PR Log - Apr 09, 2012 - China Biotech Group, a leading biotechnology company today announced a Joint Venture with China Stem Cell (CSC) which will launch a cancer cell therapy program that is focused on the treatment of Metastatic Melanoma, Ovarian Cancer, Liver Cancer, non small cell Lung Cancer and Glioblastoma (the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor).

TREATMENT SUCCESS
The new Joint Venture company, namely China Cell Technologies (CCT), brings to China cancer treatments that have already demonstrated significantly improved survival and time to recurrence over 20 years of clinical research in the USA.

The central concept behind this treatment is immunization against antigens via cells derived from the patient’s own blood that are then exposed to the patient’s own irradiated cancer cells, and subsequently administered in a series of injections.

The targeting of cancer stem cells is the differentiating factor in this approach. Other groups target the cancer bulk, or use a generic cancer bulk cell line, or use a generic dendritic cell. This approach purifies the cancer stem cells from the excised tumor, and primes the immune system to recognize and attach those cells. As cancer stem cells are the origin of new tumors, new tumor frequency decreases or is eliminated by this treatment.

One study group in a Phase 2 clinical trial is the USA comprised 90 melanoma patients given a diagnosis of 90 days to live. After treatment, over 50% are alive 5 years later, versus a control group with less than 19% survival. The treatment regimen has been proven to be feasible, safe and effective, and applicable to other cancers (ovarian, liver, sarcoma, glioblastoma, and non-small cell lung cancer).

COMPANY LEADERS
Dr Hans Keirstead, a global pioneer in stem cell research and clinical application, comments that “This cancer treatment is one of the most effective stem cell based treatments in the world, and this Joint Venture is the ideal platform to develop it.”  Dr Keirstead, trained at the University of Cambridge England, leads the Scientific Advisory Boards of China Biotech Group, California Stem Cell and China Cell Technologies. He serves as Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center and Reeve-Irvine Research Center, University of California, Irvine. GenConnect featured him as “One of Six Leading Innovators in the Health Industry”, and the LA Times newspaper called Dr Keirstead “The Miracle Worker” for his development of breakthrough stem cell treatments.

Dr William Cao, Co Chairman of China Cell Technologies says “To see frontier medicine go from R&D to application and give patients afflicted with no hope disease a chance is so rewarding and we are very excited to be leading the way. This new venture will allow us to bring to China breakthrough technology with the potential to help millions of people.”  Dr Cao, Medical College of Virginia PhD, with post-doctorates from Harvard and Stanford, is the President of China Biotech Group and Chief Technical Officer of WA Regenerative Medicine. He is a Fellow Scientist, Department of Anatomy and Tissue Embryology, FuDan University Medical College, and has been elected as a member of the Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy Technology Clinical Application Committee (RMCTCAC) of Chinese Medical Doctor Association (CMDA), which advises the Ministry of Health and helps make policy on clinical practice of regenerative medicine and cell therapies in China.

CANCER ON THE RISE IN CHINA
“Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in China, responsible for 21% of deaths nationally.”  World Health Organization (WHO)
In past years the prevalence of cancer in China was far behind that of Western countries. However that trend is changing as risk factors for cancer in China rapidly increase, such as a large aging population, deterioration of the environment, stress and lifestyles that involve rich diets and little exercise.

Professor Qiao Youlin of the Cancer Institute and Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences said that "Unhealthy lifestyles are mostly to blame for the growing of breast cancer in Chinese women.” With the largest population in the world, the number of patients with skin cancer and liver cancer in China is also on the rise and a public concern, especially as these cancers are often diagnosed too late.

The China Biotech Group and China Cell Technologies research & development flagship facility opened in 2011 in central Shanghai, housing GMP and FDA standard cell laboratories, manufacturing center, cell banking, training center, and headquarters office. An original research and development and cell banking facility has been operating in Wuxi since 2010.

China Cell Technologies will be collaborating with a select group of treatment centers and AAA hospitals across China.

Dr Steve Liu, PhD, CEO of WA Regenerative Medicine, the parent company of China Biotech Group, commented that "To bring hope for cancer treatment to the largest population in the world is exciting simply because this disease has and continues to affect so many lives. China is attracting and producing the brightest minds from the top academic institutions to lead in the research, development and most importantly application of breakthrough technology to those who need it most."
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