Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune disease where the patient’s immune system attacks the myelin sheaths surrounding and protecting nerve fibres in the central nervous system. In June, a clinical trial began that plans to treat progressive MS with cord blood.

Research into the effects of cord blood in the treatment of MS started with Dr Kurtzberg and his group at Duke University in the 1990s. Dr Kurtzberg’s group revealed that cord blood transplants could extend patients’ lives, and in some cases, prevent the progression of their disease.

Subsequent research at Duke sought to identify the specific cells within cord blood that promoted the remyelination of nerve sheaths. The study has always been to develop stand-alone cell therapy for adult demyelinating diseases. And after many hurdles, Duke University has applied for a series of patents to begin trials. The patent application covers Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve damage, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer’s disease. (Parents Guide To Cord Blood)

These are exciting times and highlights the critical work that cord blood can do for our future.

Cell Therapy for Diabetes

There has been a decade-long effort to develop a curative treatment for Diabetes. Vertex, the global biotechnology company, has seen their first patient dosed with cell therapy no longer need insulin injections.

The patient saw a drop in blood sugar levels far more significant than doctors can achieve with the best current treatment technologies. Initially developed in the lab of Harvard biologist Doug Melton, the therapy involves manufacturing synthetic islet cells and injecting them into a patient. These cells, which sit atop the pancreas and squeeze out insulin, are destroyed by the immune system of patients with type 1 diabetes, causing the disease.

Researchers have dreamed for years of a lab-grown alternative that would be more effective and vastly more scalable, but most efforts have so far failed. (EndPoints News) This again is a fascinating breakthrough for cell therapy.

Cord Blood Therapy for COVID-19

Recent trials have shown cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells have had significant impacts in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, diminishing lung damage.

COVID-19 patients developing acute respiratory distress syndrome currently receive high-flow oxygen therapy, intensive care, and, frequently, mechanical ventilation. Leng and associates have been working on studies that provide the first evidence of the promise of Cord Blood derived Stem Cell therapy for saving the lives of COVID-19 patients developing severe complications and has resulted in the commencement of many clinical trials.

All these studies show the fantastic work cord blood cells can do and the lives they can save now and in the future. Your baby’s cord blood could be the key, and storing your baby’s stem cells ensures that they have their perfect genetic match ready and waiting. One that could provide access to all these stem cell treatments and more, one that will never be rejected. (NPJ Regenerative medicine report)

Get in touch today with Cells4Life if you are interested in impacting the future health of your child and perhaps many others.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41536-021-00161-z

https://endpts.com/vertex-gets-much-needed-win-with-extraordinary-results-on-potential-diabetes-cure/

https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en/news/cord-blood-therapy-multiple-sclerosis