Setting aside for the moment the troubling issues surrounding so-called “stem cell” nomenclature and it’s casual misuse by clinicians, researchers and companies, it is, nonetheless very interesting and noteworthy that the celebrated Andrews Medicine Clinic and one of the more experienced living cell, biotechnology company, Celltex Therapeutics, have formed a new company named Andrews Celltex Biologics which intends to move the science of living cell technologies as treatment modalities in the treatment of athletic injuries.
Here’s the link to our story about why “stem cell,” as used by most companies and, sadly, researchers, should be in quotes.
The jointly owned company is being formed by Andrews Medicine Chairman and CEO James R. “Jim” Andrews, M.D. and Celltex Therapeutics Corporation Chairman and CEO David G. Eller.
The focus of the new company is a sports injury program that is going to integrate living cell technologies into traditional treatment of athletic injuries. According to the new firm, the sports injury program will include a “Celltex-sponsored FDA developmental study associated with its Investigational New Drug (IND) for the use of Celltex-produced autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in the treatment of orthopedic indications.” The company hopes to obtain an FDA approved biologic license for this product.
Andrews Medicine will have a central role in the IND research study. The company will be in charge of selecting participants and administrating the Celltex-produced regenerative MSCs as part of the treatment of sports injuries.
Dr. Andrews commented, in part, “I have always known that ‘stem cells’, when properly handled, can add value to already effective treatments of inflammatory conditions caused by injury or disease. I am delighted that the FDA has been working with Celltex for studying the safety and efficacy of this combination of Celltex-produced MSCs with traditional medical treatment of multiple sports injury indications.”
Founded in 2011, Celltex is a leading provider of autologous MSCs for therapeutic use. Eller expressed excitement about the new company, stating in part, “Celltex is excited about the opportunity to join forces with one of the best orthopedic and sports medicine companies in the country.”
Eller continued, “It is a perfect match. Surgical treatments coupled with Celltex-produced regenerative MSCs will improve recovery time and remediation. This joint effort of the two leading companies in their field will bring cutting edge regenerative health care for sports injuries and beyond.”
