Cynata (ASX:CYP) inks new partnership for funded clinical trial of Cymerus™ MSCs in kidney transplant

Highlights

• Cynata joins hands with the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands for a new clinical trial in patients who have undergone a kidney transplant.
• The LUMC will fund the trial investigating Cynata’s Cymerus™ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment for renal graft rejection and for potentially reducing or eliminating the need for anti-rejection drugs.
• The trial will recruit 10 patients who have received a renal transplant, with the primary endpoint being assessed as the absence of acute rejection (absence of graft loss after 6 months) after withdrawal of anti-rejection medication.
• MSC therapy has received strong support from pre-clinical and clinical studies to significantly develop the field of transplantation medicine.

Cynata Therapeutics Limited (ASX:CYP), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that specialises in cell therapeutics, has entered into a new a collaboration with Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) for the “Safety and Efficacy of iPSC-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in Renal Transplant Recipients - the Nereid Study” clinical trial.  LUMC will fund the study with Cynata supplying Cymerus MSCs.

The trial will investigate Cymerus™ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment for renal graft rejection and for potentially reducing or eliminating the need for anti-rejection drugs.

Cymerus™ is Cynata’s patented therapeutic stem cell platform technology. The technology overcomes the obstacles of conventional production methods by using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and a precursor cell known as mesenchymoangioblast (MCA). (Read more)

Cymerus™ enables the economical production highly consistent MSC-based cell therapy products, at a commercial scale, bypassing the need for multiple donors.

Image source: © Natalimis | Megapixl.com
Data source: Company update,© 2022 Kalkine Media®

In previous clinical trials, mesenchymal stromal/stem cells have displayed the potential to enable the early withdrawal of antirejection drugs in renal transplant recipients without increased rejection and with preserved renal function.

The clinical trial will be led by the head of the Department of Internal Medicine of the LUMC, Prof. Ton Rabelink. It will recruit 10 patients who have undergone renal transplant.

Data source: Company update, © 2022 Kalkine Media®

According to Prof. Rabelink, there is an urgent need for more effective management of immune rejection of donor organs while preserving organ function and minimizing side effects of anti-rejection therapy. From this view, MSC therapy is of interest, and it has received strong support from pre-clinical and clinical studies to significantly develop the field of transplantation medicine.

He further quoted that the reliability and potency of Cynata’s unique iPSC-derived Cymerus MSCs make them an ideal candidate for this clinical trial.

The trial is anticipated to kick off next year, post receiving the customary and relevant regulatory, ethics, and administrative approvals.

Data source: Company update
© 2022 Kalkine Media®

Shares of Cynata last traded on Wednesday at AU$0.290.