New dawn for NeuroScientific with stem cell acquisition
Stem cell therapies have long promised to press the body's reset button - potentially reversing injuries and damage from disease, regenerating tissue and reshaping modern medicine. For ASX-listed NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals, that promise starts now thanks to its $5.1 million acquisition of unlisted Perth-based stem cell therapy company Isopogen.
The deal will hand NeuroScientific the keys to Isopogen's patented 'StemSmart' technology, which innovatively prepares a specific type of stem cell, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), for use as an intravenous infusion. MSC are universal donor cells, meaning that there is no need for matching between a donor and recipient. They are effectively an 'off-the shelf' cell therapy.
Over the past 20 years, haematology medical scientist Dr Marian Sturm, NeuroScientific's incoming chief scientific officer, pioneered the development of MSCs in her former role as facility director of Royal Perth Hospital's Cell and Tissue Therapies centre.
The cells have so far been used in many patients, including as a last-line treatment for critically ill patients suffering severe immune complications from bone marrow transplantation and in kidney and lung transplant rejection, through early phase clinical trials and studies and on compassionate grounds, with promising results.
The MSC technology has also been employed to treat patients with severe Crohn's disease, an inflammatory autoimmune condition that affects the gut. The disease can develop into very difficult-to-manage and treat forms, including refractory Crohn's, in which patients experience persistent uncontrolled flare-ups, and fistulising Crohn's, in which patients develop an open wound from a gut flare-up out to the skin.
'NSB's acquisition of Isopogen will allow our StemSmart technology to be progressed for the benefit of vulnerable patients with limited treatment options.'
NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals incoming chairman Robert McKenzie
In a phase two trial targeting refractory Crohn's disease, a condition that no longer responds to standard treatments, of 18 patients treated with StemSmart MSC, 78 per cent of patients experienced clinical improvement and 44 per cent achieved full remission. That level of efficacy is considered impressive in the MSC field, particularly for refractory Crohn's.
With the global market for refractory Crohn's treatment alone estimated to be worth about US$7.5 billion, it's no wonder StemSmart's new owner quickly hailed the system as a potential game-changer.
StemSmart technology offers a step up from traditional MSC manufacturing in that the cells are grown in a special media, becoming activated in the process. The platform technology was developed at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) and manufactured using RPH's processes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
20 hours ago
- ABC News
Woman feels abandoned by WA health system amid year-long chronic pain battle
Jayde Guest spends most evenings in extreme pain. For almost a year, the mother of two from Esperance, 700 kilometres south-east of Perth, has barely been able to work or socialise. She feels as though her life has been stripped of all its best parts. "I'm at the end of my tether right now. "Day-to-day life is a real challenge." While she has turned to Western Australia's health system numerous times for help, she said the process had only compounded her suffering. The pain, which "feels like her chest wall is caving in", arrived out of the blue on a normal winter's morning. It has returned each day since, intensifying the more active she is and often becoming unbearable by night. Her doctor's first suspicion was cancer, as she had been in remission from an aggressive form called osteosarcoma for about 20 years. But the medical system was at a loss when tests ruled out cancer. She made the journey to Perth, seeing five different specialists on separate occasions, none of whom could produce the answers she sought. Ms Guest said she was then twice rejected from the WA Health Department's central referral service — designed to triage and allocate cases — and the hospital stopped calling her back. "I [was] in the too-hard basket," she said. Ms Guest said she turned to support groups on social media and sought out experts in London, America, Melbourne and Sydney. Finally, she found someone who might have an answer to her pain. During her previous bone cancer battle, she had five ribs removed and replaced with a Gore-Tex mesh. A doctor in Sydney believes the 20-year-old mesh is now shrinking and pulling against her chest wall. The doctor, who specialises in mesh removal, told Ms Guest they were confident of being able to remove hers but is still working out how to rebuild her chest wall. Ms Guest is relieved to have a way forward, but the wait continues as they work on a solution. She said the uncertainty of her experience felt harder than the 16 rounds of chemotherapy she endured in her 20s. "The lack of communication from the medical system has been really disappointing," she said. "And I think that's what makes people feel really alone. Clare Mullen, executive director at WA's Health Consumers Council, said experiences like Ms Guest's happened "too often". But Ms Mullen said cases involving regional patients and chronic pain could be particularly difficult. She said this was due to the disconnect between country GPs and metropolitan health professionals and the scepticism that could follow chronic pain. "Unfortunately, it's one of the areas where we see a lot of people having to convince the clinicians … that their pain is real." Ms Mullen said anyone feeling like their case was not progressing or who had been rejected from the service should contact the GP who made their first referral. "It's not ideal, particularly in a case like this [where] someone is living with chronic pain," she said. "It's a time-consuming process." Ms Mullen said if they still had no luck, they should contact the Health Consumers Council. Monika Boogs, chief executive of Pain Australia, said the number of Australians suffering chronic pain was about 3.7 million and growing. But Ms Boogs said there were only about 200 pain specialists in the country, with access proving particularly difficult for regional residents. She said a national action plan for pain management was done six years ago, but many programs were still unfunded. "Pain is like mental health was 20 years ago. It's something that's growing. It's impacting so many people," she said. WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the health system aimed to provide world-class care to all West Australians. "We will never stop working to advance the care our health system provides," she said. A WA Health spokesperson said initiatives were in progress to improve access to public specialist outpatient services. To help others, Ms Guest started blogging about her experience. She said she was a big believer in documenting experiences and helping others to advocate within the medical system. "By me sharing it, I've had people open up to me and hopefully I've helped them to see that they're not alone. "And Facebook groups, as much as they can be a little bit negative sometimes, I've found some great people and great friends going through similar things to me. "And that's definitely helped." Ms Guest said it also kept her sane, as the wait for a cure continued. "I think it's hard for people to understand because I look kind of normal, I don't walk around going, 'Oh, my gosh, I'm in so much pain.' "I just have to carry on."
