New Hope in Stem Cells

[Sjenny]

Medistem Incorporated, has achieved a scientific breakthrough with what they term as Endometrial Regenerative Cells.  The Cells have treated an advanced form of peripheral artery disease known as critical limb ischemia successfully.  The cells are capable of differentiating into nine different types of tissues.

There are possibilities now to develop preventative or other treatments for liver disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, pulmonary disease, heart disease and others.

See http://www.medisteminc.com/index.html

I emailed them and inquired about research into regenerating salivary and lacrimal glands.  I told them that such research would give hope to millions of Sjogren's patients.

Hope this leads to something . . .

Sue

[pudmott]

Wow Sue this sounds great. Thank you so much for championing our cause. Lets hope they continue with breakthroughs like this. I think stem cell research is so important and will lead to many many new findings in the coming years.

thanks again

Pud

[kathylee]

Sue thanks so much for contacting them. This sounds great and letting them know about us now is important.

Thanks So much
Kathylee

[Sjenny]

I'm pretty excited.  I got a reply from Medistem.  Here is a copy of my correspondence with them.

Dear Tom:

Thank you so much for responding to my inquiry.  I am a member of Sjogren's World Community Forum https://sjogrensworld.org/index.php  and a member of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation http://www.sjogrens.org/
The Sjogren's Foundation offers grants for Sjogren's research.

I am also a patient of Dr. Gene Watson, who keeps a database of Sjogren's patients for clinical trials.  I am sure that there would be many Sjogren patients willing to participate in clinical trials for this promising research in the future if and hopefully when, your studies might progress to that point.

Additionally, there are millions of dry eye patients from other causes and cancer patients who received head and neck radiation who would also benefit from regeneration of lacrimal and salivary glands.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Susan Jennings
----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Ichim
To: rjen@ptd.net
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 1:19 PM
Subject: Re: Message From Medisteminc.com


i just called my colleague...havent done sjorgen's clinically...will let you know about the animal data


On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 8:58 AM, Thomas Ichim <thomas.ichim@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Susan thank you for your email, yes one of the animal models of diabetes that we use also is used to study sjogren's, we will keep you posted on our progress

we have collaborators in central america who ahve used ERC in a variety of situations...i will enquire if they tried sjogren's

all the best

Tom


On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 5:27 AM, <rjen@ptd.net> wrote:

Submit:      Send
comments: Dear Sir or Madam:I suffer from Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that attacks the the salivary and lacrimal glands as well as nerves, kidneys, lungs etc.This is the second most prevalent autoimmune disorder in the world.  It is very debilitating.  See http://www.sjogrens.org/  the website of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation.Are there any future plans to investigate the use of ERC's to regenerate salivary or lacrimal glands?This possibility could offer great hope to millions of suffering patients.Sincerely,Susan JenningsMansfield, Pennsylvania
email: rjen@ptd.net
name: Susan Jennings

[lynnmarie219]

Hi Sue,

I think that its great that you have corresponded with them about the need for additional research in this area. ANY word that we get out to the medical and research fields is a definite good thing! Thanks so much for doing this and sharing their response here!

[Sjenny]

Following is the latest reply from Medistem, Inc. 

If any forum members have any suggestions of what I or any of us should do or say to inspire Medistem to help us, please feel free to share - "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Proverbs 15:22.

Dear Tom:

The only research that I know of that might be distantly related is research done by Dr. Bruce Baum, Gene Therapy Branch of the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), phone 301-496-1363. 

This team is developing an "orally implantable fluid secretory device, an artificial salivary gland - a monolayer of allogeneic graft cells grown on a suitable bio-compatible substratum coated with matrix proteins."  It is potentially clinic-ready in 7-10 years.  I don't know the status of this project or even if it is still being worked on. 

Injecting ERC's and having them regenerate the patient's existing salivary and/or lacrimal glands would be a dream come true.

Sue


----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Ichim
To: Jennings
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2008 11:08 PM
Subject: Re: Message From Medisteminc.com


very interesting...please do keep in touch...we have discussed the issue of gland regeneration...but i think for this the easiest would be autologous fat ...someone must have tried this in animal models, no?

[Sjenny]

Latest email from Medistem:

thx Sue, I'll look this up...Mike west from Biotime was chatting with me once aobut progress he has made wiht making some glandular tissues...ill ask him next time as well

keep in touch...

tom

I am thrilled that Tom Ichin from Medistem is making inquiries - hoping this leads to progress to help us all.

Sue

[jjj3]

Sue,

This is all so exciting.  It speaks volumes for the company that they respond so quickly and thoroughly.  Hopefully, this will encourage them to dig deeper.  You did a wonderful job in giving them information regarding the size of the patient population that would benefit from salivary and lacrimal gland regeneration.  Perhaps that will be all the encouragement they need to develop a treatment that will help us all!

Thank you,
Cathy

[jjj3]

After reading a little more about the company (in the 10-K filing), I think I misspoke about them being the ones to develop a treatment.  It sounds like they would license their stem cell technology to another company to further develop a treatment, cure, therapy or whatever.  I'm not exactly sure about this, so please feel free to correct me.  Either way, it's something else we can all cross our fingers for!  Thanks again Sue!

Cathy