America Stem Cell commences ASC-101 Phase I/II study in hematologic malignancies

America Stem Cell, Inc. announced today the initiation of a single-center study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center evaluating ASC-101 in dual-umbilical cord transplantation in patients with hematologic malignancies.    

"There is a significant unmet medical need to improve stem cell engraftment into bone marrow for patients undergoing umbilical cord transplantation, and America Stem Cell is committed to filling that need," said Dr. Linda Paradiso, Chief Development Officer at America Stem Cell. ASC-101 is a novel enzyme treatment that will potentially transform hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by accelerating patient immune system and platelet recovery, reducing opportunistic infections and other co-morbidities, and improving patient survival.

"Enhancing umbilical cord stem cell engraftment into bone marrow in the dual cord transplant setting will improve clinical outcomes for patients with serious, life-threatening cancers and other disorders for which hematopoietic stem cell transplant is prescribed," said, Dr. Elizabeth Shpall, MD, Medical Director, Cell Therapy Laboratory and Director, Cord Blood Bank at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Principal Investigator on the ASC-101 Phase I/II clinical trial. The MD Anderson study has enrolled and dosed its first patient in this Phase I/II study designed to study the safety of ASC-101 in the hematopoietic stem cell transplant setting and gather preliminary data on potential clinical benefit.

"ASC was founded with the vision to make stem cell transplants safer and more efficacious for patients undergoing cell therapy. The start of this trial using ASC-101 in cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation is a major step forward in advancing the ASC clinical pipeline," said Lynnet Koh-LeMaire, Chief Executive Officer/Founder of America Stem Cell.