A Potential Stem Cell Treatment for IBD from Pfizer

Pfizer announced some news this week that could result in a stem cell treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's. On Monday, Pfizer struck a development and commercialization agreement with Athersys, Inc., a Cleveland biotech company. Pfizer plans to develop a therapy for IBD based on MultiStem, the Athersys adult stem cell product line.

From reading through the MultiStem website, the product seems to have great potential as a therapy. The really dumbed-down version of the therapy (I'm a dummy, so correct me if I'm wrong) would be to inject these cells into a sufferer of IBD and then the cells, based on the

local environment and specific type of inflammatory response, would produce molecules to help properly regulate the immune system. The stem cells would not be a permanent solution. Similar to other biologics (e.g. Cimzia), they would have a temporary impact on how the immune system functions and to continue to see benefits you would need to continue to take the drug. Here's an excerpt:

MultiStem consists of a special class of human stem cells that have the ability to express a range of therapeutically relevant proteins and other factors, as well as form multiple cell types. Factors expressed by MultiStem have the potential to deliver a therapeutic benefit in several ways, such as the reduction of inflammation, protection of damaged or injured tissue, and the formation of new blood vessels in regions of ischemic injury. These cells exhibit a drug-like profile in that they act primarily through the production of factors that regulate the immune system, protect damaged or injured cells, promote tissue repair and healing and most or all of the cells are cleared from the body over time.

The real unique thing about MultiStem versus other biologics is that it could actually have multiple methods of working (the beauty of stem cells). Here's an excerpt:

Though the cells have the potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types, in certain indications the primary mechanism of MultiStem appears to be the production of a physiologically relevant and complex set of therapeutic molecules in response to the local environment. In the initial indications Athersys is pursuing, the cells appear to minimize the inflammatory reaction that occurs in response to ischemic events (such as myocardial infarction or stroke) or the anti-host immune reaction seen in graft vs. host disease (GvHD), and promote healing and recovery. Unlike traditional pharmaceuticals, MultiStem cells are dynamically regulated, and have the potential to respond to signals of inflammation or tissue damage in multiple ways. Potential mechanisms of benefit include protection of damaged or injured cells, reduction of inflammation, stimulation of new blood vessels, and the recruitment of other cell types to promote tissue repair and healing.

Athersys claims that one of the benefits of the drug is that it can be scaled to be produced efficiently on a large scale. That could mean the drug could be made available to people on the same scale that traditional pharmaceuticals are. (Although I wouldn't expect the scale economies to translate into affordable prices).

Great news and looking forward to see what Pfizer brings to market. And in terms of bringing the product to market, here's a good excerpt from The Motley Fool ("Pfizer Swings for the Fences"):

MultiStem is being tested in several conditions, but Pfizer's license is specifically for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a group of conditions that includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The license is only costing Pfizer $6 million up front because the technology is still relatively unproven, having not entered clinical trials for IBD yet. Athersys can get milestones of up to $105 million and royalties as the drug passes through clinical trials and is commercialized.

Pfizer will pay for the phase 1 and 2 trials. Then, if it gets that far, Athersys will have the option of co-developing the drug -- sharing profits and losses -- or letting Pfizer proceed on its own and take the milestones and royalty payments.

Unlike traditional stem cell companies like Geron (Nasdaq: GERN) that are developing stem cells to regenerate tissue, MultiStem uses donated bone marrow cells to produce a product that promotes healing of the tissue through cell signaling. Essentially it has a more drug-like profile as the stem cells are cleared from the body.

So certainly a ways out.