The FDA has cleared Mesoblast Ltd., of Melbourne, Australia, to begin a Phase III trial of its off-the-shelf mesenchymal precursor cells. The goal of the trial will be to reproduce positive results from a pilot trial at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In that study, the product was found to accelerate neutrophil and platelet recovery, with high 100-day patient survival and low rates of graft vs. host disease (GVHD).