In one interview, Murray Howe stated that “stem cells are the most promising thing in medicine since the discovery of antibiotics.”
As the story spread, the medical community started to question just how miraculous Howe’s recovery had been.
“Companies selling these products are preying on desperate and vulnerable people and exploiting their hope, much like snake-oil salesmen have done throughout most of human history,” wrote Judy Illes and Fabio Rossi, stem-cell experts at the University of British Columbia, in the Vancouver Sun. Even advocates pointed out that, though the field holds great promise, no reputable studies have shown that such a procedure should work.
And yet, for the children of ailing parents, such skepticism doesn’t matter. Murray’s response to one skeptic was, “What would you do for your father?”
Gordie Howe’s therapy would cost an average patient about $30,000.
Athletes, whether playing or retired, have a special need for the regenerative capacity that stem cells are believed to provide. Athletes break bones, strain ligaments, bash knees and wear out cartilage. If stem cells’ restorative capability is proven, they could be considered the latest form of sports medicine.
Since Howe’s treatment in late 2014, two other athletic legends have received stem cell treatments—former quarterbacks Bart Starr and John Brodie. And the rest of the population, particularly aging baby boomers, isn’t far behind.
Still, while acceptance of stem cell therapy has grown, so have controversies surrounding its use. While clinical trials authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are rapidly expanding in the U.S., so are treatments outside the regulated system. Patients are going to stem cell clinics in other countries that approve stem cell therapies.
For its part, the FDA is drafting guidelines, although the U.S. and Canada still trail other countries in approving stem cell treatments.
Last year, the FDA issued draft guidelines to clarify what types of human cell therapy it regulates. The short answer: Most of them, with “limited exceptions,” according to an FDA email sent in response to questions from The San Diego Union-Tribune. These exceptions include cells or tissues that are “minimally manipulated,” not given with any other product and perform the same function in the donor as in the recipient.
All other stem cell therapies are seen as involving human cells, tissues and cellular and tissue-based products – also known as HCT/Ps – regulated by the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
“We understand that determining the appropriate regulatory path for HCT/Ps can be challenging, and the FDA is working diligently to develop guidance to help sponsors and physicians understand how to apply federal regulations to this complex and emerging field,” the agency said.
In January 2015, University of California, Davis stem cell researcher and blogger Paul Knoepfler estimated that more than 100 unauthorized stem cell clinics were operating in the United States. Later that year, he increased that estimate to up to 200.
Then on May 6, he wrote in his blog: “We are seeing a flood of professional athletes getting stem cell treatments in the past few years.”
Athletes and others who want these treatments bristle at what they call cumbersome, time-consuming regulations in the U.S. The situation can be urgent for seriously ill patients.
While it hasn’t been proven that the stem cells enabled his recovery, by all indications Gordie Howe’s health has improved significantly since receiving stem cell treatments. In November, 2015, Murray Howe said that his father’s physicians in the U.S. recommended hospice care in the weeks after the stroke, and the family was told he wouldn’t last more than two or three weeks,
“Then, suddenly, he is raking and sweeping and goofing around in the back yard,” Murray said.
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Sources: The San Diego Union-Tribune, New York Magazine
- Published in Corporate News / Blog