BANGALORE, India, April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
- The First Company in the World to be Granted a Process
Patent by the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO) For a Stem Cell Drug Based on
Pooling Technology
- A New Treatment Which Offers Hope for Patients Suffering
From Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI)
- About 20% of Elderly Urban Chinese Suffer From Peripheral
Arterial disease (PAD) and the Prevalence in Women is Substantially
Higher Than in Men. CLI is a Progressive Form of PAD
- Smokers are at High Risk of Contracting PAD
Stempeutics Research, a group company of Manipal Education and
Medical Group and a Joint Venture with Cipla Group, announced today
that the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO) granted a process patent for its
novel stem-cell based drug Stempeucel. Stempeucel will initially be
used for the treatment of CLI and is a breakthrough treatment
option which directly addresses the root cause of the disease,
unlike other drugs which typically treat the symptoms and not the
disease itself.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150323/735846)
Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) is a progressive form of peripheral
arterial disease, which blocks the arteries in the lower
extremities, resulting into reduction of the blood flow. It is a
debilitating disease which affects patients with severe pain in the
feet or toes. Insufficient supply of blood flow results into the
development of sores and wounds in legs and feet. If left
untreated, patients may finally have to undergo amputation of the
affected limb as the last treatment option. In China, the most common current treatments for
CLI are characterized by high rates of primary amputations,
multiple procedures and high rates of procedure-related
complications. In such cases, the disease not only affects the
quality of life but also increases the economic burden of
patients.
Stempeucel is derived from allogeneic pooled mesenchymal stromal
cells extracted from the bone marrow of healthy, adult voluntary
donors. The company's proprietary pooling approach allows an
efficient manufacturing process with minimum wastage of resources
in order to provide the product at an affordable cost to patients.
This approach also allows more than one million patient doses from
a single set of master cell banks, which is unique in regenerative
medicine. The proprietary technology allows Stempeucel to extend
the therapeutic potential of the drug across multiple disease
categories.
Commenting on the patent granted by SIPO, Mr B N
Manohar, CEO of Stempeutics, said, "Stempeutics has taken
an aggressive, focused and well thought-out scientific approach to
understand the biology of human adult stem cells, and to harness
the potential of these cells for the treatment of CLI. The efforts
are realized through innovative technologies and ideas, cutting
edge R&D, patentable process development, large scale
manufacturing and effective clinical trial design. We believe that
the Stempeucel product is a game-changer, offering an advanced
therapeutic treatment to millions of patients suffering from this
dreadful disease."
Mr Chandru Chawla, Head Cipla
New Ventures, said, "China has a high prevalence of diabetes and
consequently many suffer from ischaemic limb condition. The patent
grant in China is yet another
important milestone after the grant of the patent in the United States."
Stempeutics has already submitted its application to the Drug
Controller General of India (DCGI)
to obtain marketing authorisation approval for Stempeucel. The
availability of the product in the market is subjected to DCGI
approvals.
About Stempeutics
Stempeutics is an advanced clinical stage Biotech Company based
out of Bangalore. It was founded
by Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) in 2006 and later
entered into a strategic alliance with Cipla in 2009. Stempeutics'
strength lies in developing innovative stem cell products by
nurturing cutting edge research and clinical applications through
dedicated efforts of its highly qualified team. Its goal is to
develop novel stem cell drugs addressing major unmet medical needs
with an India first global next
approach.
About Manipal Education and Medical Group
(MEMG)
MEMG is one of the leaders in the country in the field of
education and healthcare services, with a global footprint. MEMG,
through its subsidiaries, provides education and healthcare
services in India and
internationally. It manages universities and professional
institutions, including medical colleges, teaching hospitals, and
medical science and technology institutions through which it
provides bachelors' and master's degree programs in various
streams. Manipal Education and Medical Group International India
Pvt. Ltd. was founded in 1953 and is based in Bengaluru,
India with education colleges and
campuses in Antigua, Dubai, Malaysia, and Nepal.
About Cipla Limited
Cipla is a global pharmaceutical company which uses cutting edge
technology and innovation to meet the everyday needs of all
patients. For more than 70 years, Cipla has emerged as one of the
most respected pharmaceutical names in India as well as across more than 150
countries. Our portfolio includes over 1500 products across wide
range of therapeutic categories with one quality standard
globally.
Whilst delivering a long-term sustainable business, Cipla
recognises its duty to provide affordable medicines. Cipla's
emphasis on access for patients was recognised globally for the
pioneering role played in HIV/AIDS treatment as the first
pharmaceutical company to provide a triple combination
anti-retroviral (ARV) in Africa at
less than one dollar a day and
thereby treating many millions of patients since 2001.
Cipla's research and development focuses on developing
innovative products and drug delivery systems and has given
India and the world many 'firsts'
for instance Triomune. In a tightly regulated environment, the
company's manufacturing facilities have approvals from all the main
regulators including USFDA, UKMHRA, WHO, MCC, ANVISA, and PMDA
which means the company provides one universal standard both
domestically and internationally.
Stempeutics Research Media Contact:
Vijayaraghavan
Corporate Communications
Mobile No: +91 9535688118
E-mail id: vijaya.raghavan@stempeutics.com
http://www.stempeutics.com
Cipla Media Contacts:
Charlotte Chunawala
Corporate Communications
Mobile: +91-7506257377
E-mail id: charlotte.chunawala@cipla.com
Pallavi Golar
Corporate Communications
Mobile: +91-9833641788
E-mail id: pallavi.golar@cipla.com