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Jewellery expert reveals why rings should not be worn in gyms
Rings should not be worn in gyms. Neil Ditta, a jewellery expert from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne-based store Angelic Diamonds, said people risk health problems, as well as losing their jewellery piece, if they wear their wedding, engagement or other rings whilst working out. This includes getting rashes or infections as bacteria gets onto the piece of jewellery whilst working up a sweat. He is quoted by MailOnline as saying: "Jewellery worn during exercise collects bacteria that can cause skin redness, rashes or infections. "If your skin around the ring starts to look sore or inflamed, it is a clear sign to give your ring a break and clean it thoroughly." As well as inflamed fingers, gymgoers with tight rings can also get swollen fingers, which is a "common" reason for people going to Accident and Emergency (A+E) Neil added: "Swollen fingers combined with tight rings are a common cause of emergency visits to A E. "It is an avoidable risk if you remove your ring before exercising." Another reason to not wear rings in a gym is that workouts can "weaken" the ring's band, meaning it can easily fall off a person's finger. He said: "The constant gripping and friction during workouts weakens the ring's band and can loosen stones. "Damage may not be obvious straight away, but it builds up quickly over time." And Neil stressed that high-intensity training exercises, such as push-ups and squats are not good for rings. He explained: "High-intensity training is fantastic for fitness, but tough on rings,' Mr Ditta said. "The combination of heavy weights and rapid motions increases the chance of your ring getting caught, knocked, or damaged. "Functional training especially involves equipment and grips that can easily snag jewellery, so it is simply safer to leave rings at home during these sessions."
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Aussie masseuse bans men after repeated inappropriate behaviour
An Australian masseuse has banned male clients from her studio after repeated inappropriate requests and comments from current and prospective male clients. Kessley Ham, 39, the owner of Eternal Energy Healing and Wellness in South Perth, told that moving forward, her business will only serve women, including trans women and non-binary clients. It all started earlier this week when she was venting to two of her team members about the 'relentless' stream of inappropriate booking requests she had received online. She said requests for 'sensual' or nude massages were common, despite it being clear on the studio's website and Instagram that it's not that kind of business. 'To my shock, both staff then shared their own experiences of inappropriate behaviour from clients in our studio,' she said. The decision to ban male clients Some of these incidents included a male client groaning on the massage table and 'writhing' around, 'orgasm-style', and another person who wanted to discuss their sex life with the masseuse. Another involved a male client repeatedly commenting that his underwear was 'uncomfortable and twisted' during the massage. 'That was the moment I knew I had to take action. My team's safety is non-negotiable. No one should feel unsafe or uncomfortable in their workplace — especially in a space dedicated to healing,' she said. The need for women-only spaces She chose not to pursue other approaches to combat the lewd behaviour – as 'this wasn't about business strategy' or retaining clients, but a pressing safety issue. 'Women deserve spaces where they can fully relax, physically, emotionally, and energetically, without being on high alert,' Ms Ham said. 'Unfortunately, the reality is that the biggest threat to a woman's safety continues to be men. That's not an opinion, it's a fact. Women-only spaces offer something rare: a full nervous system exhale.' Overwhelming support After sharing the news on her Instagram account, Ms Ham said the response has been overwhelmingly positive from women. 'I feel so sad for your staff … how unfortunate they had to encounter this. Well done for looking after them,' read one comment on the post. 'This is shocking to read,' said another. 'Power to you'. However, there have been a few predictable reactions from men who take issue with the change. Some women have even used the 'not all men' argument, suggesting Ms Ham should run her business on a 'recommendation' policy so the 'good men' can still come. Media 'redirecting' the narrative One media outlet apparently derailed an interview with Ms Ham about her decision by suggesting that this issue highlights 'how hard it is for men to find a massage that doesn't offer sexual services'. But Ms Ham emphasises that this isn't the issue here. 'The issue is the inappropriate and unsafe behaviour directed at women — including myself and my staff — in what should be a professional, therapeutic setting,' she noted. 'Redirecting the narrative to men's discomfort only highlights the need for women-only spaces even more.'
