ABCB5 as a marker for highly potent mesenchymal stem cells
In 2003, scientists led by Prof. Dr. Markus Frank at the Boston Children’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, described a new and previously uncharacterized group of mesenchymal stem cells expressing ABCB5 in the human skin. These cells have unique immunomodulating properties that make them a unique candidate to treat inflammatory diseases.
Anti-inflammation:
the key mechanism of ABCB5
One of the leading causes of non-treatable conditions is local or systemic inflammation, hindering the regeneration ability in our body.
Administering ABCB5-positive stem cells to the patients leads to anti-inflammation by interacting with immune cells (e.g. macrophages, T-cells, B-cells), switching from a pro- inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory environment giving the body a chance to heal.
ABCB5+ MSCs trigger switch from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages
From local inflammation to cytokine storm: The Story
Based on scientific evidence, we at first focused on local inflammation in patients suffering from chronic wounds validating the mechanism of action.
Applying the gained knowledge from the clincal data in local administration and further research programs, we expanded our clinical focus on systemc inflammatory diseases. Together with world leading experts we developed a clinical reserach program focusing on patients with unmet medical need in a rare pediadric disease accompanied by systemic inflammation.
All the acquired insights of how our stem cells modulate inflammation motivated us to push our clinical program to the next level: a systemic life-threatening, inflammatory condition with a massive cytokine storm ultimately leading to death.
Localized
inflammations
Generalized
inflammatory processes
Systemic life-threatening
inflammations
From bench to bedside: allogeneic off-the-shelf stem cell therapeutics
Based on research, we developed a unique patented manufacturing process isolating ABCB5-positive cells as an ultrapure high potent subpopulation of mesenchymal stem cells with defined quality and release criteria. That brings the product to the patient.