Latest news with #stemcells
Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Times
Hearts with human cells grown in pigs for the first time
Chinese researchers have grown beating hearts containing human cells inside pig embryos for the first time, raising hopes that the technique could one day help to solve a chronic shortage of transplant organs. The embryos survived only for three weeks. However, the development of beating cardiac tissue is seen as a significant milestone. The goal would be to grow hearts composed entirely of human cells inside the animals. About 7,500 individuals are awaiting organ transplants in the UK, according to NHS Blood and Transplant. Among them are about 192 children, of which 42 require a heart. Despite the number of deceased donors nearly doubling since 2008, the rise has not matched growing demand. • Scientists make model embryo with heartbeat from stem cells Between April 2021 and March 2022, 429 people died while on the transplant waiting list. A further 644 were removed from the list because deteriorating health made them too ill to be considered for the operation. The new research, presented at the International Society for Stem Cell Research's annual meeting in Hong Kong, appears to mark a significant step forward in the creation of human–animal 'chimaeras' — organisms that contain a mix of human and animal cells. The hybrid embryos survived for 21 days and formed hearts approximately as large as a human heart at the same embryonic stage. The researchers, whose work was first reported by the journal Nature, began by 'reprogramming' human stem cells, which have the ability to become almost any type of cell. This involved inserting genes that promote cell growth and resist cell death, giving them a better chance of surviving inside a pig. • Stem cells help scientists to create embryo without eggs The enhanced cells were injected into pig embryos that had been genetically modified to lack two genes necessary for heart development. The hope was that the human cells would fill the void and form the missing organ. Earlier experiments had resulted in researchers growing human muscle and blood-vessel cells in pig embryos and scientists had also succeeded in generating early-stage human kidneys in pigs. 'Pigs are a suitable donor species because the size and anatomy of their organs are comparable with those of humans,' Liangxue Lai, a developmental biologist at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who led the latest work, told Nature. Human cells were identified in the hearts by a luminescent biomarker that caused them to glow under special lighting conditions. • Man given genetically modified pig kidney in world-first transplant Experts at the Hong Kong meeting expressed cautious interest in the results. Hiromitsu Nakauchi, a stem-cell biologist at Stanford University, saidhe would want to review the data more closely to confirm that the heart cells were of human origin. The researchers have not yet reported what proportion of the heart tissue was made up of human cells. In Liangxue's previous work on kidneys grown in pigs, between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of the tissue was human-derived. Hideki Masaki, a stem-cell scientist at the Institute of Science in Tokyo, noted that the fluorescent human cells appeared in only a limited portion of the developing heart. 'If researchers want to develop hearts for transplantation, they will need to be made entirely of human cells,' he said, warning that any pig-derived tissue could trigger immune rejection in human recipients.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BioRestorative Announces Share Repurchase Program
MELVILLE, N.Y., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. ('BioRestorative', 'BRTX' or the 'Company') (NASDAQ:BRTX), a clinical stage regenerative medicine innovator focused on stem cell-based therapies and products, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $2 million of its outstanding common stock through June 16, 2026. "This share repurchase program reflects our confidence in the strength of our clinical development pipeline and the future outlook of our business,' said Lance Alstodt, Chief Executive Officer of BioRestorative. 'There is no question in our minds that BioRestorative has great science, assets and people. As such, we believe our current share price does not reflect the intrinsic value of the company, particularly in light of our recent clinical and operational progress. Accordingly, we believe this program provides us with an opportunity to enhance long-term shareholder value.' The repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions, or by other means in accordance with applicable securities laws. The timing, number, and value of shares repurchased under the program will be at the discretion of the Company's management and will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, share price, and other corporate considerations. The share repurchase program may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time at the Company's discretion and does not obligate the Company to acquire any amount of common stock. About BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. BioRestorative ( develops therapeutic products using cell and tissue protocols, primarily involving adult stem cells. As described below, our two core clinical development programs relate to the treatment of disc/spine disease and metabolic disorders, and we also operate a commercial BioCosmeceutical platform: • Disc/Spine Program (brtxDISC™): Our lead cell therapy candidate, BRTX-100, is a product formulated from autologous (or a person's own) cultured mesenchymal stem cells collected from the patient's bone marrow. We intend that the product will be used for the non-surgical treatment of painful lumbosacral disc disorders or as a complementary therapeutic to a surgical procedure. The BRTX-100 production process utilizes proprietary technology and involves collecting a patient's bone marrow, isolating and culturing stem cells from the bone marrow and cryopreserving the cells. In an outpatient procedure, BRTX-100 is to be injected by a physician into the patient's damaged disc. The treatment is intended for patients whose pain has not been alleviated by non-invasive procedures and who potentially face the prospect of surgery. We have commenced a Phase 2 clinical trial using BRTX-100 to treat chronic lower back pain arising from degenerative disc disease. We have also obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration ('FDA') Investigational New Drug ('IND') clearance to evaluate BRTX-100 in the treatment of chronic cervical discogenic pain. • Metabolic Program (ThermoStem®): We are developing cell-based therapy candidates to target obesity and metabolic disorders using brown adipose (fat) derived stem cells ('BADSC') to generate brown adipose tissue ('BAT'), as well as exosomes secreted by BADSC. BAT is intended to mimic naturally occurring brown adipose depots that regulate metabolic homeostasis in humans. Initial preclinical research indicates that increased amounts of brown fat in animals may be responsible for additional caloric burning as well as reduced glucose and lipid levels. Researchers have found that people with higher levels of brown fat may have a reduced risk for obesity and diabetes. BADSC secreted exosomes may also impact weight loss. • BioCosmeceuticals: We operate a commercial BioCosmeceutical platform. Our current commercial product, formulated and manufactured using our cGMP ISO-7 certified clean room, is a cell-based secretome containing exosomes, proteins and growth factors. This proprietary biologic serum has been specifically engineered by us to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and bring forth other areas of cosmetic effectiveness. Moving forward, we also intend to explore the potential of expanding our commercial offering to include a broader family of cell-based biologic aesthetic products and therapeutics via IND-enabling studies, with the aim of pioneering FDA approvals in the emerging BioCosmeceuticals space. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and other risks, including, without limitation, those set forth in the Company's latest Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements. CONTACT: Stephen KilmerInvestor RelationsDirect: (646) 274-3580 Email: skilmer@
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Bioengineered Tooth Implant That Grows Into Gum, Fuses With Nerves Performing Well in Animal Tests
Researchers have successfully implanted a bioengineered tooth implant — that "grows" into the gum and fuses with existing nerves — into the mouths of rats. In a new paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, dental researchers from Tufts University detail their successful rodent experiments with the unique implant, which is coated in stem cells, special proteins, and memory foam-esque nanofibers that expand and integrate with the body's own nervous system. The titanium posts that are traditionally used to fuse teeth implants to the jawbone often end up damaging nearby nerves, often causing serious pain. This newly-developed implant — which we also heard about earlier this year — offers a novel approach that uses customized surgical equipment and a compressed implant to make the process much smoother. The implants themselves are smaller than the teeth they're replacing, which not only allows the specialized coating to grow its way into the body's sensory nervous system, but also makes it less traumatic to insert as well. In the new rodent studies, the implants remained firm and intact six weeks after being inserted — and there was no rejection or inflammation, which signals that the coating works. "Imaging revealed a distinct space between the implant and the bone, suggesting that the implant had been integrated through soft tissue rather than the traditional fusion with the bone," explained Jake Jinkum Chen, the paper's lead author and the director of Tufts' oral biology school, in a school press release. According to Chen, this process appears to "help reconnect nerves, allowing the implant to 'talk' to the brain much like a real tooth." "Natural teeth connect to the jawbone through soft tissue rich in nerves, which help sense pressure and texture and guide how we chew and speak," Chen explained. "Implants lack that sensory feedback." There will need to be much more study and experimentation, including in larger animals than rats, before these implants can make their way into human mouths. Still, it's a fascinating approach — and if further research indicates that these "smart" teeth do, in fact, connect to the brain, it will be even more so. More on teeth: There's Something Horrifying in Your Toothpaste
