Placenta, the Short Term Yet, Wonder Organ

The placenta functions for only nine months but has been taking the science world by storm. Haifa, Israel-based Pluristem Therapeutics, a key player in the regenerative medicine space is banking on the therapeutic powers of the placenta.

Pluristem takes cells from human placentas that are donated at the time of delivery, and expand and modify them using proprietary 3-dimensional technology and specially designed bioreactors.

The therapeutic cells, coined PLX cells, are designed to be injected into muscle, secrete a range of therapeutic proteins, and then wash out of the body, and do not require any tissue matching.

Pluristem’s first cell type, currently in trials, secretes proteins, which could potentially treat certain cardiovascular, and lung diseases, muscle injuries and severe pre-eclampsia, a disease of pregnancy that is one of the leading known causes of maternal death.

Pluristem is now delving into the areas of oncology, bone marrow transplant and even acute radiation syndrome by developing its second product, PLX-R18.

Dr. Karine Kleinhaus highlights the future impact of cell therapy and of PLX-R18 trials underway in 2015.

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Source-Medindia