Growth factor therapy mobilization of stem cells into the peripheral blood

Patent Number: 7,288,521

This patent covers a new way of mobilizing stem cells. Stem cell mobilization is usually performed on the donor of a hematopoietic graft so that instead of needing to puncture the donor bones to get bone marrow, the stem cells are "forced" into circulation by administration of a growth factor. Conventionally mobilization of stem cells is performed by systemic administration of G-CSF.

In the current patent a method of "obtaining peripheral blood stem cells" is covered. The method is comprised of:

a) administering at least one dose of an effective amount of a therapeutic growth factor protein formulation comprising at least one of the following: FGF1 and FGF2,

and also at least one of the following: VEGF, VEGFA, VEGFB, PLGF, VEGF121, VEGF145, VEGF165, VEGF189 and VEGF206, wherein the growth factor formulation is administered by inhalation therapy; and b) isolating a population of stem cells from the peripheral blood by apheresis.

this is a very interesting method since inhalation of cytokines for therapeutic uses has not been clinically approved to our knowledge, to date.

It will be interesting to see if other uses of stem cell mobilization will be attempted using this new approach. For example, mobilization of stem cells after a heart attack has been reported using G-CSF. Although clinical results are mixed, there is scientific rationale for mobilizing stem cells after an infarction, since infarcted and peri-infarcted tissue releases SDF-1 and other growth factors that "call" the stem cells to the site of injury.

View this patent on the USPTO website.