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
We can cure baldness, claim scientists
Anxiously checking in the mirror for signs of male pattern baldness may be a thing of the past, as scientists in Madrid believe they have found a way to reverse hair loss. Researchers at the San Carlos clinic in the Spanish capital claim they were able to regrow hair on mice in almost all cases during an experimental stem cell treatment study. The project involved giving male and female mice dihydrotestosterone, a by-product of testosterone that causes receding hair lines in men and thinning hair in women. Once the rodents had lost all their fur, half of them were injected with stem cells taken from body fat as well as a chemical called adenosine triphosphate, which stimulates cellular growth. The other half were given a placebo. All the male mice given the stem cell-chemical cocktail experienced hair regrowth, with around half getting back all their fur. The majority of the female mice also regrew their coats. 'Hair grew back in all of the treated male mice. In the case of the females, a lower dose was used, and the results were also somewhat worse, although still good, because 90 per cent managed to repopulate their hair,' Dr Eduardo López Bran, head of dermatology at the San Carlos, explained. The scientists, whose work was published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, say that it will still be four or five years before a drug could be available, and that the next phase of testing will involve using human patients. Hair loss or alopecia is a common complaint in Spain, which has the highest percentage of bald men in the world at 44.5 per cent, according to a survey by Medihair, an online platform for hair loss treatments. Dr López Bran said he had 'noticed a huge increase in inquiries seeking a solution, a truly significant growth in demand, especially among young people who, at the first signs of baldness, want to slow its progression, or even reverse those initial symptoms'. By the age of 50, roughly 50 per cent of men will experience some form of male pattern baldness. Around 25 per cent of will spot signs of thinning or receding as early as 21. Hair transplant surgery has become increasingly popular over the last two decades, with the number of procedures performed globally rising by 76 per cent since 2006. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
12-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
We can cure baldness, claim scientists
Anxiously checking in the mirror for signs of male pattern baldness may be a thing of the past, as scientists in Madrid believe they have found a way to reverse hair loss. Researchers at the San Carlos clinic in the Spanish capital claim they were able to regrow hair on mice in almost all cases during an experimental stem cell treatment study. The project involved giving male and female mice dihydrotestosterone, a by-product of testosterone that causes receding hair lines in men and thinning hair in women. Once the rodents had lost all their fur, half of them were injected with stem cells taken from body fat as well as a chemical called adenosine triphosphate, which stimulates cellular growth. The other half were given a placebo. All the male mice given the stem cell-chemical cocktail experienced hair regrowth, with around half getting back all their fur. The majority of the female mice also regrew their coats. 'Hair grew back in all of the treated male mice. In the case of the females, a lower dose was used, and the results were also somewhat worse, although still good, because 90 per cent managed to repopulate their hair,' Dr Eduardo López Bran, head of dermatology at the San Carlos, explained. Four or five years to treatment The scientists, whose work was published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, say that it will still be four or five years before a drug could be available, and that the next phase of testing will involve using human patients. Hair loss or alopecia is a common complaint in Spain, which has the highest percentage of bald men in the world at 44.5 per cent, according to a survey by Medihair, an online platform for hair loss treatments. Dr López Bran said he had 'noticed a huge increase in inquiries seeking a solution, a truly significant growth in demand, especially among young people who, at the first signs of baldness, want to slow its progression, or even reverse those initial symptoms'. By the age of 50, roughly 50 per cent of men will experience some form of male pattern baldness. Around 25 per cent of will spot signs of thinning or receding as early as 21. Hair transplant surgery has become increasingly popular over the last two decades, with the number of procedures performed globally rising by 76 per cent since 2006.
