More VC capital for Stem Cell Research

[lraynak]

$12M funds new stem cell company

With the help of lead contributers ARCH Venture Partners and Polaris Venture Partners, Seattle-based Fate Therapeutics has rounded up $12 million in VC. The company is developing drugs that spur dormant adult stem cells to regenerate damaged tissue. Unlike other developers, Fate's approach to stem cell research focuses on traditional therapeutics, such as small molecules and protein therapeutics, to direct cell fate--most other stem cell companies have researched cell therapy using harvested cells from cord blood or other tissues.

"We have looked at investing in many stem cell companies, but the science and commercial reality just wasn't there yet," said Robert Nelsen, founding partner of ARCH Venture Partners, whose firm co-founded Fate. "Now is the perfect storm; the right biology breakthroughs; a targeted way to use real drugs; and the leading scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors--all in the same company to develop breakthrough medicines."

Reported by Lraynak

 

[cellmedicine]

Pharmacological activators of stem cells are the way to go

I think that this company that is being funded has the right idea. There are numerous chemicals that activate the stem cells inside one's own body to perform different functions. Unfortunately not too many of them have worked yet. For example, after a patient has a heart attack stem cells leave the bone marrow and go to the injured tissue.

now the rationale is, if one could give patients a chemical that makes the bone marrow stem cells "mobilize" then more cells would go to the injured heart, and therefore it should heal itself faster. Unfortunately while Phase I results with G-CSF for heart failure had some positive effects, the Phase II did not work out.

Nevertheless, the possibility of using chemicals to mobilize or activate stem cells is very very exciting since it would make stem cell therapy much more accessible to patients and also for a lot cheaper. A stem cell product produced for widespread use in the US (when it happens) will cost in the tens of thousands (minimally) because you have to ensure numerous quality control steps since you are dealing with living cells. In contrast, if we could attain the same thing with a pill, then it would be much cheaper. The question is...can one attain the same thing with a pill? Good luck to Fate Therapeutics !!