California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Avid Bioservices Partners With California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to Provide CDMO Services for Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Programs

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Regenerative medicine, AAV, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Biotechnology, CDMO, Research, CGT, Partnership, CIRM, Patient, CGMP, Pharmaceutical industry

The collaboration is designed to support the advancement of manufacturing of adeno-associated adenovirus (AAV), as well as other cell and gene therapy (CGT) programs within the state of California.

Key Points: 
  • The collaboration is designed to support the advancement of manufacturing of adeno-associated adenovirus (AAV), as well as other cell and gene therapy (CGT) programs within the state of California.
  • Under terms of the partnership, Avid has joined the CIRM Industry Resource Partner Program to provide development and CGMP manufacturing services to CIRM-funded programs.
  • “CIRM was established with a mission to provide treatments to patients with unmet medical needs through the promise of cell and gene therapy.
  • “We are thrilled to welcome Avid Bioservices to our network of partners who share our unwavering commitment to advancing transformative regenerative medicine therapies for patients.”

Orgenesis Announces Expanded Partnership Between Octomera and UC Davis Through CIRM Grant Funding

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 2, 2023
University of California, Davis, Regenerative medicine, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, UC, Good manufacturing practice, Doctor of Philosophy, Health, BD, Medicine, CGT, Gene, Partnership, University, GMP, CIRM, Point, Patient, Fausto Pocar, POC, Pharmaceutical industry

“Our goal is to facilitate more accessible patient care production through collaboration with aligned expertise.

Key Points: 
  • “Our goal is to facilitate more accessible patient care production through collaboration with aligned expertise.
  • Both parties are interested in expanding on the point of care (POC) network model Orgenesis deploys by aligning the tools, experts, and resources needed to decentralize medical innovation.
  • “We are thrilled to see such a deserving team get support from their state to show the true value of decentralization in California,” Vered Caplan, CEO of Orgenesis commented.
  • To learn more about UC Davis and their pioneering work in the cell and gene therapy industry, please visit: https://health.ucdavis.edu/stemcellresearch/ .

Siren Biotechnology Awarded $4M in Grant Funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
CMC, Cancer, Regenerative medicine, CIRM, Doctor of Philosophy, AAV, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Patient, SAN, Brain, Pharmaceutical industry

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Siren Biotechnology, a gene therapy company pioneering Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapies for Cancer™, announced today that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded the company a $4M translational research grant to support the development of novel AAV immuno-gene therapies for cancer [ CIRM Announcement ].

Key Points: 
  • SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Siren Biotechnology, a gene therapy company pioneering Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapies for Cancer™, announced today that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded the company a $4M translational research grant to support the development of novel AAV immuno-gene therapies for cancer [ CIRM Announcement ].
  • Earlier this year, Siren Biotechnology demonstrated that their AAV immuno-gene therapies exhibited potent anti-tumor effects in preclinical models of brain cancer [ read more ].
  • The awarded CIRM funding will support CMC and process development efforts and position the company for a successful pre-IND meeting at the completion of the award.
  • “We’re thrilled and honored to receive this support from CIRM,” said Nicole Paulk, PhD, Siren Biotechnology’s CEO and Founder.

Mays Cancer Center: Targeting certain molecular interactions could yield new strategies for treating prostate cancer

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 20, 2023
United States Secretary of Education, Research, Longevity, Duke Cancer Institute, Ageing, Molecular biology, Duke University, Nursing, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Dentistry, Doctor of Philosophy, Health, Prostate cancer, Protein, Cell, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Chromatin, National Cancer Institute, Male, Biotechnology, Sam, Disease, Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Teaching, School, University, UT Health San Antonio Cancer Center, Public, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, University of Texas System, Molecular medicine, AR, Patient, Chromosome, SAN, DNA, Pharmaceutical industry, Vaccine, Advertising, Molecular Cell, Cancer

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Research led by Mays Cancer Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has discovered that altering certain molecular interactions could yield new strategies for treating prostate cancer and related diseases.

Key Points: 
  • SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Research led by Mays Cancer Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has discovered that altering certain molecular interactions could yield new strategies for treating prostate cancer and related diseases.
  • "Our results provide molecular insights for potential therapeutic strategies to treat prostate cancer and other AR-involved diseases by targeting AR multivalent interactions," said Zhijie "Jason" Liu, PhD, associate professor and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research with Mays Cancer Center and the Institute of Biotechnology of the Department of Molecular Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.
  • The Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio is one of only four National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Centers in Texas.
  • The Mays Cancer Center provides leading-edge cancer care, propels innovative cancer research and educates the next generation of leaders to end cancer in South Texas.

