Lab Performs Cesca Therapeutics’ T-cell Preparation Procedure For First Time

Rancho Cordova, Calif.-based autologous cell-based regenerative medicine company Cesca TherapeuticsInc.’s Clinical GMP Cell Processing Laboratory TotipotentRX Centre for Cellular Medicine, located at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), New Delhi, India, performed a specialized T-cell preparation procedure designed for a unique haploidentical transplantation case. This potentially lifesaving procedure was provided for a child suffering from both Fanconi’s anemia (a non-malignant genetic disorder) and relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia(a malignant disorder). The patient is currently in stable condition.

Haploidentical transplantation is a treatment option gaining global acceptance as it increases the possibility of finding an acceptable donor match, known as an HLA (human leukocyte antigen)match. With respect to HLA matching, parents are always a half-match for their children and siblings have at least a 75 percent chance of a match (full match or half match). Until recently closely related donor sources such as the patient’s parents came with a high risk of incompatibility and a high incidence of fatal graft versus host disease, where donor cells attack the recipient. New protocols that involve selection or removal of specific sub- types of T lymphocytes, as used in the TotipotentRX laboratory, are now providing more options with good results for patients in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant. Furthermore, in the case of patient relapse, a closely related donor is more likely to be available for further cell therapy.

“We are very pleased by the achievement of this clinical milestone as it highlights our routine use of cell selection technology with haploidentical transplantation and our capability to support the needs of cutting-edge healthcare,” said Venkatesh Ponemone, Ph.D., executive director of GMP Laboratory and Clinical affairs, India. “We are one of a very exclusive group of laboratories capable of this precision work and we look forward to expanding our approach for the betterment of a huge and underserved patient population in India. I’m personally very proud of Cesca’s vision and thankful for the opportunity to take part in giving many patients a second chance at life, particularly children.”

“In India, there is an acute need for transplant donors as transplant registries are yet to reach the maturity of those in the United States and Europe,” said Mitchel Sivilotti, senior vice president and chief biologist at Cesca Therapeutics. “Historically, this has left patients with limited transplant options. Dr. Ponemone and his team have adopted advanced methodologies at a quality level unsurpassed in the region they serve. We are very fortunate to have this first-mover advantage and look forward to serving patients, technology partners and clinical trial sponsors through our unique infrastructure and world-class team at TotipotentRX.”