Cell-based therapies for ischemia

Patent Number: 7,470,538

The successful use of adult stem cells for treatment of cardiac conditions such as heart failure and post infarct recovery has been documented in animal studies and clinical trials.  The current patent covers the use of one type of adult stem cell, cord blood stem cells for use in increasing perfusion in the myocardium. 

Essentially the patent covers "increasing blood flow by providing CD133 positive, CD34 positive, CXCR4 negative cells isolated from umbilical cord blood."  Dependent claims include administration of the angiogeneic population with paitent serum, as well as combinations of umbilical cord blood stem cells and various growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). 

It is ironic that numerous hematologists have previously stated that cord blood stem cells can not be used outside of the context of hematopoietic reconstitution, but this doesnt seem to stop people from filing patents covering such non-hematopoietic uses.

The use of allogeneic cord blood stem cells and unique matching techniques have previously been reported by other groups.  Indeed the current patent is very useful since there is ample evidence that cord blood derived cells ARE POTENTLY ANGIOGENIC and do not have drawbacks of their bone marrow derived relatives.

View this patent on the USPTO website.