The study enrolled 11 patients to evaluate NiCord as an alternative investigational treatment for HM and is expected to provide the results within six months.
Gamida Cell research and development vice president and chief scientific officer Dr. Tony Peled said that pre-clinical data demonstrated the uniqueness of NAM technology in not only decreasing the aging process but also preserving the characteristics and functions of ex vivo expanded stem cells.
"Of significance, the Phase I/II clinical trial data have already shown that many of the patients in the study engrafted with the expanded cells of NiCord rather than with the second un-manipulated unit," Dr. Peled added.
The company is also enrolling for a Phase I/II study of NiCord as an experimental treatment for sickle cell, a genetic blood disease.
NiCord, an expanded cell graft derived from an entire unit of umbilical cord blood enriched with stem cells, is in development as an experimental treatment for indications that could be cured with a bone marrow transplantation such as blood cancer, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, autoimmune diseases and metabolic diseases.