Author Archives: jrowley

About jrowley

This blog is about the technology behind Regenerative Medicine - including, but not limited to, stem cells therapies, biomaterial-based devices, as well as tissue engineered products. My name is Jon Rowley. I have been in the Regenerative Medicine field since 1994 (undergraduate research), and have my PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan in Biomedical Engineering. I am currently an employee of Aastrom Biosciences, an adult autologous cell therapy company. You can see my professional creds at: http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?trk=tab_pro Important Note: Absolutely everything posted in this blog is my personal opinion and is in no way the opinion of my employer, Aastrom Biosciences, or approved by anyone before it is posted. No warranties or other guarantees will be offered as to the quality of the opinions or anything else offered here.

Takin’ a short blog break

Posted on March 1, 2008 by jrowley

Currently, I am in the middle of moving my family to Frederick, Maryland. I am starting a new position at Lonza, and it may take a couple weeks to figure out how the blog fits with the new position/company. Please … Continue reading →

Posted in Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Q Therapeutics’ and Invitrogen’s Symbiotic Relationship

Posted on February 25, 2008 by jrowley

Q Therapeutics, a cell therapy company focusing on neural applications, recently announced a $15M series B financing that included funding from multiple venture capital (VC) groups as well as biotech tools provider Invitrogen. Q’s lead product, Q-Cells™, is an allogeneic … Continue reading →

Posted in adult stem cell, Bioprocessing, Clinical Trials, Company Profiles, Manufacturing, MS, Neural Repair, Q Therapeutics, Regenerative Medicine, stem cells | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Developing Embyronic Stem Cell Clinical Landscape

Posted on February 14, 2008 by jrowley

ES cell biopsy from blastocyst. Continue reading →

Posted in adult stem cell, Advanced Cell Technology, Athersys, Clinical Trials, Cytori, Embyonic Stem Cells, FDA, Geron, JNJ, Novocell, Osiris, Regenerative Medicine, spinal cord injury, stem cells | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Geron Bolsters Extensive Embryonic Stem Cell Patent Estate

Posted on February 7, 2008 by jrowley

Geron yesterday announced the issuance of US patent #7,326,572, helping to extend their patent protection around their embryonic stem (ES) cell platform technology in the area of treating type 1 diabetes. Currently, Geron owns an exclusive license from the Wisconsin … Continue reading →

Posted in Embyonic Stem Cells, Geron, Intellectual Property, Novocell, Regenerative Medicine, Type 1 diabetes | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Career Strategy Tip: Read Job Posts, Even if You are Not Graduating for 2-3 Years

Posted on February 5, 2008 by jrowley

I always found it extremely useful to read and monitor job posts, even well before I had any reason to send out my resume. Reading about various jobs give you an understanding of 1) what jobs are out there that … Continue reading →

Posted in Job search, Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Cytori Announces Progress in Cardiac Regeneration Clinical Studies

Posted on February 1, 2008 by jrowley

Cytori Therapeutics announced that they have enrolled their first two patients in an acute myocardial infarction clinical trial using adipose-derived cells prepared using their Celution™ device. The Celution™ device is an automated, tissue processing unit that isolates cells from adipose … Continue reading →

Posted in adult stem cell, autologous, Bioprocessing, cardiac regeneration, cell delivery, Clinical Trials, Company Profiles, Cytori, Device-centric cell therapies, patient specific cell therapy, personalized medicine, Regenerative Medicine, stem cells | Leave a comment

Tengion Pioneers Autologous Tissue Engineered Regenerative Medicine Products

Posted on January 29, 2008 by jrowley

You have to hand it to Tengion, they are trying to tackle one of the largest challenges I can think of: producing tissue engineered organs and tissues from a patients own cells in unrelated indications (bladder, blood vessel, and kidney). … Continue reading →

Posted in autologous, Biomaterials, Bioprocessing, Clinical Trials, combination products, Company Profiles, JNJ, patient specific cell therapy, personalized medicine, Regenerative Medicine, Tengion, tissue engineered product, vascular regeneration | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Job Search: Large vs. Small Companies – pros and cons

Posted on January 25, 2008 by jrowley

Here is another take on working in a big company from ScienceMag (http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/tools_resources/forum/view?id=3845) Continue reading →

Posted in Job search, Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Pervasis Advances Tissue Engineered Products for Vascular Health

Posted on January 22, 2008 by jrowley

Pervasis Therapeutics announced that they have raised $9.75M to further develop their allogenic tissue engineered endothelial cell (EC) product for vascular health indications. Their Vascugel product is comprised of ECs grown in 3D collagen sponges that are implanted externally on … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomaterials, Bioprocessing, cell delivery, Clinical Trials, combination products, Company Profiles, Manufacturing, Pervasis, Regenerative Medicine, tissue engineered product, vascular regeneration | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Osiris Scores $225M DoD Contract for Acute Radiation Syndrome Treatment with Prochymal Adult Stem Cell Product

