Stem cell technology gets investment

Toronto, ON – Umbilical mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are cells that can differentiate into musculoco-skeletal tissues such as bone, cartilage and muscle. Their ability to generate replacement tissues and affect cellular processes such as inflammation makes them an exciting potential therapy for a variety of conditions.

A Toronto-based Tissue Regenerative Therapeutics (TRT), a company that aims to use MSCs to treat a variety of serious medical conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes and Crohn’s disease, to name a few, has just receives an undisclosed investment from the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI), through its Pre-Commercialization Business Development Fund (PBDF).

TRT is a private corporation which focuses on the commercial development of their patented Human Umbilical Cord PeriVascular Cell (HUCPVC) platform technologies.

“Stem cell research is a promising area of biomedical research and it could have significant impact for people suffering from many conditions,” said Mark Poznansky, President and CEO, OGI. “TRT is an excellent example of an Ontario company developing innovative therapies and translating research into potential clinical applications.”

TRT is aiming to launch clinical trials to test these cells within the next two years. The PBDF funding from OGI will fund proteomic and transcriptomic analyses to further understand TRT’s stem cells. These studies will provide valuable information needed for regulatory approval to conduct human clinical trials and further differentiate their product from those of competitors.