The Israeli-based placenta cell therapies developer Pluristem Therapeutics was recently granted a patent for its study “Methods of Treating Inflammatory Colon Diseases” by Russia’s Federal Service for Intellectual Property, as announced by the company.
The patent covers the use of placenta-derived cells in the treatment of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. For that, the company developed a protein delivery platform that releases a mixture of therapeutic proteins to combat a host of local and systemic inflammatory and ischemic conditions.
“Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that PLX cells are potentially effective in treating inflammatory bowel disease, and we may consider advancing into clinical trials with this indication in future,” stated Pluristem CEO Zami Aberman.
PLX cells grow trough a 3D micro-environmental technology, also a technology from Pluristem Therapeutics, which secrete therapeutic proteins in response to signals produced by damaged tissues. The product do not need tissue match prior to the administration.
“This patent issued in Russia is the latest in a series of patents we’ve been granted across the globe for the use of placenta-derived cell therapies in a variety of different indications,” the CEO added. The same patent has also been issued to Pluristem in South Africa and the company has pending requests in several other jurisdictions.
Last week, the company also announced that it had received a Patent from the India’s Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, this time for “Methods for Cell Expansion and Conditioned Media Produced Thereby for Therapy.” The same patent had also been granted to Pluristem in Australia, Russia and South Africa, and resources as well to the company’s 3D technology.
“We believe Pluristem is the global leader in the commercial-scale production of placenta-derived cells. In our manufacturing facility, we use proprietary 3-dimensional cell expansion technology that gives us the ability to precisely control cell growth based on the intended indication to be treated. Our ability to do this on a large scale is one of our key assets,” stated Pluristem CEO Zami Aberman.
As a result of the global success the Pluristem is having, the day after the first announcement, the Director Mark Germain sold 43,215 shares from the company’s stock at an average price of $3.12, which means a total value of $134,830.80. Pluristem market capitalization is $218.7 million.