Medically licensed mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of systemic sepsis

Systemic sepsis is a severe condition arising from a bacterial or fungal infection of the blood or lymph. It commonly leads to overwhelming inflammation and multiple organ failure and can kill up to 50% of sufferers. Toxins produced by bacteria are the major trigger for these responses in the patient. There are currently no specific medicines available for systemic sepsis, and treatment relies on fluid delivery and ventilation coupled with immediate broad-spectrum antibiotics. Recent studies using adult derived stem cells (MSCs) have indicated profound anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and pro-healing effects in a variety of disease conditions, including other debilitating infectious diseases such as pneumonia.
The Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland (CCMI) and Orbsen Therapeutics Ltd., both based on the National University of Ireland, Galway campus, have recently initiated a collaboration to produce medically licensed MSCs isolated by a novel and highly efficient mechanism. We hope to utilize this exciting new potential medicine in a series of laboratory experiments to assess their potential. We will measure anti-inflammatory and anti-biotic traits, the safety of the medicine, and the overall ability of these MSCs to alter the sepsis disease in an animal model. We will also determine whether a frozen cell product, a requirement for the treatment of a rapidly evolving acute condition, works as well as the traditional freshly prepared type. If these evaluations are successful we will proceed to seek further funding to establish clinical trials in systemic sepsis patients using this novel therapeutic agent.

Award Date

23 October 2015

Award Value

€329,599

Principal Investigator

Dr Daniel O'Toole

Host Institution

National University of Ireland, Galway

Scheme

Health Research Awards