Israel's Teva to Partner on New Leukaemia Cell Therapy

Leading Israeli drugmaker Teva has announced that it has exercised its option to enter into a joint venture with local stem-cell research firm Gamida-Cell. The two companies will develop and market the StemEx technology, which recently entered Phase I/II trials. Teva is to conditionally invest some US$25mn in the venture. The two companies hope to begin Phase II/III trials in the second half of the year.

According to Gamida-Cell, the technology uses a small molecule that enables large-scale self-renewal of stem cells, and current tests focus on possible applications for leukaemia and lymphoma. Israeli-European company Elscint is reported to have been a key investor in Gamida-Cell, along with Biomedical Investments, Denali Ventures, Auriga Ventures, Pamot and Comverse. Teva is also a leading partner in a cell therapies development consortium known as Genesis, which has invested in Proneuron, an Israeli cell therapy firm focusing on spinal rehabilitation.