Russian scientists developed new cord stem cells-based drug for treatment of liver diseases

 Scientists of the Russian Human Stem Cells Institute (HSCI), Russia’s leading biotech company based in Moscow, have developed a new drug, based on cord stem cells for the treatment of coronary heart disease and cirrhosis. 

The new drug is called "Gematcell", while its action is based on the protective properties of hematopoietic stem cells (found in the bone marrow) and their ability to stimulate the regenerative potential of the affected organ. The drug is a suspension and is used by intravenous administration.

The new drug has already undergoed all the pre-clinical studies on its safety as well as clinical trials in Russia, the EU, Canada and India, while its studies on animal models of heart attack, ischemia of brain tissue and lower extremities, as well as cirrhosis showed an improvement of blood supply and functional recovery.

Arthur Isaev, director general of the Human Stem Cells Institute and one of the developers of Gematcel, said that the new drug is mainly designed for the treatment of chronic diffuse liver diseases (hepatic diseases). 

Arthur Isaev comments: 

«Many liver cells actively divide, however, due to disease, they become unable to divide so often. The new drug is based on stem cells, which are activators of the cells division, will affect the inflammation site and stimulate the process of regeneration. Its active use can give a hope of absolute recovery to hundreds of thousands of patients with hepatitis C».

The promotion of Gematcell in the international markets is expected to take place by the Russian company "SinBio", which was established by such companies as the Russian nano giant Rosnano, Pharm-Sintez, one of Russia’s leading pharmaceutical companies, the UK’s FDS Pharma and Lipoxen companies and German SymbioTec.

Commercial production of the new drug is expected to be started within the next 1-2 years at the specially established pharm plants in Moscow and St. Petersburg. First sales are scheduled at the beginning of 2015.

According to Dmitry Genkin head of Pharm-Sintez, the company puts big hopes on Gematcell in the domestic and international markets and its ability to succesfuly compete with the production of internationsl competitors, which have similar action. In the case of the US and the EU at the initial stage there are plans to establish cooperation with local leading pharm producers through the possibility of the transfer of the license for the production of the drug to them.  

Currently, stem cells, which are derived from cord blood, are actively used in the treatment of a number of inherited and acquired diseases, however, some experts have long ago said about the possibility of the use of cord blood for the development of drugs for treatment of hepatic disorders and neuropathy.