NovaThera and Gamida to work on lung "repair" research

UK-based NovaThera and Israeli firm Gamida Cell have announced a collaboration aimed at developing cell therapeutic treatments for lung repair and regeneration. Under the terms of the agreement, NovaThera and Gamida Cell will pool technology and expertise and work together with the clinical team at Papworth Hospital in the UK towards advancing cell therapy approaches for treating lung disease.

NovaThera specializes in pioneering applications of biomaterials and stem cell biology for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering to provide innovative therapeutic solutions. Gamida Cell develops therapeutics using proprietary technologies that expand populations of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells such as those derived from cord blood (not the controversial embryonic stem cells), for the treatment of hematological diseases as well as for tissue regeneration applications.

Lung disease is a major killer and the cause of chronic illness in the western world. Research indicates that considerable advances in treating lung disease could come from using stem cells to repair and regenerate damaged tissues. Towards this goal, the scientists at Papworth will clinically test populations of cord blood derived stem cells, expanded by Gamida Cell's stem/progenitor cell expansion technologies.