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- Biotech company Cynata Therapeutics (CYP) has received positive results for its Cymerus stem cell treatment in a preclinical heart attack model
- The study in rats showed enhanced recoveries in the subjects administered Cynata’s mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treatment
- An earlier study by the same independent team had already shown Cynata’s MSCs improved cardiac function after a heart attack
- The latest results help to explain the mechanism for the superior therapeutic effects of Cymerus MSCs compared to conventional bone marrow MSCs
- Once the data has been peer reviewed, Cynata will determine the next steps in the clinical development of the Cymerus treatment
- Cynata Therapeutics is trading 1.44 per cent lower at $1.02.5
Cynata Therapeutics (CYP) has received positive results for its Cymerus stem cell treatment in a preclinical heart attack model.
The study in rats showed enhanced recoveries in the subjects administered Cynata’s mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treatment. The study compared Cynata’s Cymerus MSCs to conventional bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) and a placebo.
The results
The study showed the rats administered with Cynata’s MSCs experienced enhanced blood vessel generation, which is a key element in recovery after heart attacks.
Breaking the results down further, Cynata’s treatment doubled the development of new blood capillaries and provided a three-fold increase in the growth of small blood vessels (arterioles) as compared to the placebo group.
Subjects also released higher levels of molecules known to be involved in the stimulation of new blood vessel growth.
The study was conducted by a team led by Associate Professor James Chong at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Sydney.
An earlier study by the same team had already shown Cynata’s MSCs improved cardiac function after a heart attack.
The latest results help to explain the mechanism for the superior therapeutic effects of Cymerus MSCs compared to conventional BM-MSCs.
The results will be submitted for peer review.
Cynata Chief Operating Officer Dr Kilian Kelly says the study has been a positive step in the clinical evaluation of the Cymerus treatment.
“With the benefit of this further data we are now able to better understand the beneficial effects of our Cymerus MSCs in this model of heart attack,” Dr Kelly said.
“It is particularly notable that the latest results are consistent with the greater benefit demonstrated by Cymerus MSCs over BM-MSCs in the earlier studies of heart function,” he continued.
“Given the scalability and consistency advantages of the Cymerus MSC manufacturing process over conventional processes, the potential therapeutic advantages shown here are particularly interesting as a putative treatment for post heart attack cardiac damage,” he said.
The next steps
The study builds on previous work showing the efficacy of Cymerus MSCs in recovery from heart attack.
Once the data has been peer reviewed, the company will continue to work with relevant parties to determine the next steps for the use of the Cymerus treatment in heart attack recovery. Cynata will also look at the broader clinical development of the proprietary treatment.
Cynata Therapeutics is trading 1.44 per cent lower at $1.02.5 at 3:05 pm AEST.