Fortress Biotech Subsidiary Helocyte Announces Option Agreement with City of Hope for Exclusive Worldwide Rights to use a Novel Bispecific CMV/HIV CAR T Cell Therapy (optionally in combination with Triplex) for the Treatment of Adults Living with HIV-1

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023
Patent, Investigational New Drug, Engineering, Food, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Viral load, Research, Drug resistance, Trial of the century, Cytomegalovirus, Criticism of the Food and Drug Administration, Risk, Gene, HIV-1, Aaron, Safety, University, HIV, HCT, Survival, ART, City, Vaccination, City of Hope, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Regenerative medicine, Bone marrow, Virus, CAR, Leukemia, Fortress Biotech, DSM-IV codes, 2004 California Proposition 71, San Diego, CIRM, Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Patient, CMV, Vaccine, Triplex, Hope

MIAMI, Oct. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helocyte, Inc. (“Helocyte”), a subsidiary company of Fortress Biotech, Inc. (“Fortress”) (Nasdaq: FBIO), today announced that it executed an exclusive option agreement with City of Hope for patent rights to use Triplex, a cytomegalovirus vaccine, in combination with cytomegalovirus (“CMV”)-specific, Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (“HIV”) Chimeric Antigen Receptor (“CAR”) (collectively, CMV/HIV-CAR) T Cells for the treatment of adults living with HIV. Triplex was initially developed by City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, and exclusively licensed to Helocyte in 2015.

Key Points: 
  • Triplex was initially developed by City of Hope , one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, and exclusively licensed to Helocyte in 2015.
  • Additionally, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (“CIRM”) recently awarded a $11.3 million grant to City of Hope to fund a Phase 1 clinical trial.
  • The trial will initially enroll at City of Hope and University of California at San Diego.
  • The study illustrated the potential long-term durability of the combination therapy, which induced therapeutic immune cells to take hold in bone marrow.

Forge Biologics Selected as an AAV Manufacturing Partner for California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to Help Accelerate Gene Therapy Programs

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Research, Pharmaceutical, Other Education, Other Manufacturing, Genetics, Education, Clinical Trials, Science, Biotechnology, Manufacturing, Other Science, Health, Regenerative medicine, Patient, CGMP, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, AAV, CIRM, CDMO, Business development, Pharmaceutical industry, Forge, Hearth

Forge Biologics (Forge), a leading manufacturer of genetic medicines, announced today that it has joined the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) Industry Resource Partner Program to help advance the manufacturing of adeno-associated adenovirus (AAV) gene therapy programs from the state of California.

Key Points: 
  • Forge Biologics (Forge), a leading manufacturer of genetic medicines, announced today that it has joined the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) Industry Resource Partner Program to help advance the manufacturing of adeno-associated adenovirus (AAV) gene therapy programs from the state of California.
  • Forge joins the CIRM Industry Resource Partner Program and will enable accelerated research and cGMP AAV manufacturing to CIRM-funded programs.
  • As a leader in AAV and plasmid manufacturing, Forge will assist CIRM’s partners—which range from industry to academic investigators—in accelerating gene therapy development and manufacturing.
  • Forge specializes in accelerating AAV gene therapy programs at any stage, from preclinical to clinical and commercial manufacturing.

TREAT California Act Now Collecting Signatures to Qualify for Ballot Measure to Fund Clinical Research on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for Veterans, First Responders

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Mental Health, Research, Advocacy Group Opinion, Elections, Campaigns, Law Enforcement, Emergency Services, Public Policy, Government, Health, State, Local, Science, Veteran, Doctor of Philosophy, Act, Anxiety, PATS, MD, PTSD, Suicide, Safety, FDA, Mental health, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Regenerative medicine, Depression, CIRM, Pharmaceutical industry

TREAT California today announced that it has begun collecting signatures for a 2024 California ballot measure aimed at funding clinical research on psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans and first responders.

Key Points: 
  • TREAT California today announced that it has begun collecting signatures for a 2024 California ballot measure aimed at funding clinical research on psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans and first responders.
  • The measure will approve $5 billion in funding for clinical research on mental health treatments using psychedelic-assisted therapies, or PATs.
  • Rather, the Act provides funding for rigorous clinical trials to determine the safety, efficacy, and appropriate indications for mental health therapies.
  • According to early research, psychedelic-assisted therapies have the potential to play an important role in treating individuals suffering from PTSD, depression, or anxiety.

