Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
recently scientists have been experimenting with using epithelial
stem cells to create hair follicles and, more successfully so far,
corneal tissue (Blanplan et al., 2007). Epithelial stem cells from
mammary cells have also recently been isolated, although the clinical
applications are still hypothetical (Blanplan et al., 2007). It has
further been suggested that even though very few epithelial stem cells
have been identified and isolated so far, it might be expected that in
the future the ability to isolate cells from the lungs and reproductive
tract are not too far away (Blanplan et al., 2007).
In what follows, four current applications of adult stem cells are
discussed in detail. These particular examples were chosen because of
their very near prospective viability in successfully treating patients,
and also as a means of examining some of the ways that adult stem
cell applications are potentially becoming available to patients.
4.2.1 Example1:Mesoblast
According to the company overview on its website, Mesoblast has
been an Australian listed company since late 2004 (
http://www.
mesoblast.com
). The stated commercial aims of the company are to
produce off-the-shelf products for unrelated patients. It has a range
of products in development based around a variety of mesenchymal
stem cell related intellectual property, or what they call mesenchymal
precursor cells (MPCs), with a number of products currently
undergoing clinical trials. Originally beginning with work in the
orthopedic arena, Mesoblast now has a developing clinical portfolio
that has expanded to include targets in cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, oncology, eye disease and orthopedic diseases.
A recent two-piece profile of Mesoblast in industry magazine
Australian Life Scientist
attributes much of the success of Mesoblast
to the experience and capabilities of the founder and executive
director, Professor Silviu Itescu (Dean, 2011a, 2011b). The profile
suggests that Itescu's international background in clinical medicine,
immunological research and business consulting has been a significant
part of the success of Mesoblast (Dean, 2011a, 2011b). Itescu
founded Mesoblast through spinning out research he was involved