Posted on January 12, 2008 by jrowley

Osiris Therapeutics announced that they won a DoD contract worth up to $224.7 million for developing their adult mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapeutic for treating acute radiation exposure. The contract allows for reimbursement of up to $24.7 million for continued … Continue reading →

Posted in adult stem cell, business models, Clinical Trials, DoD, MSCs, Osiris, Regenerative Medicine, stem cells | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

China and the Regenerative Medicine Industry

Posted on January 11, 2008 by jrowley

Just a quick note on a topic that keeps catching my attention: China. Three interesting things have come up in the last month: Organogenesis signs a distribution deal with China’s National Tissue Engineering Center, with the potential to expand into … Continue reading →

Posted in Regenerative Medicine | 1 Comment

Consolidation Trends Within the Blossoming RegenMed Service Sector

Posted on January 9, 2008 by jrowley

The WuXi acquisition of Apptec (posted last week) is continuing the trend of consolidation in the cell manufacturing sector. It is similar to Lonza’s (a Swiss company) purchase of Cambrex’s biologics division in 2006, and GE’s purchase of Wave Biotech … Continue reading →

Posted in Apptec, BD, Bioprocessing, Invitrogen, JNJ, Lonza, Manufacturing, Progenitor Cell Therapy, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells Inc, WuXi Pharmatech | 1 Comment

Chinese CRO WuXi Pharmatech Acquires Apptec Laboratory Services

Posted on January 7, 2008 by jrowley

WuXi (pronounced Woo-See) Pharmatech, a contract research organization (CRO) based in China, announced the acquisition of MN-based Apptec Laboratory Services. WuXi acquired Apptec to gain an immediate US footprint, better access to the US market, and important biologics expertise to … Continue reading →

Posted in Apptec, BD, Bioprocessing, business models, Company Profiles, Invitrogen, JNJ, Lonza, Manufacturing, Regenerative Medicine, WuXi Pharmatech | 1 Comment

Celgene Strengthens Adult Stem Cell Patent Estate

Posted on January 4, 2008 by jrowley

I have recently signed up for the StemCellPatents.com weekly newsletter, and it is great to keep updated on all the patents that get issued in regenerative medicine. In the most recent newletter, they reported on two patents that issued last … Continue reading →

Posted in adult stem cell, Biomaterials, Celgene, Intellectual Property, placenta stem cells, Regenerative Medicine, stem cells | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

New Year’s Resolutions for the Regenerative Medicine Industry

Posted on January 2, 2008 by jrowley

With the New Year upon us, I thought it would be good to make a set of New Year’s Resolutions for the regenerative medicine industry. This set of resolutions is not company specific, but things that will be required to … Continue reading →

Posted in business models, Innovation, Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

FDA Proactively Addresses Embryonic Stem Cell Safety Testing

Posted on December 31, 2007 by jrowley

The FDA has scheduled an April 10, 2008 meeting to “discuss scientific considerations for safety testing for cellular therapy products derived from human embryonic stem cells.” This meeting will be followed by another meeting on April 11 that will “discuss … Continue reading →

Posted in Advanced Cell Technology, cell delivery, Clinical Trials, Embyonic Stem Cells, FDA, Geron, Novocell, Regenerative Medicine, regulatory, stem cells | 1 Comment

Top Ten Events in the Regenerative Medicine Industry in 2007

Posted on December 26, 2007 by jrowley

Top Ten Events in the Regenerative Medicine Industry in 2007 (according to Jon Rowley, and in no particular order): Embyronic stem cells were primed for human trials. Both Advanced Cell Technology and Geron are gearing up for INDs in early … Continue reading →

Posted in Regenerative Medicine | 1 Comment

Athersys’ Adult Stem Cell Product IND Approved for Acute MI Phase I Trial

Posted on December 23, 2007 by jrowley

Athersys and their cardiac parter, Angiotech, announced today that they got the ok from the FDA to begin a Phase I clinical study using Athersys’ Multistem adult stem cell product in acute myocardial infarction (MI). This is the second IND … Continue reading →

Posted in Angiotech, Athersys, Biomaterials, cardiac regeneration, cell delivery, Clinical Trials, Joint Ventures, Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

BioTime Births Embryome Sciences

Posted on December 19, 2007 by jrowley

There have been some interesting news releases this week, including Osiris’ fast track designation, Cytori obtaining a 510k for their fat cleaner (not their stem cell isolation device, just a clinical fat cleaner), and the angiogenesis and liver regeneration capabilities … Continue reading →

Posted in Bioprocessing, BioTime, business models, Embryome Sciences, Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Organogenesis Expands into China

