Mayo Clinic and Newark-based W. L. Gore & Associates Inc. have formed a joint venture to advance the development of implantable cell therapies to treat debilitating conditions.
Avobis Bio, will combine Mayo Clinic’s clinical and cell expertise and Gore’s expertise in material science. Avobis Bio is incorporated in Delaware as a limited liability corporation
Avobis Bio will explore the use of stem cells combined with enabling bioabsorbable scaffold materials that enhance the effectiveness of the cells in stimulating the body to heal.
Mayo Clinic clinical experience and infrastructure to the team, as well as scientific research and development related to cell therapy. It complements Gore’s experience applying material science expertise in developing and commercializing products in the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries, a release stated.
The joint venture initially will focus on developing an approach to treat perianal fistulas, a debilitating condition that afflicts patients with Crohn’s disease. The fistulas are painful tunneling wounds connecting the rectum or anus to the skin. Few healing options exist, and patients endure multiple surgeries and risk life-threatening complications.
“Perianal fistulas are truly life-altering for Crohn’s patients, and treatment options have eluded gastroenterologists and surgeons for years,” says William Faubion Jr., M.D., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist who specializes in inflammatory bowel diseases. “We are excited for the opportunity to work with a partner with such distinct expertise and with a shared mission to advance innovative and patient-centric solutions.”
Working closely with the team of experts at Gore, Faubion and Mayo Clinic colleagues Eric Dozois, M.D., and Allan Dietz, Ph.D., have developed an investigational treatment for perianal fistulas that has shown promising results in an early-stage clinical trial.
The treatment involves harvesting and processing a patient’s own mesenchymal stem cells, which are then populated on Gore’s bioabsorbable polymer scaffold and surgically implanted in the fistula.
In a phase, I clinical trial, 76 percent of patients experienced healing at one year, which if validated in a larger trial would dramatically exceed outcomes achieved with existing treatment.
“We are encouraged by the results of the recent clinical trial and look forward to improving clinical outcomes for patients with perianal fistulas,” says Paul Fischer, Gore associate and chairman of the Avobis Bio board of managers. “We believe mesenchymal stem cells, combined with enabling scaffolds, have a great deal of potential to successfully treat a range of very challenging clinical conditions beyond this initial therapy.”.
W. L. Gore & Associates is a global material science company Gore has more than 10,500 associates and generates annual revenues of $3.7 billion.
