Process data of allogeneic ex vivo-expanded ABCB5+ mesenchymal stromal cells for human use: Off-the-shelf GMP-manufactured donor-independent ATMP

© 2020, The Author(s). Background: Human dermal mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) expressing the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux transporter ABCB5 represent an easily accessible MSC population that, based on preclinical and first-in-human data, holds significant promise to treat a broad spectrum of conditions associated not only with skin-related but also systemic inflammatory and/or degenerative processes. Methods: We have developed a validated Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant expansion and manufacturing process by which ABCB5+ MSCs derived from surgical discard skin tissues are processed to an advanced-therapy medicinal product (ATMP) for clinical use. Enrichment for ABCB5+ MSCs is achieved in a three-step process involving plastic adherence selection, expansion in a highly efficient MSC-selecting medium, and immunomagnetic isolation of the ABCB5+ cells from the mixed culture. Results: Product Quality Review data covering 324 cell expansions, 728 ABCB5+ MSC isolations, 66 ABCB5+ MSC batches, and 85 final drug products reveal high process robustness and reproducible, reliable quality of the manufactured cell therapy product. Conclusion: We have successfully established an expansion and manufacturing process that enables the generation of homogenous ABCB5+ MSC populations of proven biological activity manufactured as a standardized, donor-independent, highly pure, and highly functional off-the-shelf available ATMP, which is currently tested in multiple clinical trials

Process development and safety evaluation of ABCB5+ limbal stem cells as advanced-therapy medicinal product to treat limbal stem cell deficiency

Background: While therapeutic success of the limbal tissue or cell transplantation to treat severe cases of limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency (LSCD) strongly depends on the percentage of LSCs within the transplanted cells, prospective LSC enrichment has been hampered by the intranuclear localization of the previously reported LSC marker p63. The recent identification of the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCB5 as a plasma membrane-spanning marker of LSCs that are capable of restoring the cornea and the development of an antibody directed against an extracellular loop of the ABCB5 molecule stimulated us to develop a novel treatment strategy based on the utilization of in vitro expanded allogeneic ABCB5+ LSCs derived from human cadaveric limbal tissue. Methods: We developed and validated a Good Manufacturing Practice- and European Pharmacopeia-conform production and quality-control process, by which ABCB5+ LSCs are derived from human corneal rims, expanded ex vivo, isolated as homogenous cell population, and manufactured as an advanced-therapy medicinal product (ATMP). This product was tested in a preclinical study program investigating the cells’ engraftment potential, biodistribution behavior, and safety. Results: ABCB5+ LSCs were reliably expanded and manufactured as an ATMP that contains comparably high percentages of cells expressing transcription factors critical for LSC stemness maintenance (p63) and corneal epithelial differentiation (PAX6). Preclinical studies confirmed local engraftment potential of the cells and gave no signals of toxicity and tumorgenicity. These findings were sufficient for the product to be approved by the German Paul Ehrlich Institute and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to be tested in an international multicenter phase I/IIa clinical trial (NCT03549299) to evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy in patients with LSCD. Conclusion: Building upon these data in conjunction with the previously shown cornea-restoring capacity of human ABCB5+ LSCs in animal models of LSCD, we provide an advanced allogeneic LSC-based treatment strategy that shows promise for replenishment of the patient’s LSC pool, recreation of a functional barrier against invading conjunctival cells and restoration of a transparent, avascular cornea

Ex vivo-expanded highly pure ABCB5+ mesenchymal stromal cells as good manufacturing practice-compliant autologous advanced therapy medicinal product for clinical use: Process validation and first in-human data

© 2020 International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy Background aim: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) hold promise for the treatment of tissue damage and injury. However, MSCs comprise multiple subpopulations with diverse properties, which could explain inconsistent therapeutic outcomes seen among therapeutic attempts. Recently, the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter ABCB5 has been shown to identify a novel dermal immunomodulatory MSC subpopulation. Methods: The authors have established a validated Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant expansion and manufacturing process by which ABCB5+ MSCs can be isolated from skin tissue and processed to generate a highly functional homogeneous cell population manufactured as an advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP). This product has been approved by the German competent regulatory authority to be tested in a clinical trial to treat therapy-resistant chronic venous ulcers. Results: As of now, 12 wounds in nine patients have been treated with 5 × 105 autologous ABCB5+ MSCs per cm2 wound area, eliciting a median wound size reduction of 63% (range, 32–100%) at 12 weeks and early relief of pain. Conclusions: The authors describe here their GMP- and European Pharmacopoeia-compliant production and quality control process, report on a pre-clinical dose selection study and present the first in-human results. Together, these data substantiate the idea that ABCB5+ MSCs manufactured as ATMPs could deliver a clinically relevant wound closure strategy for patients with chronic therapy-resistant wounds

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Effectiveness, immunogenicity, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals with hematological malignancies: a systematic review

The efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with hematological malignancies (HM) appears limited due to disease and treatment-associated immune impairment. We conducted a systematic review of prospective studies published from 10/12/2021 onwards in medical databases to assess clinical efficacy parameters, humoral and cellular immunogenicity and adverse events (AE) following two doses of COVID-19 approved vaccines. In 57 eligible studies reporting 7393 patients, clinical outcomes were rarely reported and rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection (range 0-11.9%), symptomatic disease (0-2.7%), hospital admission (0-2.8%), or death (0-0.5%) were low. Seroconversion rates ranged from 38.1-99.1% across studies with the highest response rate in myeloproliferative diseases and the lowest in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Patients with B-cell depleting treatment had lower seroconversion rates as compared to other targeted treatments or chemotherapy. The vaccine-induced T-cell response was rarely and heterogeneously reported (26.5-85.9%). Similarly, AEs were rarely reported (0-50.9% >= 1 AE, 0-7.5% >= 1 serious AE). In conclusion, HM patients present impaired humoral and cellular immune response to COVID-19 vaccination with disease and treatment specific response patterns. In light of the ongoing pandemic with the easing of mitigation strategies, new approaches to avert severe infection are urgently needed for this vulnerable patient population that responds poorly to current COVID-19 vaccine regimens

