A Medical Device Daily

Pluristem Life Systems (New York), a developer of products to treat degenerative and auto-immune indications, reported purchasing patents for its stem cell production technology from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (Haifa) and the Weizmann Institute of Science (Rehovot) for about $2 million.

The purchased patents replace a previous license agreement with Technion and Weizmann in which Pluristem had exclusive rights to the technology in exchange for royalties.

Plulristem said that the technology covered under the agreement pertains to a 3D bioreactor system known as PluriX that creates an environment similar to natural bone marrow and enhances the expansion of mesenchymal stem cells that are obtained from the placenta, termed Placental eXpanded (PLX) cells. These resulting stromal cells are allogeneic and will not require HLA matching when used in transplant therapies. Using PluriX, Pluristem estimates they can produce up to 1,000 patient doses per placenta at a significantly lower cost than current methods.

Zami Aberman, CEO and chairman of Pluristem, said, "By owning these patents exclusively, the company not only gains full access to its IP portfolio, but also enables substantially more future financial returns as we have the sole right to sub-license our technology without the obligation to pay up to a 25% royalty fee. We believe that our revenues will be substantial in the coming years and this purchase will improve our margins as well as increase value for our shareholders." He added: "We intend to develop this technology platform into a functional stem cell production system for the treatment of a variety of indications; the first being a safe, effective and efficient alternative to bone marrow transplantation."

Pluristem's first planned product, PLX-I, targets a $2 billion market and is intended to resolve the shortfall of matched tissue for bone marrow transplantation by improving the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells contained in umbilical cord blood.

Pluristem's products are derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from the placenta and expanded in the company's proprietary PluriX 3D bioreactor that imitates the natural microstructure of bone marrow and does not require supplemental growth factors, cytokines or other exogenous materials.

Pluristem said it believes the resultant expanded cells, termed PLX cells, are multi-potent and able to differentiate into a variety of cell types as well as being immune-privileged to protect the recipient from immunological reactions that often accompanies transplantation.

Pluristem has offices and is incorporated in the U.S. with research and manufacturing facilities in Israel.

Pall establishes center in Bangalore

Pall (East Hills, New York) reported the establishment of its newest Life Sciences Center of Excellence in Bangalore, India. The company said the new center "will drive process optimization innovations for the global life sciences market to meet the evolving opportunities and challenges of this fast-growing industry throughout Asia."

The facility will provide the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and discovery markets throughout the region with "a full range of total fluid management solutions to help them achieve their goals."

The facility includes a proteomics laboratory to help customers speed the drug-discovery process, and also houses a validation laboratory and a training facility with specialty experts to support Indian and regional customers as they increasingly enter the stringently regulated export market.

Pall said India was chosen as the location for its latest Center of Excellence in Asia because of the country's "highly regarded reputation in life sciences, spanning biopharmaceutical research, development and production. Additionally, India's diverse market opportunities coupled with a large pool of qualified scientists and engineers provide an ideal climate for fueling innovation and growth."

With the opening of the new center, Pall Life Sciences also has expanded its technical support system so that customers anywhere in the world will be able to have 24/7 access to Pall scientists and technical experts.

Pall has been present in India for more than two decades and was incorporated as Pall India in 1996, headquartered in Mumbai.

CUHK adopts Fluidigm PCR system

Fluidigm (South San Francisco) reported that the Department of Chemical Pathology, at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has adopted its BioMark Real-time PCR System, which is based on BioMark dynamic arrays and digital arrays, nanofluidic chips for genetic analysis.

The laboratory, under the direction of Professor Dennis Lo, is using the system to detect and to quantify viruses associated with cancer, to detect somatic mutations in a high background of normal genes, and to develop gene expression profiles, as well as for research on other molecular diagnostic applications.

The laboratory, based at the Prince of Wales Hospital (CUHK's teaching hospital), develops diagnostic tests and applications.

The BioMark system features dynamic arrays tailored for high-throughput multiplexed gene expression analyses, i.e., for the parallel testing of many samples against many genes. Thus, they are ideal for validating gene signatures across many patient samples. An array generates 2,304 PCR reactions, requiring orders of magnitude less reagent and liquid transfer steps than conventional formats.

CUHK is a research university that describes its mission as combining "tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. "

SheerVisiion reports 1st Japanese order

SheerVision (Rolling Hills, California), a provider of advanced proprietary surgical loupes and light systems, reported receiving its first order from its distributor in Japan for surgical loupes.

"The initial order from our distributor in Japan is $600,000, and we expect that by the end of 2007, the orders from Japan will exceed $1 million," said Suzanne Lewsadder, CEO of SheerVision.

"We continue to execute on our business plan and strongly believe this order puts SheerVision on track to achieve our anticipated International sales growth along with the expansion of our International Distribution Program," added Lewsadder.

SheerVision said that over the coming months it will expand its network of international distributors across Europe, Africa, North America, South America and Asia.