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Cynata Therapeutics (ASX:CYP) has had its induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) verified as similar to convention MSCs in a study published in a peer-review journal.
MSCs are what most people think of when they hear ‘stem cells’ – cells capable of transforming into a wide number of cells in the human body.
The UCLA Stem Cell Research Center describes IPSCs as “derived from skin or blood cells that have been reprogrammed back into an embryonic-like pluripotent state that enables the development of an unlimited source of any type of human cell needed for therapeutic purposes.”
So, Cynata is making MSCs from “skin or blood cells that have been reprogrammed” – and that is what has been verified on paper in a peer-reviewed study published in a journal owned by Nature Portfolio.
Comparing MSCs taken from bone marrow and MSCs derived from iPSCs, the study found that the latter type of stem cells maintained regenerative potential “under both resting and inflammatory conditions.”
Bone marrow has long been a major source of stem cells in the hotly-discussed field of science (and long-time biotech hype catalyst.)
Professor Jess Firth at Monash University, which helped corroborate the study, outlined what the findings meant to her.
“This study provides valuable insights into cell “age,” the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of MSCs, and the differences by source and functional state,” Firth said.
“It is clear that cell source matters a great deal, with respect to the functionality and consistency of MSC-based products. These findings may help us to design more effective MSC-based therapies and identify optimal clinical targets.”
While Firth was keen to point out there are differences between different stem cell products derived from differing locations in the body, Cynata CEO Dr Kilian Kelly offered more company-specific guidance.
“This robust and comprehensive study provides further support for our view that our iPSC-based Cymerus platform provides the ideal means of producing MSCs with a high level of potency and functionality, in a consistent and scalable manner,” Kelly said.
Regardless, shares stayed flat.
CYP last traded at 24cps.
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