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Creative Medical Technologies Licenses Patient-Specific Adult Stem Cell Therapy for Male InfertilityCreative Medical Technologies, Inc. (CMT) announced today the signing of a license agreement with LA BioMed granting exclusive rights for United States patent application #14/508763, covering the use of stem cells for treatment of male infertility. In the patent application and a subsequent publication,1 Ronald S. Swerdloff, M.D., an LA BioMed lead researcher and UCLA professor of medicine, demonstrated that the administration of bone marrow cells into the testicles of mice with chemically induced damage to sperm producing cells led to the generation of new sperm-producing cells. In order to specifically demonstrate that the cells that were produced originated from the donor bone marrow, the team used genetically engineered mice possessing Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in every cell of their body. Interestingly, mice that did not have GFP possessed sperm-producing cells that were green after they had received intra-testicular administration of GFP bone marrow. "We are extremely excited about the potential utilization of simple, autologous (from the same patient) bone marrow stem cells for the treatment of a condition that possesses a devastating social and economic toll on members of our society who are affected by it," said Timothy Warbington, Chief Executive Officer of Creative Medical Technologies. "The investment bank Harris Williams reports that infertility represents a $3 to $4 billion dollar a year market, currently comprised of fertility drugs and assisted reproductive technologies.2 While infertility affects 15% of couples, according to a publication authored by the Cleveland Clinic, male infertility accounts for 30 to 40% of cases."3 Subsequent to filing the patent and the original publication, numerous international scientific groups have reproduced the finding that bone marrow derived stem cells are capable of giving rise to sperm generating cells.4,5,6,7. Thomas Ichim, Ph.D., President of Creative Medical Technologies, stated: "The broadest claim of this patent provides the potential for an incredible intellectual property fence surrounding the field of male reproductive failure and stem cells." The patent claim says: "A method of treating infertility and/or testosterone deficiency in a male mammal, said method comprising: implanting stem cells into the testes of said mammal whereby said stem cells differentiate into germ cells and/or Sertoli cells and/or Leydig cells thereby reducing infertility and/or testosterone deficiency." Creative Medical Technologies plans to accelerate clinical development of the patent application by leveraging its clinical expertise in the area of autolgous bone marrow cell therapies, in part gained from its ongoing clinical trial utilizing this approach for treatment of erectile dysfunction, which is covered in its patent #8,372,797. "This agreement with CMT is the latest in LA BioMed's ongoing work to transform today's research into tomorrow's cures," said David Meyer, Ph.D., LA BioMed President and CEO. "We are very pleased to be working with CMT and other companies to bring new therapies, medical devices and healthcare solutions to patients around the world." About LA BioMed Founded in 1952, LA BioMed is one of the country's leading nonprofit independent biomedical research institutes. It has approximately 100 principal researchers conducting studies into improved treatments and therapies for cancer, inherited diseases, infectious diseases, illnesses caused by environmental factors and more. LA BioMed is academically affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and located on the campus of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.LABioMed.org. About Creative Medical Technologies, Inc. Creative Medical Technologies, Inc. (CMT) and its affiliate Creative Medical Health, Inc. (CMH) are clinical stage biotechnology companies specializing in cutting edge stem cell technology in the areas of urology, cardiovascular disease, orthopedics and type 2 diabetes. In addition to their work with LA BioMed, CMH and CMT have ongoing relationships with several leading academic institutions and key opinion leaders on stem cell technology in the U.S. and abroad.
1 Lue et al. Am J Pathol. 2007 Mar; 170(3): 899-908. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1864883/
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