Description:
Market: Peripheral
artery disease affects 8-12 million Americans. Patients experience pain,
numbness, and ulcers. Mobility can be affected, and gangrene can set in. It is
estimated that there are 150,000 amputations each year in the United States is
due to critical leg ischemia. Of those, the peri-operative mortality rate for
below the knee amputations is 5-10%, with a 15-20% peri-operative mortality rate
for above the knee amputations. In addition, it is estimated that 30% of first
time amputees will require a second amputation. Further, patients with critical
limb ischemia have an elevated risk of additional serious health issues,
including myocardial infarction, stroke and vascular death. Alarmingly, 40% will
die within two years. This critical public health issue demands a viable
therapeutic.
Competitors and Current
Problems: Currently, mild ischemia is often first treated with
medication, exercise, and diet. For persistent or extreme cases, more invasive
and aggressive procedures include bypass surgery, angioplasty, and stents. Stem
cell therapy offers the possibility of rebuilding damaged and/or occluded
tissues. Optimization of therapeutic cell population increases the likelihood of
a successful outcome.
The Technology: Researchers at the University of
Texas Health Science Center at Houston identified a specific subpopulation of
bone marrow mononuclear cells, that differentiate into both blood vessels and
skeletal muscle, in a mouse model of peripheral ischemia. The injected cells,
without immunosuppressant therapy, were also associated with accelerated blood
flow restoration and increased serum levels of VEGF, FGF-2, TGF-beta, IL-4, and
TNF-alpha. In addition to ischemic patients, skeletal muscle formation offers
potential benefit to patients suffering from skeletal muscle atrophy due to
other causes.
References: Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2009
Oct-Nov;43(5):433-43. Epub 2009 Jul 23.
NON-CONFIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY
DESCRIPTION
The preceding is intended to be a
non-confidential summary of a novel technology created at the University
of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
(UTHealth), for which the University is seeking patent protection.
UTHealth Ref. No.:
2008-0062
Inventors:
Zoldhelyi, et al
Patent
Status: 20110104124
License Available:
world-wide; exclusive or non-exclusive