STEM CELLS

No pain, big gain: partnership sends Mesoblast shares soaring

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Original article by Damon Kitney
The Australian – Page: 21 : 11-Sep-19

Shares in Melbourne-based stem cell developer Mesoblast rose by over 22 per cent on 10 September after it announced details of a strategic partnership with German drug company Grunenthal. The partnership will see the two companies work to develop and commercialise a cell therapy to threat severe lower back pain, with Mesoblast receiving up to $US150 million ($218.56 million) in upfront and milestone payments prior to the launch of any product developed under the partnership. Billionaire Alex Waislitz, who is one of Mesoblast’s investors, suggests the global potential for a non-opiate product for treating lower back pain could be worth "many billions of dollars" each year.

CORPORATES
MESOBLAST LIMITED – ASX MSB, GRUNENTHAL GMBH

Mesoblast falls 42pc as investors lose heart

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Original article by Jessica Gardner, James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 15-Jun-16

The market capitalisation of Australian biotechnology group Mesoblast has fallen to $A750m following a 42.2 per cent fall in its share price on 14 June 2016. The stock closed at a seven-year low of $A1.11 after Teva Pharmaceutical Industries advised that it will not finance the final round of clinical trials for Mesoblast’s stem-cell treatment for heart failure. Mesoblast had cash reserves of around $US100m at the end of the March quarter, and CEO Silviu Itescu is confident that the group can secure funding partners before its cash reserves are exhausted.

CORPORATES
MESOBLAST LIMITED – ASX MSB, TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED, CEPHALON INCORPORATED, CANACCORD GENUITY (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Biotech founder Itescu loses $90m in morning as US float disappoints

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Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 17-Nov-15

Mesoblast expects to raise $US63.8 million ($A95.8 million) by issuing American Depositary Shares (ADSs) in the US. The Australian-listed stem cell therapy group is offering ADSs at $US8 a unit, which implies that Mesoblast has a valuation of $A2.20 a share on the Australian stock exchange. Mesoblast shares declined 38.4 per cent to $A2.10 on 16 November 2015.

CORPORATES
MESOBLAST LIMITED – ASX MSB, NASDAQ, STARPHARMA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SPL

Diabetes trial success

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Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 9-Jun-15

Listed biotechnology group Mesoblast has reported encouraging results from the phase two trial of a treatment for diabetic nephropathy. CEO Silviu Itescu says nearly two million people had the diabetes-related kidney disease in 2013. The clinical trial found that the stem cell-based treatment showed that participants had improved kidney function and experienced no adverse side-effects.

CORPORATES
MESOBLAST LIMITED – ASX MSB, AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION, CELGENE INCORPORATED, SIRTEX MEDICAL LIMITED – ASX SRX

Mesoblast takes US cancer giant Celgene as latest partner

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Original article by Jessica Gardner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 14-Apr-15

Shares in Mesoblast rose by 24 per cent to $A3.99 on 13 April 2015, after US-based Celgene acquired a stake of around 4.5 per cent in the listed biotechnology group. Celgene paid $A58.5m for 15.3 million shares in Mesoblast, which specialises in the development of stem cell treatments for a range of medical conditions. Celgene will also have first right of refusal to license some of Mesoblast’s products

CORPORATES
MESOBLAST LIMITED – ASX MSB, CELGENE INCORPORATED, TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED, LODGE PARTNERS PTY LTD

Stem cell trial set for children with cerebral palsy

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Original article by Kate Hagan
The Age – Page: 8 : 24-Nov-14

Iona Novak, head of research at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance in Australia, has announced a new clinical trial of a therapy using umbilical cord blood infusions. About 20 children aged up to 10 years will take part in the study to be co-ordinated by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Meanwhile the Royal Australasian College of Physicians is urging parents of children with cerebral palsy against unproven stem cell treatments offered in countries such as Panama, China, India and Russia

CORPORATES
CEREBRAL PALSY ALLIANCE, MURDOCH CHILDREN’S RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS

Stem cell treatment fears after Brisbane mum dies in Russia

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Original article by Bridie Smith
The Age – Page: 3 : 29-Jul-14

The National Health & Medical Research Council in Australia has warned consumers about the risks in opting for unproven and unregulated stem cell treatments, including in overseas locations. "Stem cell tourism" is being promoted by groups such as the Adult Stem Cell Foundation, but bodies including MS Australia and Stem Cells Australia are urging patients to seek the advice of medical professionals. A Brisbane woman who had gone to Russia for stem cell treatment as she suffered from Stiff Person Syndrome has died of heart failure during the procedure

CORPORATES
STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, MS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ADULT STEM CELL FOUNDATION PTY LTD

Mesoblast sows the seeds for stem cell success

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Original article by Rick Wallace
The Australian – Page: 15 & 16 : 28-Jul-14

A new regulatory environment in Japan means it will be the initial market in which Australian-listed biotechnology group Mesoblast launches its revolutionary stem cells therapy product. CEO Silviu Itescu notes that this will be a world first, and should boost stock analysts’ forecasts for the company. A 2016 launch in the US is also being aimed for. In that nation Mesoblast has concluded phase III clinical trials of mesenchymal stem cells for treating childhood graft-versus-host-disease. The group has cash holdings of about $A220m, and can allocate funding to separate trials of its degenerative disc repair product

CORPORATES
MESOBLAST LIMITED – ASX MSB, UNITED STATES. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, JCR PHARMACEUTICALS COMPANY LIMITED, TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED, BELL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED – ASX BFG