News
Health Canada allows clinical trials for the molecule UM171
Published on December 9, 2015
Dr. Guy Sauvageau and Anne Marinier
Health Canada has allowed the first clinical trial phases for the transplantation of stem cells to patients suffering from blood-related diseases, such as leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma.
The distinctive feature of these stem cells is that they will have been previously multiplied in a unit of cord blood with the molecule UM171, which was discovered by the teams of Anne Marinier, Principal Investigator and director of medicinal chemistry at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) at the Université de Montréal, and Dr. Guy Sauvageau, Principal Investigator at IRIC and hematologist at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (CIUSSS de l’Est de l’Île-de-Montréal).
« This is excellent news, claims Dr. Sauvageau. The first clinical trials on a certain number of patients suffering from blood-related diseases will allow us to confirm our hypothesis. It is an important step in the fight against cancer and I would like to highlight the exceptional work of all our teams at IRIC and also at the Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont. »
The Centre of Excellence for Cellular Therapy at the Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont will serve as a production unit for these stem cells, and grafts will then be distributed to patients in the cities of Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver for this first Canadian clinical study.
« We should see the first results in 2016, and if everything goes well, subsequent clinical trial phases will follow. »
Read also: ExCellThera Announces Initiation of Clinical Trial for Cancer Patients (update of December 21st, 2015)