University of Wisconsin scientist to present revolutionary stem cell technology to Australian bioindustry

- Cynata Therapeutics new stem cell technology applies to broad range of diseases - 

Internationally recognised stem cell scientist, Professor Igor Slukvin, University of Wisconsin – Madison, is visiting Australia as the key-note speaker at a Stem Cell Meeting and Workshop in Sydney next week.

He will be presenting a revolutionary stem cell technology to the Australian bioindustry and revealing how it is likely to shake up the therapeutic potential of stem cells and regenerative medicine. 

Cymerus^TM, as the stem cell platform technology is called, has the potential to create billions of human stem cells from a single donor stem cell and may be extremely important in the therapeutic application of stem cells in a range of diseases.  Professor Slukvin is one of the inventors of the Cymerus™ technology.

Professor Slukvin made the invention in the Wisconsin laboratory which is well-known for being the home of the world’s first isolation of the embryonic stem (ES) cell by Professor James Thomson in 1998.  

“Stem cell therapy has taken many different and exciting paths from that which scientists predicted over ten years ago,” says Professor Slukvin. Currently, one specific stem cell type called mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), is showing promise. Mesenchymal stem cells are believed to work by stimulating the body’s own healing and regenerative systems.

Cymerus^TM is able to make masses of mesenchymal stem cells that may have the potential to remedy a broad range of diseases including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, diseases of the blood, lung, kidney, eyes and immune system diseases.

Australian biotechnology company, Cynata Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:CYP)  has focused its attention on the Cymerus^TM technology, appreciating the enormous promise it has for stem cell therapeutics. 

Scott Power, Morgan’s healthcare analyst said, “there is a growing number of biotechnology companies focusing their attention on the development of stem cell therapeutics.” 

“At the big end of town is Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) and at the smaller end are biotechs such as Bionomics, Alchemia (ASX:ACL), Tissue Therapies (ASX:TIS), Allied Healthcare Group (ASX:AHZ) and Cynata Therapeutics (ASX:CYP) that are developing stem cells. Also recently, a new stem cell and regeneration company, Regeneus (ASX: RGS) completed a successful IPO.”

“We are entering a renaissance period in the biotech sector with healthy investments over the past 6 months into IPO’s and capital raisings and stem cell is one of the emerging areas,” he said.

The Sydney Workshop - Innovating the Marketplace with Stem Cells – on Friday 29 November will take an in depth look what it will take to push the Australian stem cell industry forward. It is being hosted by the Stem Cell Network for biotech investors, analysts, clinicians, scientists, policy makers, IP lawyers, patient advocates, pharma and biotech executives.

Professor Slukvin will be in Melbourne and Sydney prior to the Stem Cell Workshop.