Tenaya Therapeutics Publishes Preclinical Data in Circulation Highlighting the Clinical Potential of Cellular Reprogramming for Cardiac Regeneration

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 2, 2023
Survivor, Heart, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, MI, Myocardial infarction, Heart failure, Stem cell, Connective tissue, Research, AAV, CFS, AHA, Fibrosis, Regenerative medicine, Ischemia, Animal, CM, SAN, CIRM, American Heart, CMS, Rat, Therapy, Death, Gene, Medical device, Pharmaceutical industry, Vaccine, Circulation

Using this approach in a model of chronic ischemic injury we successfully achieved – for the first time – dose-dependent and durable improvements in heart function through cardiac regeneration,” said Tim Hoey, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Tenaya.

Key Points: 
  • Using this approach in a model of chronic ischemic injury we successfully achieved – for the first time – dose-dependent and durable improvements in heart function through cardiac regeneration,” said Tim Hoey, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Tenaya.
  • Tenaya researchers engineered a novel AAV capable of targeting CFs with increased infectivity compared to parental AAV serotypes.
  • As detailed in the Circulation article, this novel AAV reprogramming construct, when injected into the hearts of acute mouse MI and chronic rat MI models, achieved significant and dose-dependent improvement in cardiac functions.
  • Tenaya is continuing its cardiac reprogramming research in preclinical studies of large animals using Tenaya’s proprietary injection catheter with support from grant funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

Calidi Biotherapeutics Debuts as a Publicly Traded Company Focused on Arming the Immune System to Fight Cancer with a New Generation of Targeted Immunotherapies

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
City of Hope, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Allotransplantation, Investigational New Drug, Acquisition, Patient, CIRM, NYSE, Journal of Translational Medicine, PIPE, Research, Cancer, CGMP, Security (finance), The Lancet, FDA, III, IND, Safety, LLP, Interim, FLAG, Stem cell, Acute myeloid leukemia, Translational medicine, Form, WHO, B cell, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Triple-negative breast cancer, Regenerative medicine, AML, City, Melanoma, HGG, LP, Supernova, Bank, Commercial property, Pharmaceutical industry, Vaccine, Hope

The stockholders of FLAG approved the transaction on August 28, 2023, following approval by Calidi shareholders.

Key Points: 
  • The stockholders of FLAG approved the transaction on August 28, 2023, following approval by Calidi shareholders.
  • Calidi’s existing management team, including Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Allan Camaisa, will lead the combined company.
  • The Company believes that the proceeds available to the Company from the transactions will be sufficient to fund its operations into 2025.
  • “We founded Calidi in 2014 with a mission to develop a new generation of targeted immunotherapies that could revolutionize the treatment of cancer,” said Allan Camaisa, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Calidi Biotherapeutics.

Calidi Biotherapeutics Debuts as a Publicly Traded Company Focused on Arming the Immune System to Fight Cancer with a New Generation of Targeted Immunotherapies

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Oncology, Health, Stem Cells, Clinical Trials, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Northwest Biotherapeutics, City of Hope, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Allotransplantation, Investigational New Drug, Acquisition, Patient, CIRM, NYSE, Journal of Translational Medicine, PIPE, Research, Cancer, CGMP, Security (finance), The Lancet, FDA, III, IND, Safety, LLP, Interim, FLAG, Stem cell, Acute myeloid leukemia, Translational medicine, Form, WHO, B cell, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Triple-negative breast cancer, Regenerative medicine, AML, City, Melanoma, HGG, LP, Supernova, Pharmaceutical industry, Vaccine, Hope

The stockholders of FLAG approved the transaction on August 28, 2023, following approval by Calidi shareholders.

Key Points: 
  • The stockholders of FLAG approved the transaction on August 28, 2023, following approval by Calidi shareholders.
  • Calidi’s existing management team, including Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Allan Camaisa, will lead the combined company.
  • The Company believes that the proceeds available to the Company from the transactions will be sufficient to fund its operations into 2025.
  • “We founded Calidi in 2014 with a mission to develop a new generation of targeted immunotherapies that could revolutionize the treatment of cancer,” said Allan Camaisa, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Calidi Biotherapeutics.