Latest news with #MinervaBiotechnologies
Barnama
4 days ago
- Health
- Barnama
Minerva Biotechnologies Unveils Breakthrough To Enhance Stem Cell Treatments
KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- Minerva Biotechnologies has published a study in the journal PLOS ONE detailing findings that could resolve long-standing debates in the scientific community regarding the role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in human stem cell differentiation and pluripotency. The study, titled 'The Wnt pathway induces a naïve-like subpopulation in primed stem cells, while NME7AB leads to a homogeneous naïve-like population', offers new insights into how stem cell states can be more effectively manipulated for therapeutic applications. 'These data represent a major breakthrough for the large-scale, GMP-compliant manufacture of patient-derived MSCs for therapeutic uses. 'This approach will replace the current practice of sourcing MSCs from bone marrow donors, whose profiles are often unknown or unverified,' said its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Cynthia Bamdad in a statement. Minerva researchers found that activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, in the absence of other growth factors, created two distinct cell populations—naïve OCT4+ XaXa cells surrounded by differentiating OCT4- XaXi cells. While activation of the β-catenin pathway prior to or during differentiation enhanced outcomes for primed stem cells, it did not affect NME7AB-induced naïve state stem cells. The study also found that homogeneous populations of naïve stem cells induced by recombinant NME7AB demonstrated superior differentiation potential compared to their primed counterparts. Notably, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated and expanded in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-compliant minimal media using NME7AB as the sole growth factor differentiated efficiently into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Minerva's resulting MSCs resisted senescence and showed the ability to differentiate into highly pure populations of chondrocytes, osteoblasts and adipocytes—cell types crucial for the repair or regeneration of cartilage, bone and fat tissues.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Breakthrough in Patient-Derived Stem Cells for Therapeutic Regenerative Medicine
WALTHAM, Mass., June 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Minerva Biotechnologies published, "The Wnt pathway induces a naïve-like subpopulation in primed stem cells, while NME7AB leads to a homogeneous naïve-like population," in the journal PLOS One, These studies shed light on the scientific controversy of whether activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway induces human stem cell pluripotency or differentiation. The literature is replete with contradictory conclusions, based on what appear to be sound scientific studies. Others reported that low levels of β-catenin skew differentiation down neuroectoderm, whereas high levels favor differentiation down mesendoderm. Recently two research groups independently found that "boosting" β-catenin just prior to differentiation improved differentiation of both neuroectoderm and mesendoderm. Unexpectedly, our studies found that, in the absence of other growth factors, activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway induced two segregated populations: islands of naïve OCT4+ XaXa cells (both X chromosomes active) in a sea of differentiating OCT4- XaXi cells (one X chromosome inactivated). Like others, we found that activating the β-catenin pathway before or at the initiation of differentiation greatly improved the differentiation of primed state stem cells but had no effect on NME7 AB naïve state stem cells. The differentiation of homogeneous populations of NME7 AB induced naïve state stem cells was superior to that of primed state stem cells, even if the β-catenin pathway was activated before differentiation. For example, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) generated in, then expanded in GMP compliant minimal media containing recombinant NME7AB as the only growth factor, differentiated with high efficiency into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Unlike other attempts, Minerva's iPSC-derived MSCs resisted senescing and each clone could differentiate into essentially pure populations of chondrocytes, osteoblasts or adipocytes that could be useful for repair or replacement of cartilage, bone or fat. "These data represent a major breakthrough for the large-scale, GMP compliant manufacture of patient-derived MSCs for therapeutic uses," said Dr. Cynthia Bamdad, CEO of Minerva Biotechnologies, "and will replace the practice of using MSCs harvested from bone marrow of unknown, often untested donors." View source version on Contacts Minerva BiotechnologiesRon Axelrodraxelrod@ 617-785-9491 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Health
- Business Wire
Breakthrough in Patient-Derived Stem Cells for Therapeutic Regenerative Medicine
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Minerva Biotechnologies published, 'The Wnt pathway induces a naïve-like subpopulation in primed stem cells, while NME7 AB leads to a homogeneous naïve-like population,' in the journal PLOS One, These studies shed light on the scientific controversy of whether activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway induces human stem cell pluripotency or differentiation. The literature is replete with contradictory conclusions, based on what appear to be sound scientific studies. Others reported that low levels of β-catenin skew differentiation down neuroectoderm, whereas high levels favor differentiation down mesendoderm. Recently two research groups independently found that 'boosting' β-catenin just prior to differentiation improved differentiation of both neuroectoderm and mesendoderm. Unexpectedly, our studies found that, in the absence of other growth factors, activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway induced two segregated populations: islands of naïve OCT4+ XaXa cells (both X chromosomes active) in a sea of differentiating OCT4- XaXi cells (one X chromosome inactivated). Like others, we found that activating the β-catenin pathway before or at the initiation of differentiation greatly improved the differentiation of primed state stem cells but had no effect on NME7 AB naïve state stem cells. The differentiation of homogeneous populations of NME7 AB induced naïve state stem cells was superior to that of primed state stem cells, even if the β-catenin pathway was activated before differentiation. For example, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) generated in, then expanded in GMP compliant minimal media containing recombinant NME7 AB as the only growth factor, differentiated with high efficiency into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Unlike other attempts, Minerva's iPSC-derived MSCs resisted senescing and each clone could differentiate into essentially pure populations of chondrocytes, osteoblasts or adipocytes that could be useful for repair or replacement of cartilage, bone or fat. 'These data represent a major breakthrough for the large-scale, GMP compliant manufacture of patient-derived MSCs for therapeutic uses,' said Dr. Cynthia Bamdad, CEO of Minerva Biotechnologies, 'and will replace the practice of using MSCs harvested from bone marrow of unknown, often untested donors.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minerva Biotechnologies - Overcoming the Solid Tumor Barrier: MUC1*-Targeted CAR T bearing 1XX mutations overcomes exhaustion and enables killing of low antigen expressing cancer cells
WALTHAM, Mass., June 02, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Minerva Biotechnologies published "Effective CAR T cell targeting of a MUC1 cleavage product" in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer Novel target, MUC1*, is a cancer-specific growth factor receptor that is expressed on the surface of 75% of solid tumors. In this study, we compared the efficacy, persistence and antigen sensitivity of three MUC1* CARs, all directed to the tumor by the same antibody fragment, but bearing different co-stimulatory domains and one construct bearing the 1XX mutations in the CD3ζ cytoplasmic domain. We showed that in animal models, the MUC1* CAR-1XX increased CAR T-cell persistence and suppressed tumor recurrence by enabling the killing of low antigen-expressing cancer cells. "These findings in stringent animal models are very encouraging for developing 1XX CAR T cells to treat solid tumors," said Michel Sadelain, inventor of the 1XX technology. "They further underscore the promise of targeting the cleaved form of MUC1 known as MUC1*." The in vivo efficacy of MUC1* targeted CAR-1XX T cells against heterogeneous tumors comprising defined percentages of low vs high antigen expressing cancer cells predicts that a large patient population could be treated with MUC1* targeted CAR T immunotherapy. Although MUC1 has been known for 30 years to be aberrantly expressed in 75% of solid tumors, no therapeutic targeting MUC1 has ever been Food and Drug Administration approved. Part of the problem is that the identification of exactly which form of MUC1 drives tumor growth and metastasis has been controversial. The development of a MUC1* antibody that selectively recognizes the cancer-associated growth factor receptor form, as described here, is an important advance. Minerva has an FDA-approved IND for a MUC1*-CAR22 that persists longer in vivo enabling a more durable response in solid tumor treatment. We thank Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for the license to 1XX technology. View source version on Contacts Minerva Biotechnologies Ron Axelrod raxelrod@ 617-785-9491 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
02-06-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Minerva Biotechnologies - Overcoming the Solid Tumor Barrier: MUC1*-Targeted CAR T bearing 1XX mutations overcomes exhaustion and enables killing of low antigen expressing cancer cells
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Minerva Biotechnologies published 'Effective CAR T cell targeting of a MUC1 cleavage product' in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer Novel target, MUC1*, is a cancer-specific growth factor receptor that is expressed on the surface of 75% of solid tumors. In this study, we compared the efficacy, persistence and antigen sensitivity of three MUC1* CARs, all directed to the tumor by the same antibody fragment, but bearing different co-stimulatory domains and one construct bearing the 1XX mutations in the CD3ζ cytoplasmic domain. We showed that in animal models, the MUC1* CAR-1XX increased CAR T-cell persistence and suppressed tumor recurrence by enabling the killing of low antigen-expressing cancer cells. 'These findings in stringent animal models are very encouraging for developing 1XX CAR T cells to treat solid tumors,' said Michel Sadelain, inventor of the 1XX technology. 'They further underscore the promise of targeting the cleaved form of MUC1 known as MUC1*." The in vivo efficacy of MUC1* targeted CAR-1XX T cells against heterogeneous tumors comprising defined percentages of low vs high antigen expressing cancer cells predicts that a large patient population could be treated with MUC1* targeted CAR T immunotherapy. Although MUC1 has been known for 30 years to be aberrantly expressed in 75% of solid tumors, no therapeutic targeting MUC1 has ever been Food and Drug Administration approved. Part of the problem is that the identification of exactly which form of MUC1 drives tumor growth and metastasis has been controversial. The development of a MUC1* antibody that selectively recognizes the cancer-associated growth factor receptor form, as described here, is an important advance. Minerva has an FDA-approved IND for a MUC1*-CAR22 that persists longer in vivo enabling a more durable response in solid tumor treatment. We thank Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for the license to 1XX technology.