Antifungal prophylaxis in adult patients with acute myeloid leukaemia treated with novel targeted therapies: a systematic review and expert consensus recommendation from the European Hematology Association

On the basis of improved overall survival, treatment guidelines strongly recommend antifungal prophylaxis during remission induction chemotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. Many novel targeted agents are metabolised by cytochrome P450, but potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and the resulting risk-benefit ratio have not been assessed in clinical trials, leading to uncertainty in clinical management. Consequently, the European Haematology Association commissioned experts in the field of infectious diseases, haematology, oncology, clinical pharmacology, and methodology to develop up-to-date recommendations on the role of antifungal prophylaxis and management of pharmacokinetic DDIs with triazole antifungals. A systematic literature review was performed according to Cochrane methods, and recommendations were developed by use of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Evidence to Decision framework. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library, including Central Register of Controlled Trials, for randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews published from inception to March 10, 2020. We excluded studies that were not published in English. Evidence for any identified novel agent that is active against acute myeloid leukaemia was reviewed for the following outcomes: incidence of invasive fungal disease, prolongation of hospitalisation, days spent in intensive-care unit, mortality due to invasive fungal disease, quality of life, and potential DDIs. Recommendations and consensus statements were compiled for each targeted drug for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and each specific setting. Evidence-based recommendations were developed for hypomethylating agents, midostaurin, and the venetoclax-hypomethylating agent combination. For all other agents, consensus statements were given for specific therapeutic settings, specifically for the management of patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia, monotherapy, and combination with chemotherapy. Antifungal prophylaxis is recommended with moderate strength in most settings, and strongly recommended if the novel acute myeloid leukaemia agent is administered in combination with intensive induction chemotherapy. For ivosidenib, lestaurtinib, quizartinib, and venetoclax, we moderately recommend adjusting the dose of the antileukaemic agent during administration of triazoles. This is the first guidance supporting clinical decision making on antifungal prophylaxis in recipients of novel targeted drugs for acute myeloid leukaemia. Future studies including therapeutic drug monitoring will need to determine the role of dosage adjustment of novel antileukaemic drugs during concomitant administration of CYP3A4-inhibiting antifungals with respect to adverse effects and remission status

"An odd kind of pleasure": Differentiating emotional challenge in digital games.

Recent work introduced the notion of emotional challenge  as a means to afford more unique and diverse gaming experiences. However, players' experience of emotional challenge has received little empirical attention. It remains unclear whether players enjoy it and what exactly constitutes the challenge thereof. We surveyed 171 players about a challenging or an emotionally challenging experience, and analyzed their responses with regards to what made the experience challenging, their emotional response, and the relation to core player experience constructs. We found that emotional challenge manifested itself in different ways, by confronting players with difficult themes or decisions, as well as having them deal with intense emotions. In contrast to more 'conventional' challenge, emotional challenge evoked a wider range of negative emotions and was appreciated significantly more by players. Our findings showcase the appeal of uncomfortable gaming experiences, and extend current conceptualizations of challenge in games

Process development and safety evaluation of ABCB5(+) limbal stem cells as advanced-therapy medicinal product to treat limbal stem cell deficiency

Background While therapeutic success of the limbal tissue or cell transplantation to treat severe cases of limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency (LSCD) strongly depends on the percentage of LSCs within the transplanted cells, prospective LSC enrichment has been hampered by the intranuclear localization of the previously reported LSC marker p63. The recent identification of the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCB5 as a plasma membrane-spanning marker of LSCs that are capable of restoring the cornea and the development of an antibody directed against an extracellular loop of the ABCB5 molecule stimulated us to develop a novel treatment strategy based on the utilization of in vitro expanded allogeneic ABCB5(+) LSCs derived from human cadaveric limbal tissue. Methods We developed and validated a Good Manufacturing Practice- and European Pharmacopeia-conform production and quality-control process, by which ABCB5(+) LSCs are derived from human corneal rims, expanded ex vivo, isolated as homogenous cell population, and manufactured as an advanced-therapy medicinal product (ATMP). This product was tested in a preclinical study program investigating the cells' engraftment potential, biodistribution behavior, and safety. Results ABCB5(+) LSCs were reliably expanded and manufactured as an ATMP that contains comparably high percentages of cells expressing transcription factors critical for LSC stemness maintenance (p63) and corneal epithelial differentiation (PAX6). Preclinical studies confirmed local engraftment potential of the cells and gave no signals of toxicity and tumorgenicity. These findings were sufficient for the product to be approved by the German Paul Ehrlich Institute and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to be tested in an international multicenter phase I/IIa clinical trial (NCT03549299) to evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy in patients with LSCD. Conclusion Building upon these data in conjunction with the previously shown cornea-restoring capacity of human ABCB5(+) LSCs in animal models of LSCD, we provide an advanced allogeneic LSC-based treatment strategy that shows promise for replenishment of the patient's LSC pool, recreation of a functional barrier against invading conjunctival cells and restoration of a transparent, avascular cornea