Posted on December 13, 2007 by jrowley

Organogenesis, one of the pioneering tissue engineering companies, is partnering with China’s National Tissue Engineering Center (NTEC) to bring Organogenesis’ regenerative therapies to the Chinese marketplace. NTEC is a Shanghai-based private company that is funded by the Chinese government, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bioprocessing, business models, Joint Ventures, Manufacturing, Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Jobs in Regenerative Medicine: Part I

Posted on December 13, 2007 by jrowley

One of the aspects of my science career that I really enjoy is the career coaching that I provide, and receive. I actually spend a lot of time telling students that are graduating, whether it is at the Bachelors, Masters, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bioprocessing, Job search, Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Biomaterials as Therapies

Posted on December 9, 2007 by jrowley

The regenerative medicine industry is banking on cellular therapy to help regenerate tissues and restore function in clinical indications with high unmet needs. The mechanism of action, or how stem cells actually drive tissue regeneration, is still hotly debated – … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomaterials, business models, Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Patent Reform Act of 2007 – Impact on Regenerative Medicine

Posted on December 7, 2007 by jrowley

The author of CELLWISE, one of the newer bio-Blogs out there, asked a question related to the Patent Reform Act of 2007 in a comment on the Pfizer post. He asked: The article that is cited is right; our patent … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Pharma, Innovation, Intellectual Property, Regenerative Medicine | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC: Acquisition Target

Posted on December 4, 2007 by jrowley

I have been playing with the idea of a post related to the area of therapeutic cell bioprocessing, and today one of the leaders in the field became an acquisition target. Progenitor Cell Therapy (PCT) provides process development and manufacturing … Continue reading →

Posted in Bioprocessing | Leave a comment

Pfizer Launches Independent BioInnovation Center

Posted on December 1, 2007 by jrowley

Pfizer Global Research and Development (PGRD) has been going through some major restructuring, and in an effort to spur innovation has opened an independent research center in the Bay Area. This “biotherapeutics and bioinnovation center” will be headed up by … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Pharma, Innovation, stem cells | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Osiris Releases 1 Year Data from Chrondrogen Trial

Posted on December 1, 2007 by jrowley

Osiris Therapeutics last week announced positive data that came out of their Phase I/II double blinded Chondrogen trial. They demonstrated statistically significant improvements in joint pain in patients with osteoarthritis, however this seems to be an about face compared to … Continue reading →

Posted in adult stem cell, Biomaterials, cartilage, Clinical Trials, orthopedics, Osiris, Regenerative Medicine, stem cells | 1 Comment

Human-Animal Hybrids Prohibition Act Introduced in Congress

Posted on November 30, 2007 by jrowley

Senators Sam Brownback (R-Kan) and Mary Landrieu (D-La) introduced the Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act to Congress last week that would make outlaws of scientists that create part human, part animal beings. According to a white paper published by Friends of … Continue reading →

Posted in ethics, politics, regulatory, stem cells | Leave a comment

CellCyte Issued Patent for Enhancing Cell Delivery to Cardiac Tissue

Posted on November 26, 2007 by jrowley

CellCyte Genetics Corporation recently announced that US Patent No 7,282,222 was issued, a patent which they have exclusive rights to. The press release states that the patent covers unique methods and compositions “to deliver and direct stem cells to target … Continue reading →

Posted in cardiac regeneration, cell delivery, Clinical Trials, Intellectual Property, Regenerative Medicine, stem cells | 1 Comment

Embryonic Stem Cells without Embryos: big scientific impact, but doesn’t change industry direction

Posted on November 21, 2007 by jrowley

I do not want to undermine the importance of the great work that was done in generating pluripotent stem cells from adult skin cells, but the only thing I think about when hearing this news is TIME and MONEY. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Regenerative Medicine, stem cells | 2 Comments

Athersys’ adult allogeneic stem cell IND gets OK from FDA

Posted on November 20, 2007 by jrowley

On November 15, 2007, Athersys announced in a press release that they had received a letter from the FDA giving the green light to start a Phase I safety study of MultiStem, their adult, allogeneic stem cell product. Athersys will … Continue reading →

Posted in adult stem cell, Athersys, Clinical Trials, FDA, MSCs, Osiris, Regenerative Medicine, stem cells | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Geron publishes data suggesting that Embyonic Stem Cells may not need long term immunosuppression

Posted on November 20, 2007 by jrowley

An interesting study was published this week in the Journal of Neuroimmunology spurring a press release from Geron that stated “GERON’S HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM (ES) CELL-BASED THERAPEUTIC FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY EVADES DIRECT ATTACK BY THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM”. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Advanced Cell Technology, Clinical Trials, Embyonic Stem Cells, Geron, Regenerative Medicine, regulatory, spinal cord injury, stem cells | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Inaugural Post @ The Regeneration Station

Posted on November 17, 2007 by jrowley

I am not sure if you noticed, but the stem cell stocks haven’t been performing all that great in 2007, especially compared to technology companies like Apple or Google. So now seems as good a time as any to start … Continue reading →

Posted in Regenerative Medicine, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment