VetCell Therapeutics USA Gets Greenlight from FDA for Clinical Trial of DentaHeal Cell Therapy for Feline Gingivostomatitis

SANTA ANA, Calif., July 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- VetCell Therapeutics USAtm, a clinical-stage, pet-focused cell therapy division of PrimeGen US Inc., announced today that it has received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin a multi-centered, country-wide clinical trial to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and potency of DentaHealtm, its investigational cell therapy product, for the control of clinical signs related to feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS). The 200-cat trial will focus solely on treating patients with FCGS that have not responded to full- or partial-mouth extractions and medical therapy.

This authorization represents a major milestone for VetCell Therapeutics USA, as it can now treat feline patients suffering from FCGS with DentaHeal. DentaHeal is an allogeneic, adipose - derived, mesenchymal stem cell treatment. This minimally invasive, intravenously administered cell therapy may help to correct immune abnormalities associated with FCGS in cats.

This novel therapy was developed at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where Dr. Boaz Arzi DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FF-AVDC-OMFS led a successful clinical trial of an investigational MSC product. That pilot study provided the foundation for a patent, which VetCell Therapeutics USA acquired in order to pursue FDA approval for its DentaHeal cell therapy.

Approximately 30 percent of FCGS patients do not respond to standard treatments and require life-long pain medication, antibiotics and immunosuppressive drugs. Sadly, the cats that do not improve, even with implementation of improved dental hygiene, medicines, and oral surgery, are often euthanized.

"FCGS is a terribly debilitating, immune-mediated disease and sadly, the outlook for cats that do not respond to available treatments is bleak," said Dr. Chad B. Maki DVM, Chief Veterinary Medical Officer, VetCell Therapeutics USA. "Our vision is that DentaHeal will dramatically improve the quality of life for cats with FCGS by completely resolving or substantially improving their condition and provide them with long-term remission and relief."

Currently, there is no FDA-approved cell therapy product for treating FCGS. The intent of this investigational trial is to evaluate DentaHeal as an innovative, drug-free treatment for FCGS. Led by principal investigator Dr. Boaz Arzi, up to 200 cats will be enrolled based on the protocol eligibility criteria as assessed by experienced board-certified veterinarians. This trial will be conducted in collaboration with UC Davis' Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures (VIRC).

"This is a massive milestone for VetCell Therapeutics USA. Our dedicated and passionate team has worked tirelessly to advance to the clinical stage, and I believe the work being put into R&D and clinical trials will position VetCell as the catalyst for cell therapy becoming a mainstay of veterinary medicine," said Tom C.K. Yuen, founder and chairman of PrimeGen Global, the parent company of VetCell Therapeutics USA.

VetCell Therapeutics USA plans to start recruitment for this clinical trial this month.

To learn more about the FCGS stem cell trial, please visit www.vetcelltherapeuticsusa.com/FCGS_Trial. For more information about VetCell Therapeutics USA please visit www.vetcelltherapeuticsusa.com.

To learn more about the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and its research conducted on stem cells at the Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures, please visit https://virc.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/.

Please find press kit materials here: https://bit.ly/DentaHeal_Trial 

About VetCell Therapeutics USA:

VetCell Therapeutics USAtm is on a mission to improve the quality of life for ailing pets through the development of cell therapy treatments for chronic and acute inflammatory diseases. We are clinically testing cell-based treatments for multiple unmet veterinary medical needs and are in the process of seeking FDA approval for DentaHealtm to treat FCGS.

To help further advance and streamline its clinical research program, VetCell Therapeutics USA is seeking strategic partnerships with some of the world's highest-regarded veterinarian specialists.

VetCell Therapeutics USA and DentaHeal are trademarks of PrimeGen US, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PrimeGen Global, Inc.

About PrimeGen Global, Inc

PrimeGen Global is a multinational clinical cell treatment provider with a robust pipeline of products targeting several inflammatory diseases. From its inception, PrimeGen Global has been at the forefront of numerous cell therapy breakthroughs and led in pioneering roles in many of the exciting cell therapy applications either in use or being explored today, including reprogramming of adult multipotent stem cells, fertility preservation, the derivation of iPSCs, and clinical use of MSCs.

PrimeGen continues to maintain a leadership role in the cellular therapy industry and is working diligently toward its vision of making cell therapies a viable treatment for numerous diseases in the years ahead.  More at www.primegenglobal.com

About UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine:

The #1 world-ranked veterinary school focuses on serving the people of California and the world by providing educational, research, clinical service and public service programs of the highest quality to advance the health of animals, people and the environment. More at www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/.

About UC Davis, Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures:

The Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures mission is to pioneer regenerative medicine cures for animals and people. More at https://virc.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/.  

Media Contact:

Michael Farino
New Era Communications
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[email protected]

SOURCE VetCell Therapeutics USA