CellProthera: the biotech using cell therapy to mend broken hearts

While regenerative cell therapy is dependent on the patient’s own cells, and reliant on the patient’s ability to provide cells, repairing the original organ is a viable alternative to a heart transplant – the only option for many.

In fact, the company recently announced that the last patient has been treated in its phase 1/2b trial, with a final readout from this study to be released by the first half of next year.

In total, 49 patients were enrolled in the trial across 13 sites in the UK and France, 33 of whom have been given CellProthera’s lead asset, ProtheraCytes.

The cellular product is made by expanding each patient’s CD34+ stem cells, known for their ability to promote the formation of new blood vessels.

As a result, the company is now preparing for an expanded phase 3 trial, expected to begin by the end of 2024.

For the trial, CellProthera partnered with BioCardia, to use the CE Marked Helical Infusion Catheter for transendocardial biotherapeutic delivery administration of ProtheraCytes.

BioCardia was selected as its Helical Injection Catheter allows the safe injection of stem cells directly into the myocardium.

CellProthera will continue this partnership as it moves into further clinical study.

Matthieu de Kalbermatten, CEO of CellProthera, said: “The treatment of our final patient within the Phase II trial is a landmark moment, which brings us one step closer to improving the quality of many patients suffering the long-term effects after a heart attack. There are currently a third of a million patients with severely damaged heart tissues from AMI in the US, Europe and Japan alone. These patients have limited alternative therapeutic options and CellProthera’s therapy is first one-time curative solution.”

“With the progress of the trial to date, we can be confident in the lead up to the final readout and look forward to the preparation of our next phase of clinical development.”