Celltex Therapeutics Corporation, a Houston, Texas-based biotechnology company founded in 2011 and focused on spearheading breakthroughs in regenerative medicine using adult, autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells (“MSCs”), announced that it has begun active discussions with the FDA regarding a study using MSCs against Coronavirus (“COVID-19”)-type symptoms. Celltex has researched safety and efficacy from the use of MSCs for those suffering from injuries, pain and maladies associated with autoimmune, vascular and other debilitating diseases, including inflammatory lung conditions, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Celltex, a pioneer in autologous MSC technology, is known for its MSC technology and its partnership with the Texas A&M University Institute for Regenerative Medicine. This includes over thirty years of MSC research and work of Darwin J. Prockop, MD, PhD and Ashok K. Shetty, PhD, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University College of Medicine. Dr. Shetty is a co-principal investigator on a Celltex research partnership with Texas A&M University, who has authored the editorial entitled, “Mesenchymal Stem Cell Infusion Shows Promise for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Induced Pneumonia,” Aging and Disease, Volume 11, No. 2, 2020, regarding a new study published by Aging and Disease which reported that intravenous administration of clinical-grade human MSCs into patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in improved functional outcomes. The study, “Transplantation of ACE2- Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves the Outcome of Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia,” Volume 11, No. 2, 2020, pp.216-228, Leng Z. et al., demonstrated that intravenous infusion of MSCs is a safe and effective approach for treating patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, including elderly patients displaying severe pneumonia. COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).